
Did you High Five a Woman in Tech Today?
March may be most commonly known for its longer days, blossoming buds and warm weather, but it's also a time to honor the women of the world during Women's History Month!
Mar 24, 2023
Let's Hear It for the Girls
If you're anything like me, you may ring in the month of March by celebrating later sunsets and bracket-busting March Madness teams. It's often a time marked by fresh starts and brighter days. And, although it's refreshing to look toward the future, it's also an important time to honor Women's History Month by shining a light on women – past, present and future.
Women have been making waves in tech for decades – from Ada Lovelace to Grace Hopper to Katherine Johnson – yet we still trail behind men in the field. Although the statistics may vary slightly depending on what source is referenced, one study from Zippia found that only about 25% of women hold software engineering jobs and the percentage of women in tech has actually declined since 1984.
As a woman in the tech industry, I don't just think we can do better, I know we can!
We need to encourage women to enter into more tech-related fields of study – computer science, web development, etc., but we also need to provide much better support for them when they make that leap professionally.
But doing better starts by ensuring that those currently in the field are supported and given equal opportunities to advance. So here are a few things to ask yourself:
Have I ensured women employees/colleagues are equally compensated?
It shouldn't come as any surprise that women continue to make far less than men. As NPR recently reported, women earn $0.82 on average per every $1.00 a man earns. While this number fluctuates based on age, education and race, we are still far from reaching parity. And perhaps even more alarming is that this number has barely budged in nearly 20 years.
Women in tech are fortunate to work in a high-earning industry that doesn't seem to have as large of a pay gap as many others. But we certainly aren't immune to the gender gap either.
I've personally been fortunate to have managers who have advocated for me and brought me up to a much higher level. But this may not be the norm in other companies.
If you're an advocate...
Whether you are a manager, a CEO or developer, you can help move the needle to ensure your female colleagues are fairly paid. Take the lead and push for more transparency internally. Urge your Human Resources department to clearly disseminate information about different tech levels and the compensation associated with each level.
If you're a woman in tech...
Set up a chat with your manager to discuss your compenation and current role. Make your goals clear and ask for advice on how to advance your career. If the pay structure is not clearly defined within your organization, ask for something to be created (or lead the charge yourself!) and know where you stand. And, if you've just received a new job offer, always, always, always negotiate!
Have I given women a voice at the table and openly listened without judgment?
Women in professional settings often walk a fine line of trying to be assertive, but not bossy. Feminine, but not ditzy. We live in a world of labels and stereotypes, but that doesn't mean we can't break away from these in the workplace.
Don't just be open to hearing all opinions and suggestions, but encourage it. When meetings are held in-person or via video, follow-up with everyone and invite additional feedback via email, direct message, etc. for those uncomfortable speaking up in meetings.
If you're an advocate..
Listen for unfair comparisons. Notice when language is used differently between genders. Have you heard male colleagues being hailed as assertive and strong leaders, while female colleagues are addressed as pushy or too emotional? Speak up whenever you recognize this type of language and dispel these stereotypes. Your voice has weight.
If you're a woman in tech...
Women have a reputation for tearing each other down rather than building each other up. We shouldn't be each other's competition, but rather each others' cheerleaders. In fact, we're only as strong as our weakest link. So advocate for one another, celebrate one another's accomplishments and band together to ensure all of our ideas are given the space they deserve.
Have I (and my company) given women an equal opportunity in tech roles?
An article from Havard Business Review from 2014 found that a signficant percentage of women don't apply to jobs unless they meet 100% of the listed criteria. When you compare that percentage with men who apply to jobs when they meet only 60% of the qualifications you quickly see how this can snowball into an even greater gender disparity over time.
In an increasingly challenging job market, particularly for tech, it's important to understand how this can not only impact hiring decisions, but also how women move through the company ranks.
There is certainly no fault to men who apply to jobs without meeting all of the requirements, but we need to ensure that job descriptions are written with an awareness of how men and women approach the job search differently. It is certainly positive to see more companies encourage job seekers to apply when they don't meet all requirements, but we can always do better.
In tech, languages/frameworks/libraries can be taught...let's not try to find that elusive (possibly mythical) 10X developer. If women are put at a disadvantage before they've even applied for a job, imagine the impact this is having on the talent and diversity that companies are not only bringing in externally, but also when they promote from within.
Remember, unicorns don't actually exist, so let's not post job descriptions looking for one.
If you're an advocate...
Ask about the recruitment process and how candidates are filtered. With so many resumes being analyzed by automated systems nowadays, I imagine companies are missing out on some exceptional candidates in all areas of the business. If possible, request to be part of the hiring process so that you can see how resumes are reviewed and interviews are conducted. This will give you a first-hand glimpse into how the company hires and will help you begin to recognize whether you or others have any implicit biases.
If you're a woman in tech...
Don't be afraid to toot your own horn! Humility is an exceptional trait, but be confident in your abilities. If you see a job that interests you, APPLY, APPLY, APPLY...even if you don't tick all of the boxes. There may be other experiences or soft skills required for the position that will set you apart from others. Know your worth.
And, if you see a lack of women in more senior or leadership tech roles, initiate change. Maybe there isn't enough experience yet from women devs on the team, so level up. Create a learning club to improve certain skillsets, look into leadership classes, request to become a mentor to junior developers and advocate for yourself and other women doing exceptional work.
Have I celebrated female successes?
Women don't need participation trophies, but they do appreciate recognition when it is deserved. It's important that women in tech are given credit for the hard work and impactful business solutions they contribute to.
If you're a human...
Raise your voice (or your pen) and express gratitude and appreciation. Speak up in meetings to show recognition, send an email to your colleague's manager, or send kudos via a company-recognition system (like Bonusly or Kazoo). You don't need to throw confetti or hand out noisemakers, but you can show excitement for another person's wins.
To kick off those celebrations, here are a few of the "hell yes" headlines highlighting some recent accomplishments from women:
• United offers a training program to address the pilot shortage. Its first graduating class was 80% women or minorities.
• Woman reapplies for her own job after higher salary offered for the job in new listing
• Brown's Olivia Pichardo makes history as first woman to play in Division I baseball game
Moving Forward Together
Why is it important to celebrate women? Because although we've come far in this world, there are still many ways in which we struggle for equality. I think of the women in my life who weren't even allowed to open a credit card in their name until 1974...it wasn't that long ago.
Women were seen as second-class citizens for centuries so it certainly won't take a few years or even a few decades to bring women on equal ground with men.
We are still largely underrepresented in the tech industry and need support from everyone to bridge the gap.
So before the month winds down, I'd like you to ask yourself:
"Have I high-fived my female techies?"
In whatever form that "high five" takes, celebrate the women in tech that you know and the other wonderful women in your life!