<p>In a 2021 report published by <a href="https://www.ipsos.com/fr-fr/seules-37-des-filles-envisagent-de-sorienter-vers-une-ecole-dinformatique-ou-dingenieur-contre-66#:~:text=76%25%20des%20lyc%C3%A9ens%20consid%C3%A8rent%20aujourd,%25%20des%20lyc%C3%A9ennes%20le%20pensent).">EPITECH and Ipsos</a>, data was revealed indicating a huge pipeline problem of women in tech: girls do not think they belong in tech.&nbsp;</p><p>Even though at 50inTech, our focus is on providing women in tech with a job board from only inclusive companies, we also believe in community building, that we are stronger together.<strong> And girls thinking that tech is just for boys? </strong><i><strong>That's a problem.</strong></i></p><h2>Let's talk about the pipeline problem</h2><p>The pipeline of women in tech is a bit of a <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/14/examining-the-pipeline-problem/?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHIHc8vXwOVkGVflWlkQOR78uAFWR_cFaOyaIMYm-0dZ8KpCLmXM06vMTphserignFGVSSTyFIq3Z8dIGxoHL_GbVEtjGYhfIdXU-AS9IfIr55O_ZREhIhXERBvdFBVLKjdTVc4wCff4YzmllyBHZCCAufN6c3Gqo7zLvmJ9ePhq"><strong>controversial topic</strong></a>.&nbsp;</p><p><i>“The idea that there aren’t enough women in the pipeline for tech jobs is a myth that hides structural barriers to advancement.” - Dr. Dnika J. Travis</i></p><p>Not ignoring the structural barriers that exist in the tech industry, it is important to look at where we are gaining and losing women along their career journey to better understand 1) what type of change to demand from tech companies, 2) how we need to change and educate as a society, 3) where we can make a positive impact.&nbsp;</p><p>There are multiple points along the way where the number of women drops off leading to only 5% of women in leadership positions.&nbsp;</p><h3>1 in 2 women leave tech permanently after 8 years</h3><p>Retention and advancement for women in tech is NOT a pipeline problem. Just some things that contribute to the drop-off number include inherent gender bias in recruitment and promotion, toxic workplace culture, difficulty to maintain a work-life balance and to achieve equal pay... This is something that we are working to change at 50inTech by evaluating safe companies, providing support via community and resources (from <a href="https://app.50intech.com/article/black-history-month-get-inspired-by-these-amazing-black-women-in-tech">articles</a> to <a href="https://app.50intech.com/masterclass/how-to-build-your-credibility-and-find-your-voice">events</a>).&nbsp;</p><blockquote><p>Even though the tech industry has a long way to go to change, that does not mean that we should not encourage girls to enter into STEM.&nbsp;</p></blockquote><h2>Why do girls think they don't belong in tech?</h2><p>A large majority of students aged 11-17 surveyed by <a href="https://www.visible-media.com/le-num%C3%A9rique-ne-fait-pas-genre">Gender Scan</a> were shocked to be asked questions centered around tech and gender, with one cited saying “anyone can do tech, it just takes a little creativity and technique. Any gender can do it." This is exactly what we want to hear and celebrate. Unfortunately, the same study reported (in an older age category) that there were fewer girls than boys who felt as if they have the right level to pursue engineering (despite having the same education).&nbsp;</p><p>This indicates that somewhere along the way (in just a few years), tech goes from being an exciting idea to a gendered profession.&nbsp;</p><h3>Only 37% of girls plan to go to computer science or engineering school (compared to 66% of boys)</h3><p>The <a href="https://www.aauw.org/resources/research/the-stem-gap/">American Association of University Women STEM Gap Repor</a>t identifies 4 key factors that perpetuate gender STEM gaps:</p><ol><li>Gender stereotypes</li><li>Male-dominated cultures</li><li>Fewer role models</li><li>Math anxiety</li></ol><p><strong>And what does the data say?