What Do Women in Tech Want, and How Can We Help Them Advance in Their Careers?

The tech world is currently the scene of a heated discussion about gender equality. Despite this, women, pillars of creativity and competence, continue to be underrepresented in key positions, underpromoted in corporate hierarchies, and underpaid compared to their male counterparts. This persistent inequity, an echo of entrenched stereotypes, raises fundamental questions about the nature of our progress and our collective commitment to a fair and inclusive tech industry.

The roots of inequality start in school and perpetuate themselves in the organizational environment. Without active efforts to support girls’ access to STEM education, equal recruitment and selection in tech companies, and fair remuneration, this reality will perpetuate. Who loses? Of course, women and their families, but, in the long run, so will creativity and innovation in tech.

So what do women in tech want? In short:

• to learn
• to work
• to receive and offer mentorship.

This article is addressed to everyone who works in education or in the area of ​​​​tech companies. Together, we explore how we can make the technological environment a more open and welcoming place for women, that is, those people who have contributed, throughout history, to the very shaping of the IT world as we know it today.

TO LEARN: How Do We Encourage Girls to Prepare for a Career in STEM Fields?

How many times have you heard phrases like: “girls are not good at math”, “boys are superior to girls at chess”, or “robotics is a male field”? Of course, these are all preconceptions – but they have become so internalized and integrated into the educational system that they are unconsciously perpetuated in the minds of teachers and students, unduly influencing girls’ self-image and their choices regarding career directions.

STEM education is an acronym that refers to the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Currently, STEM fields are growing rapidly, this type of education preparing students for careers in fields such as technology, medicine, engineering or research. Essentially, STEM education aims to form a generation of young people capable of innovating, solving complex problems and contributing to technological and scientific development. The school challenges that girls face in accessing STEM education are related to gender bias, including microaggressions and stereotypes.

Debunking myths

Many of the differences attributed to gender in cognitive and behavioral functioning between girls and boys do not have clear, scientific support. They are, therefore, stereotypes.

Research in recent decades in educational psychology shows us that:

• In terms of general cognitive abilities, there is no marked difference between girls and boys.
• In the field of verbal abilities, it is believed that girls learn to speak faster and have a richer vocabulary than boys, but the role of gender in this is small and not clearly proven.
• Regarding problem solving, it has been found that boys operate with broader concepts, which gives them an advantage in solving problems in the field of science, and girls achieve superior performance in solving problems in socio-human areas.
• In terms of school results, girls obtain, on average, better grades than boys, especially in primary grades, in all subjects. These differences, however, disappear in high school. In boys, the results are more fluctuating than in girls.
• In mathematical skills, the superiority of boys could not be proven by gender differences, but by differences in role expectations. In other words, teachers tend to be convinced that boys are better at mathematics and other STEM fields, therefore they give them more attention and involve them more in classroom activities for these subjects, which leads to their better preparation and higher results. Proof that gender cognitive differences in STEM do not exist: in schools where only girls study, not boys, they obtained results comparable to boys in mathematics.

Why are gender stereotypes dangerous when it comes to girls’ STEM education? First of all, because, as we have shown above, they shape the teacher’s approach to the classroom and the chances they give girls to get involved in profile activities, progressively creating a disadvantage in terms of experience. Girls’ self-confidence and desire to pursue STEM careers in the future can also be affected by negative perceptions of their performance, which is a consequence of the biases they face.

To encourage girls to become more involved in STEM, it is essential to address and combat existing prejudices in the education system. How can we do that?

• By implementing inclusive curricula that feature examples of successful women in STEM, and by avoiding gender stereotypes in teaching materials.
• By providing female role models and mentoring programs in schools and high schools, which can be extremely beneficial, as they provide concrete examples of success and encourage girls to pursue careers in scientific and technical fields.
• Extracurricular activities for middle and high school students, such as STEM clubs, summer camps, activities like Coder Dojo and others, can stimulate girls’ interest and creativity, making them feel more included and motivated to explore these fields.

Through such initiatives, we can create a more equitable and encouraging educational environment for girls, helping them overcome barriers and fully develop their potential in STEM.

Recent data from Eurostat from 2021 shows that Romania stands out at the European level with a remarkable percentage of female graduates in STEM fields. With 42.5% of all graduates from STEM faculties, Romania is at the top of the European Union ranking, significantly exceeding the European average. This percentage indicates a positive trend in terms of female participation in STEM higher education, suggesting significant progress compared to other European countries. However, it is essential to continue efforts to ensure that this representation also translates into a balanced presence of women in the workforce in these fields, thus going beyond simply graduating.

TO WORK: What Barriers Do We Need to Overcome for Gender Equality in Tech Companies?

Gender diversity in technology is not just a nice idea, it is a necessity. Companies with a gender-diverse workforce are 15% more likely to outperform their less diverse competitors (source: McKinsey). As Sabina Ciofu points out in the TEDx talk above, we can and must break down the “boxes” that we place girls and women in, and overcome stereotypes about gender roles in technology.

While the tech industry has made progress, women still face significant obstacles in accessing and advancing in a tech career.

