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A Guide for Women in Tech

Information, Resources, and Inspiration for Tech Entrepreneurs

Increasing Access to the World of STEM

Women continue to be underrepresented in STEM fields, with the U.S. Census Bureau reporting that only 27% of STEM jobs were held by women in 2019. However, there has been consistent upward growth in this regard, as the U.S. Census Bureau also reports that just 8% of these jobs were held by women in 1970.

While this growth is encouraging, there is also clearly room for even greater representation of women in STEM fields. Unfortunately, the challenges that women face in gaining footholds in STEM and building their careers are based on generational, multifaceted issues related to culture and economics. As such, it is important to support future women in STEM with resources related to information, funding, and various other forms of assistance.
Increasing Access to the World of STEM

Why Do We Need More Women in Tech?

When a demographic is underrepresented in a vital industry, it can cause economic disparities, in addition to reinforcing marginalization. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual income for occupations in STEM was $89,780 in 2020, compared to $41,950 for occupations at large. As such, groups who are underrepresented in STEM may experience economic disadvantages compared to those who are not.

Since the tech industry has such a significant influence on our culture, a lack of representation within a demographic may even result in a negative bias of that culture or identity.

The development of A.I. is a great example of how lack of representation could become a detriment to the tech industry as a whole. Ultimately, A.I. is meant to mimic human thought processes, with some intervention and adjustments from developers. If those developers largely have similar backgrounds, their own biases or oversights may inadvertently become embedded in the algorithms that they create.

This oversight within A.I. technology has even become apparent in algorithms that process tenant eligibility or even screen job applicants. As such, women in technology can have a far-reaching impact well beyond their careers by providing insight that can prevent this type of oversight.

Why Are Women Still Underrepresented?

As mentioned, there are many compounding cultural and economic factors that contribute to women’s underrepresentation in STEM fields. These factors are further exacerbated by their longstanding reinforcement over many generations. Women face many different types of external and internal biases that can pose significant obstacles to their representation in STEM.
Why are Women Underrepresented in Tech?

In Tech

Reasons that women continue to be underrepresented in the tech industry include:

  • Women may be socialized against developing an interest in technology.
  • Potential mentors may fail to reach out to women or cultivate their interests.
  • Women may experience anxiety and pressure associated with stereotype threat to exceed the expectations of peers.
  • Women may experience dismissive attitudes in a male-dominated industry.
  • Women may experience hostility in a male-dominated industry.
  • Women may feel out of place in a male-dominated industry.
  • Women’s confidence to build a career in tech may be undermined.

When more women join the tech industry, newcomers will begin to no longer feel like outsiders or experience various forms of exclusion.
Why are Women Underrepresented as Entrepreneurs?

As Entrepreneurs

Reasons that women continue to be underrepresented as entrepreneurs include:

  • People may hold biases that cause them not to respect female leaders.
  • Women may not be socialized to develop leadership skills.
  • Women may experience more pressure to focus on building a family in favor of their careers.
  • Women may experience more difficulty finding good mentors.
  • Women may be excluded from potential networking opportunities.
  • Women may be more likely to be taught that being assertive is a negative behavior.

It is also important to note that even if a woman does not choose to be part of the tech industry specifically, skills related to technology can boost their ability to successfully build and grow a business.

Professional Development Resources

Comprehensive support systems are a vital aspect of cultivating the growth of women’s representation in STEM. Although these resources should ideally be in constant development, some robust systems and options are already in place. It is important to note that the use of resources will depend on a variety of factors including location, and career goals.

Entrepreneurial Resources

The following are helpful entrepreneurial resources for women:

Technology Resources

The following are helpful technology resources for entrepreneurs:

Scholarships and Grants

The following are helpful scholarship and grant opportunities for women in tech:
Encouraging Women and Girls to Join Technological Fields

Encouraging Women and Girls to Join Technological Fields

Many avenues can be used to encourage women and girls to pursue a career in STEM, as well as provide them with information about tools and opportunities that can help them along the way. These resources include:
  • Podcasts
  • Coding camps
  • Role models in the STEM community
  • School counselors
  • Teachers
  • Local businesses
  • Public information campaigns
  • Scholarship opportunities
  • Volunteer opportunities
Ideally, mentors should take steps to ensure that they are providing helpful information and resources that can offer enrichment and cultivate opportunities for women to develop their technology careers.
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