&nbsp;</strong></p><ul><li>76% of high school students interviewed <a href="https://www.ipsos.com/fr-fr/seules-37-des-filles-envisagent-de-sorienter-vers-une-ecole-dinformatique-ou-dingenieur-contre-66#:~:text=76%25%20des%20lyc%C3%A9ens%20consid%C3%A8rent%20aujourd,%25%20des%20lyc%C3%A9ennes%20le%20pensent).">consider tech to be a male profession,</a> and among them, 33% think that women find it difficult to find their place in it.</li><li>Only one-third (34 percent) of young people look to employers for career inspiration — behind parents and family (65 percent), schools career services (45 percent) and universities (42 percent) (<a href="https://www.accenture.com/t00010101T000000Z__w__/gb-en/_acnmedia/PDF-73/Accenture-Girls-in-STEM-Research-15-Mar-2018.pdf">Accenture Girls in STEM 2018</a>).</li><li>Half (50 percent) of parents and two-thirds (67 percent) of teachers surveyed admit to stereotypes about girls and boys in relation to STEM (<a href="https://www.accenture.com/t00010101T000000Z__w__/gb-en/_acnmedia/PDF-73/Accenture-Girls-in-STEM-Research-15-Mar-2018.pdf">Accenture Girls in STEM 2018</a>).</li></ul><p>Whether we like it or not, someone (whether it's a parent or teacher or society in general) is teaching our girls that tech is for men <i>or they are looking at the industry and making assumptions for themselves.&nbsp;</i></p><h2>So, what can we do about it?&nbsp;</h2><p>As identified above, there are deeply ingrained gender stereotype-based barriers and societal projections that are huge contributors to girls not going into tech.&nbsp;</p><p>However, that does not mean that we just sit back and wait for change. Here are 4 ways that we can help make girls feel like tech is the place for them.&nbsp;</p><h3>1. Provide education and resources&nbsp;</h3><p>Education is key.&nbsp;</p><p>We can use the internet to our advantage to distribute positive resources for girls in tech, their parents, teachers and other actors with influence.&nbsp;</p><h3><br>2. Highlight role models</h3><p>Representation matters.&nbsp;</p><p>By highlighting other women in tech, sharing their journey and their day-to-day life we are able to move away from negative stereotypes about the tech industry. That tech isn't just for men. Learn more about the positive effect of role models for girls in STEM <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02204/full"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.</strong>&nbsp;</p><h3><br>3. Create or support events for girls&nbsp;</h3><p>Community provides security. By hosting events both for and about girls in tech, we are able to demonstrate two things: tech is a place for girls, and girls are not alone. There are fantastic organizations across the globe that work tirelessly to get more girls in tech - we can’t list them all but if you’re curious check out some of them: <a href="https://becomtech.fr/">becomtech</a>, <a href="https://stemettes.org/">STEMettes</a>, <a href="https://www.blackgirlscode.com/">Black Girls Code</a> and <a href="https://colori.education/">COLORI</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>Interested in joining a session on how to get more girls in tech? We will be joining UPSTART on December 3rd for a fireside chat on <a href="https://www.uppstart.com/events/21/agenda/creating-the-young-programmers-of-tomorrow/"><strong>"Creating the young programmers of tomorrow."</strong></a></p><h3><br>4. Showcase inclusive companies</h3><p>Change is happening. We need to make girls and women aware that there are fantastic innovative companies that want them and who want to support them in their careers.&nbsp;</p><p>If you're wondering who we are talking about, then you should <a href="https://app.50intech.com/company"><strong>check out our list of 80+ safe partner companies</strong></a> who we have evaluated, interviewed and approved to be part of the 50inTech network.&nbsp;</p><h2>What do you think?&nbsp;</h2><p>👇 We would love for you to comment down below and let us know your thoughts: what would you like to tell young girls who don't think they belong in tech?&nbsp;</p>

Fixing the "pipeline problem": let's get more girls in Tech!

Tara Johnson