At a time when technology drives the global economy, the glaring gender gap within the tech industry stands as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges women face.
Despite the growing demand for diverse perspectives in technology fields, women remain significantly underrepresented, underpaid, and frequently subjected to discrimination. While diverse teams within the IT (information technology) industry, in particular, are shown to perform better and retain talent more effectively, the reality is that women occupy only 28% of computing roles, and for women of color the rate is even lower, according to data gathered by Statista.
“Unbelievably, the proportion of women to men in tech roles has declined over the past 35 years,” a report from Accenture — a global IT services company — reads. “And half of young women who go into tech drop out by the age of 35.”
This lack of representation is not just a reflection of hiring practices. It extends into disparities in pay, promotion opportunities, and workplace culture. For example, studies indicate that women are promoted at significantly lower rates than men, and those in more inclusive environments have better chances of career advancement.
For the industry to truly benefit from diversity, experts agree that there needs to be a stronger focus on creating campus and workplace cultures that support women throughout their careers, from education to leadership positions.
Fortunately, higher education institutions and companies are increasingly implementing initiatives Changing the Culture of Tech Education on Campuses to address these concerns. These efforts focus on encouraging women to pursue degrees and careers in technology through events, mentorship, scholarships, and professional guidance, all aiming to create a more diverse future for the field.
Earlier this year, Harper College, a public community college near Chicago, held its inaugural Women in Tech event on March 8, coinciding with International Women’s Day. The event, which attracted over 100 high school and college students, featured keynotes and panel discussions by women leaders in the IT industry to raise awareness about career opportunities in computing and emerging technologies. Feedback from attendees revealed that many found it informative and motivating, with 79% expressing interest in pursuing a career in technology after attending.
Another significant initiative is the SheTech program from the Women Tech Council — a nonprofit funded by industry leaders such as Adobe and Dell — which provides summer internships and year-round networking, programming, conferences, and more to high school girls who want to pursue college degrees and careers in the tech space in Utah.
In addition, SheTech offers an Explorer Day, a program that connects high school girls with women working in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields. The event offers participants a chance to explore various careers, learn about the challenges and successes of women in these fields, and gain insights into the skills and education needed to succeed. By providing these opportunities, SheTech helps to counteract the early discouragement that many young women face in STEM education and encourages them to persist in their studies and careers.
“If both genders are entering college equally prepared, but women don’t believe there is a space for them, it won’t matter how well they learned coding or how great their teachers were,” Cydni Tetro, co-founder of the Women Tech Council, wrote in an article for Utah Business. “We will never increase the number of women in the tech talent pipeline until we change their perception of what’s possible. Without them, we’ll be missing essential insights and ideas to solve our biggest problems.”
Scholarships also play a critical role in supporting women pursuing degrees in technology. With the rising cost of tuition, financial aid is essential for many students, and scholarships specifically targeting women are helping to reduce financial barriers.
For example, the MPOWER Financing Women in STEM Scholarship, Generation Google Scholarship, and Palantir Women in Technology Scholarship are designed to support women studying in these fields. These scholarships not only provide financial assistance but also signal a commitment to increasing diversity in the technology workforce.
As companies strive for innovation, they must confront the harsh reality that the tech sector’s persistent exclusion of women is, experts argue, not only a moral failure but a critical business flaw. Bridging this gap is essential not just for equity but for the future success of the industry itself.●
