Despite the many discussions and debates about gender diversity in the workplace, the IT sector continues to be a male-dominated industry. There are still barriers to hiring and retaining women in tech. A 2019 report from the McKinsey Global Institute says women are at greater risk of losing their jobs due to increased automation in workplaces across all industries.
Limited growth opportunities, poor DE&I (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) policies, lack of women-friendly policies, and individual and family involvement are some of the reasons cited as challenges in retaining women in tech. is part of
But things are changing, and women-friendly policies are slowly gaining acceptance. People are now more open to the idea of women working in IT. This new approach is reflected in the 451 Research report. Women make up about 34% of the workforce in India.
Challenges facing women
A McKinsey study found that women experience several barriers to reaching career heights in the tech industry.
Lack of leadership: Proper mentoring can help a person significantly improve their career graph. About 40% of women cite the lack of leadership in the field as one of their main challenges for women. The lack of female role models in the industry has created a reluctance among women to make a name for themselves.
Gender bias: Women in IT are lagging behind in terms of opportunities and advancement. Disagreement among those who believe women can reach their potential, including family responsibilities, lack or inadequacy of childcare facilities, limited flexibility, and need to travel without personal/professional support is the cause of This belief often becomes an obstacle in the career path of women.
Unequal Wages: Women with similar skill sets are often underpaid in the tech industry. It is believed that a man earns 61% more than a woman hired for the same job. This prejudice creates an imbalance in the industry. But times and ways of thinking are changing. This special challenge is rapidly advancing pay equity for skills and experience.
The Gender Gap in Technology
Engineering and technology have been labeled a man’s world. Undoubtedly, Indian youth are challenging such norms. A report by 451 Research says the country now has an equal gender parity among STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) graduates. About 51% of women in IT are currently in entry-level positions, while about 25% are in management positions and less than 1% of them are in executive-level roles. Therefore, more women need to be promoted to management positions to fill the gap.
Women’s role in the tech industry
We are seeing an increase in the hiring of women in several technical roles such as AI Engineer, ML Engineer, and Data Scientist. An inclusive environment brings more diversity to the field for women. Additionally, some organizations see women as effective communicators who can effect change through innovative thinking.
McKinsey research also shows a strong relationship, with gender-diverse companies being 48% more likely to outperform the least gender-diverse companies.
Qualities like team building, collaboration, multitasking, and maintaining discipline make women great leaders. We need more female role models in the STEM industry to encourage a new generation of young women to enter the workforce and fill existing gaps.
Growth Opportunities for Women in Tech
Government policies are pushing to give women equal status in the workplace. Initiatives like the Maternity Benefits Amendment Act have been a blessing. These policies and initiatives have paved the way for facilities such as day care centers, non-discriminatory assessments, and even remote work policies.
Education and career development have become more accessible to women. Opportunities in the form of internships, external training, or gaining skills in emerging technologies are further driving growth in this area.
Some of the top educational institutions have increased female enrollment and are helping women step into the industry.
The next step for women in tech is to help organizations build confidence and get the right representation at the management level, which gradually spills over to other levels within the enterprise.
Several global communities have taken on the responsibility of hosting technology-related conferences and summits to provide better networking opportunities for women in tech.
The IT industry has proven to be an improving sector, although women still have to overcome decades of stereotypes. Significant progress has been made in certain elements such as equal opportunities for skills development, increased workplace mobility, and the development and implementation of women-friendly policies in the workplace.
More and more women who have taken a career break are able to start working again without too much restraint from the organization. This acceptance has helped break the cycle of women being underrepresented in the field.
(Sindhu Ramachandran is Quest Global’s Director of Technology and Center of Excellence (AI) Leader, and Leslie Peter is Quest Global’s Head of Delivery (Automotive).)
