Breaking stereotypes
Why there are so few women working in IT?
06.12.2021, reading time: about 5 minutes
When I inform someone about my profession, I often hear “A woman in the role of an IT specialist? It's so unheard of!" I have never heard such a surprise expressed by anyone at the news of the profession of a teacher, doctor or accountant. Research from 2020 showed that in Poland in the IT sector women account for less than 10%[1]. Why is this profession so male dominated? Does the level of testosterone affect analytical and mathematical abilities? Or maybe more muscle mass is required to connect several cables? What really affects the situation of women in the world of technology?
The problem starts early
The low percentage of women working in IT does not come out of nowhere. At universities, in technical faculties, a definite predominance of men can be noticed. When I started my IT studies, I was one of 11 women out of 125 first-year students. The situation is similar at the earlier stages of education. Profiled classes in secondary schools also show such tendencies. There are more girls in humanities classes than maths or computer science. The choice of high school or technical school depends on the interests that children develop in primary schools. Therefore, the professional path depends on the fields in which children feel good long before entering the labor market.
Men are scientific minds, women are artists and aesthetes
According to a study conducted in 2017 [2], the profession of a programmer is perceived as "typically masculine" by 59% of respondents. I think this percentage would be much higher if the question was about the term "rather masculine". Men are perceived as people who are dominated by the left hemisphere of the brain responsible for logical thinking. According to these beliefs, women are characterized by a dominant right hemisphere responsible for creativity. In fact, the brain and its hemispheres are not as binary as stereotypes make it out to be. Although the brains of men and women actually differ in their structure and functioning [3], gender does not affect the dominance of any of the hemispheres. In addition, it turns out that in order to efficiently solve complex problems, the brain needs good communication between both hemispheres. Researchers have repeatedly tried to determine the predisposition of women and men to mathematics, and the results have given a contradictory picture. Boys predominate among mathematically gifted children and students. However, in the older groups, women achieved better results. This disparity disappears when the groups studied come from backgrounds where social gender equality is important. All this indicates a very strong social factor influencing the interest in mathematics among girls and boys.
Men study and work, women take care of the home
Although many people may deny it, the stereotype of the family is quite deeply rooted in our culture, in which the man works and earns money for the house, and the woman takes care of household duties and raising children. In the 21st century, an adult is responsible for himself and makes his own decisions, but they are often dictated by what he took from the family home. We consciously or subconsciously duplicate certain patterns. Little boys are more likely to play with blocks, and girls with dolls. Boys are encouraged to help assemble furniture, and girls to cook together. It is from such small gestures that the belief that science and science are the domain of men begins.
The number of women in IT is growing
The number of female students at technical universities is growing every year[4]. More and more women are consciously choosing their career path. The IT industry is currently so absorptive that many women change their careers during their professional careers. However, it is still a very long and difficult road. Women face a number of barriers that make it difficult for them to work or advance in this field. Barriers come from themselves, but also from the immediate environment, the labor market and employers. Women who subconsciously feel inadequate in a typically masculine field must put in a lot of extra work to convince themselves and others of their values.
What can help women in IT?
To help women in the IT industry, we need to focus on three aspects. First, employers need to know what added value comes from employing women in IT teams. Another issue is that when employers want to hire, they still need someone. Therefore, the second step is to encourage women, from a young age, to learn science and study computer science or related fields. In this way, we will be able to break the stereotype of a "male" profession and show that women can also find themselves in it, and neither gender has any special predispositions here - what counts is hard work and interests. The third step is women's work on the barriers they put up for themselves. Building self-esteem can help them feel confident in this area. Thanks to this, women will be more willing to take up challenges and apply for higher positions. And the more women will be successful in the IT industry, the more young women will be inspired to take up such a professional path.
[1] https://bulldogjob.pl/it-report/2020
[2] Report Women in “male” occupations, Network of Entrepreneurial Women
[3]https://pulsmedycyny.pl/jak-roznice-w-budowie-mozgu-kobiet-i-mezczyzn-wplywaja-na-ich-zdolnosci-941487
[4] Women's potential for the technology industry, Research Report 2015 of the Perspektywy Education Foundation and Siemens
Date: 06/12/2021
Author of the text: Barbara Laskowska
Barbara Laskowska
An IT specialist by profession, privately a mother of two children fascinated by the development and psychology of children. After hours, a saxophonist musician, unfulfilled vocalist and creator of crochet products.
I believe that the basis for learning is understanding. I like to understand why and I try to make others understand too. I care about quality and I deeply believe in the foundation's mission.
