- cross-posted to:
- [email protected]
- cross-posted to:
- [email protected]
Almost one in five men in IT explain why fewer females work in the profession by arguing that “women are naturally less well suited to tech roles than men.”
Feel free to check the calendar. No, we have not set the DeLorean for 1985. It is still 2023, yet anyone familiar with the industry over the last 30 years may feel a sense of déjà vu when reading the findings of a report by The Fawcett Society charity and telecoms biz Virgin Media O2.
The survey of nearly 1,500 workers in tech, those who have just left the industry, and women qualified in sciences, technology, or math, also found that a “tech bro” work culture of sexism forced more than 40 percent of women in the sector to think about leaving their role at least once a week.
Additionally, the study found 72 percent of women in tech have experienced at least one form of sexism at work. This includes being paid less than male colleagues (22 percent) and having their skills and abilities questioned (20 percent). Almost a third of women in tech highlighted a gender bias in recruitment, and 14 percent said they were made to feel uncomfortable because of their gender during the application process.
I wouldn’t have noticed as much if the co-workers weren’t comfortable casually discussing it, cause I’d be focused on my own priorities in the meetings same as everyone else, or I might not think to attribute an idea to a specific person and just say “I like this idea” instead of “I like their idea.” Most of the time I don’t think people are doing this maliciously either, I think they’re just absorbing the information, and people who are less outspoken or women end up not getting credited as much. Sometimes it’s a matter of whoever said something the loudest gets the credit for it even if they aren’t taking ownership for the idea. The things that help deal with these issues that affect women at a higher rate are just good for everyone else as well.