Women in Tech: Real Talk on Current Struggles.

Let's have a real-world chat about what #women are facing in the IT scene these days. Despite all the talk about progress, there are still some serious hurdles that us ladies have to jump over ??♀?

??♂? Dealing with the Dude Club: Ever feel like you're crashing a boys' club? That's a common feeling for women in IT. From being potentially underestimated to having to prove ourselves constantly, it feels like we’re more often than not, fighting against outdated stereotypes. Although I’m “only” in recruitment, and not technical per say, even I sometimes feel it. I may not get it to the extent of others, but I do acknowledge and understand it.

??♀? Where Are the Boss Ladies?: Sure, we're making strides in getting into the tech workforce, but why are there still so few women at the top? (For point of reference, Woman hold 26.7% of tech related jobs - 66% of woman reported a lack of career path within their IT related roles - Taken directly from Exploding Topics)

??? Show Me the Money: The gender pay gap is alive and kicking in IT… I’ll just leave this here - "The gender pay gap currently sits at 21.7%, which means for every $1 on average a man makes in Australia, women earn 78c. Over a year, that difference adds up to $26,393" - Taken directly from Diversity Council Australia (https://www.dca.org.au/news/blog/employer-gender-pay-gaps-are-about-to-be-published-heres-what-you-need-to-know?at_context=75)

? Life vs. Work Balance: Balancing work and life is tough for anyone, but throw in the demanding hours and deadlines, and it's a whole other level of challenge. Some woman feel like they’re expected to choose between their careers and personal lives. Can we not do both effectively? I spoke to an amazing candidate last week who was worried to let prospective employers know that she needed flexible working arrangements to be able to balance mom and work life. I've never had this conversation with a man before.

Bias, Bias Everywhere: (whether you believe it or now) You'd think we'd be past this by now, but nope – unconscious bias is still a thing in hiring and promotions. Whether it's subtle or outright, it's frustrating to feel like skills and talents aren't being recognized on an equal playing field (Feel free to ready my article on unconscious bias, it’s a goody)

? Toxic Work Cultures: Tech is all about innovation and progress, but sometimes the work environment feels more like a battleground. Harassment, discrimination, and toxic cultures can make it feel unbearable at times ( I have first hand experience dealing with this and have spoken to many people that have gone/are going through this – and this goes out to both MEN & WOMAN, this happens to both genders without a doubt in my mind – anyone seen horribly bosses??)

Starting from Scratch: Let's not forget where it all begins – in the classroom. The lack of representation and encouragement for girls in STEM education sets the stage for the gender gap in tech. I for one, will absolutely be encouraging my daughter to have a look at a career in IT. (I'm currently using Minecraft as leverage)

...... So, what's the solution? It's going to take a team effort. Companies need to step up their diversity and inclusion game, schools and policymakers need to encourage girls to get into STEM, and society as a whole needs to ditch the outdated stereotypes and biases ??.

Picture taken from: #womantechnetwork