As technology penetrates in virtually every industry, the role and contribution of women are slightly falling below par. Of all the strides that have been made in the tech industry as relates to the workplace sector, women contribute only 20% of the workforce that is conversant with technology.
The slightly depressing statistics paint an image of despair of women as far as utilizing technology in the day-to-day workplace is concerned. Three issues, in particular, stand out in negatively affecting women and their relationship with technology in the modern-day workplace.
Negative Bias
The society has been hell-bent towards painting women as generally incompetent when it comes to various aspects that surround technology. The manufactured perception that women are not conversant and suitable for utilizing technology has been perpetrated for long. The consequent effect thereof has been the substantial reduction of interest and creativity among women when it comes to issues of technology. The perpetrated gender bias feeds the narrative that even the most competent women in the workplace should not be trusted with aspects of technology due to their incompetence.
Progressive Disinterest In Education
In the workplace, negative bias on women and their contribution to technology is gradually affecting the girl child in learning institutions. Girls are increasingly steering away from tech-related disciplines, including Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The resultant effect is a male-dominated tech industry at the expense of women who are falling far behind. The progressive disinterest of women in technology-related subjects is highly likely to maintain the status quo as far as the increased lapse of women’s competency in technology is concerned.
Lack of Role Models
Inasmuch as there has been a growing gap in the contribution of women to technology, the few who have strived to make it still struggle to be provided with the necessary role models to enable them to excel. An evaluation revealed that 42% of women interested in the tech industry face the challenge of lack of prominent figures to look up to. The lack of role model is greatly perpetuated by the lack of a definite workplace policy that helps support the contribution of women in technology. As much as these three challenges are not effectively handled, then women will continue to lag behind when it comes to matters of technology.
Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash.