Women in Corporate Tech
By Tejal Tripathi
The tech industry is easily one of the fastest growing and most dynamic industries today, filled with opportunities and the need for more employees. However, the tech industry is largely male-dominated and difficult to navigate for women, with the path to climbing the corporate ladder filled with greater obstacles for them.
Being a woman in this male-dominated field means less access to female mentors, supporters, and women in similar situations to lean on. A male-dominated environment also comes with the prevalence of stereotypes against women regarding their competency, familial responsibilities, and childcare. These stereotypes often lead to women not being recruited or promoted to roles they deserve, as male colleagues may perceive women as less proficient or unable to contribute the time required from them. Furthermore, the gender pay gap is real and strongly impacts women working in male-dominated industries. According to statistics by McKinsey & Company, for technical roles, only 52 women are promoted to manager roles for every 100 men (Repairing the Career Ladder for Women in Tech | McKinsey, 2022). Women in male-dominated industries are more likely to experience the glass ceiling and often do not have a support system to reach out to if they face a workplace situation with regards to gender biases, discrimination, and pay gap.
Given the obstacles, biases, and difficult path for women to succeed in a corporate tech industry, what can we as women and the tech industry do to work toward achieving success? Women must practice assertiveness and directness by using assertive language over passive communication with colleagues (Biggest Challenges for Women in the Tech Industry – IndustryWired, n.d.). It is also beneficial for women to find a community or a mentor, whom they can reach out to for support in the corporate workplace. Furthermore, women speakers should be invited more often to present at corporate events and demonstrate the example of strong leadership in a male-dominated field. Women in tech can truly thrive in an environment that is welcoming and conducive to their success, and the industry should prioritize creating an improved working environment for them.
References:
Repairing the career ladder for women in tech | McKinsey. (2022, March 1).www.mckinsey.com.
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunications/ourinsights/repairing-the-broken-rung-on-the-career-ladder-for-women-in-technical-roles
Biggest Challenges for Women in the Tech Industry – IndustryWired. (n.d.). IndustryWired. Retrieved September 22, 2022, from https://industrywired.com/biggest-challenges-for-women-in-the-tech-industry/