An often unwelcoming organizational culture, ranging from the promotion of toxic masculinity to harassment or other forms of abuse against women, coupled with wage disparities between women and men, as well as problems balancing work and personal life demands, contributes to an undesirable but extremely prevalent phenomenon: women have a high rate of career abandonment in tech, especially in the early stages. Some studies show that around 56% of women in tech leave their careers before reaching an average level of experience, a much higher percentage than men (source: McKinsey).

The Problem of Underrepresentation of Women in Tech Roles

When, in a rapidly growing IT market, women occupy only 26% of open positions, it is clear that we have a problem. While the proportion of women employed in tech fields is decreasing, Romania currently enjoys, exceptionally, one of the highest employment levels among female IT specialists. This trend must be maintained and increased through active interventions related to recruitment and selection in IT companies.

Resolving the underrepresentation of women in tech jobs requires a multidimensional approach, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Priority must be given to SDG 5, “Gender Equality”, by eliminating barriers that prevent women from accessing the technology field. This includes promoting STEM education for girls (SDG 4: “Quality Education”), creating inclusive work environments that combat discrimination (SDG 8: “Decent Work and Economic Growth”), providing mentoring and role models, and ensuring fair wages.

By integrating these strategies, we can build a more equitable technological future that fully realizes the potential of everyone, regardless of gender.

The Problem of Wage Disparity

The gender pay gap in Romania remains a significant problem. Overall, Romania is set to have a gender pay gap of over 20% in 2024, according to a PwC analysis that shows that women are more likely to hold lower-paid jobs and their bonuses are 19% lower than men’s.

Although the IT sector was less affected by the economic crisis and allowed the shift to teleworking, which temporarily reduced wage disparities during the pandemic, the return to normality brought these differences back to higher values ​​(source: National Institute of Statistics).

To address this issue, a more in-depth analysis of the wage gap in the IT sector and the implementation of policies that promote gender equality and fair remuneration are needed.

The Issue of Difficult Access to Promotions

Women in technology face significant difficulties in obtaining promotions, an issue known as the “broken link” in their careers. According to a McKinsey report, only 52 women are promoted to manager level for every 100 men promoted, indicating a significant disparity in the professional advancement of women in technical roles.

To address this issue, companies should implement structured and fair promotion processes, provide opportunities for skill development, and foster a supportive culture through mentoring and sponsorship programs.

The Issue of Work-Life Imbalance

The topic of work-life balance is a particularly sensitive one for women in tech, both before and after starting a family.

Before having children, they may face pressures related to long work hours and the need to adapt to a male-dominated work environment.

Once they start a family, these challenges intensify as childcare and household responsibilities fall largely on them. According to some studies, nearly 40% of women who leave the tech sector do so because childcare responsibilities make it difficult for them to be hired at their previous jobs (“the motherhood penalty”), and 50% leave the industry by the age of 35, a time that coincides with the peak of today’s reproductive years.

To address this issue, companies can offer flexible work arrangements, emotional support, and resources to improve work-life balance, which could help reduce the dropout rate for women in tech.

TO TEACH: How Do We Encourage Women in Tech to Find Mentors and Mentor in Return?

Mentoring is essential for career development, especially for women, as their underrepresentation in tech roles as discussed above makes it more difficult to access role models who can encourage them to stay on an upward trend in their careers. Encouraging and supporting women in tech can be done through dedicated non-profit organizations and initiatives that offer mentoring programs and networking opportunities.

A notable initiative is the Women in Tech program, launched by the Romanian Digitalization Authority and the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca. This program aims to support young women in the IT&C industry through mentoring programs and promote gender equality in the labor market. In addition, the Femme Forward program, coordinated by Simplon Romania, offers online courses and mentoring for women who want to retrain professionally in the technology field. All of these initiatives contribute to creating a more supportive and inclusive environment for women in tech in Romania.

Another way to encourage mentoring is by attending events and conferences dedicated to women in tech. These events offer excellent networking opportunities and can facilitate meetings with potential mentors or mentees. One such initiative is Empower Tech, launched by DevTalks Romania, which aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for women in technology and business. This event brings together professionals and leaders in the field, providing a platform for inspiration, learning, and professional development. Women in Tech Romania, part of the global Women in Tech movement, also organizes events and mentoring programs aimed at promoting diversity and eliminating gender gaps in the technology sector.

Networking events play a crucial role in the professional development of women in technology in Romania. These events, such as those organized by Women in Tech Romania and Empower Tech, provide excellent opportunities to connect with other professionals, share experiences, and learn from industry leaders. By participating in such events, women can find mentors, expand their network of contacts, and improve their professional skills, which helps them advance their careers and contribute to promoting diversity in the Romanian tech sector.

Our Conclusion

Although Romania has made notable progress in ensuring gender equality in the tech field, sustained efforts are still needed to eliminate biases, create inclusive work environments, and provide equal opportunities for women. At NewTech Academy, we support the professional development of women who want to access an IT career, and we are happy to amplify the voices of organizations and initiatives that contribute to a more decisive path towards equal opportunities in tech.