#Shetechie. Women in Tech
Technology has always been an equalizing and separating factor in equal measure. And the tech sector, the standard bearer of digitalization, is a clear example of this. We talked to women in tech who have experienced the gender gap in a world that, until recently, was 100% male.
Think of a computer professional. Series and mass culture have led us to think of the typical freak, geek, nerd, who programs from the basement of his parents' house and is able to hack even NASA. But, in most cases, you'll think of a man. And don't worry, it's not your fault you don't think of a woman in tech.
Perhaps it is to blame that, for every 100 Europeans working in the tech sector, there are only 20 women. Or that the gender pay gap is almost 9%. Maybe it starts earlier, as there are only 19% of women graduates in ICT specialties.
These and more data in our report on women in the tech sector
So… Is this sector equal to the rest? Carmen Delgado, Adoptium Community Manager at the Eclipse Foundation and mentor at Step4ward, believes that "work-life balance and equal opportunities are more advanced in our sector. There is a long way to go, but there are enough allies, especially I see a lot of women in technology movement that allows us to create community and support".
We have drawn from this community at Joppy. They speak, because they are the ones who have lived in their code what it is to be a tech woman.
PRESENT
FUTURE
Safe spaces in the tech sector
Throughout the article you will have read the words: support networks, community, safe spaces… they are all ways of expressing the need for a group where tech women can share, meet and help experiences like yours. These are some of the ones techies have shared with us.
BCNEng. Mavi tells us that it is "a place with lots of information and opportunities and above all with an openly feminist staff". Its differentiating element is found in the various slack channels that deal with different topics. It's time for their voice to be heard here too.
CodeWomen. A support community for migrant women in the IT world. In the words of Henriette Hettinga, "focused on empowering and encouraging women in tech". She was the driving force behind the project in 2020.
Step4ward. Carmen Delgado is a member and mentor of this movement that defines itself as a "group of mentors with experience in the tech sector in Spain who want to help women to follow their professional path in IT".
AdaLoveDev. Inspired by the famous programmer, it is a community that wants to give visibility and empower women in the technology sector. Wendolín also tells us about the AdaLoversConf, "an annual event where all the speakers identify themselves as women and we have made a great effort to make it a safe place".
Support messages for the women in tech of the future
Carmen Delgado: "Do it. It is a long and rocky road like any other, but you have to take advantage of the sense of community that can be generated and the support you can have, I see that it is a more open world to share knowledge, experience and information. Of course you're going to run into money men and women along the way but you learn from that too".
Henriette Hettinga: "go for it, it is a great career with a good salary, nice office, usually hybrid, and coding is fantastic: fascinating, always challenging , always evolving. If you don't want to get beaten down, then find a supportive group around you, find your 'tribe' to get help and encouragement".
Lizz Quinteros: "I would encourage you to follow a path of continuous challenges without fear to enjoy technology, where every day you work to be better in every aspect. I remember a comment from a professor who said: you have to be better than the rest, because you are going to encounter many obstacles".
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