Gender Bias in Tech: 73% of Women Report Experiencing Discrimination

For years, women have struggled to prove they have a place in the male-dominated tech field. Although there are a few more female CEOs and inclusivity campaigns, the glass ceiling remains intact. Will gender discrimination push women out of the tech sector for good?

Most Women in Tech Experience Gender Bias

The “Me Too” movement, the increasing awareness of gender bias, and the widespread push for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices might lull you into thinking women are finally on equal footing with their male colleagues.

In reality, 73% of women in tech have experienced gender discrimination recently. It seems the tech sector isn’t willing to abandon its biases yet.

Even though women hold a fraction of tech jobs, they experience bias at unparalleled levels. Those who are part of ethnic or sexual orientation minorities are at an even bigger disadvantage because they face double the discrimination. While many tech companies are quick to describe themselves as inclusive, statistics show the reality is much different.

Usually, discrimination starts early. Gender-coded language in job descriptions and conversations leads to women taking on stereotypically “feminine” responsibilities that center around care and chores.

When you’re a woman in tech, your chance of hitting obstacles is much higher than men, even if you’re competent and skilled. While some people might argue even the best leaders experience unexpected setbacks and letdowns, the statistics don’t lie — most companies repeatedly favor their male employees.

How Women Experience Discrimination at Work

Were you ever told not to believe everything you read online? You’d do well to follow that advice when it comes to tech companies’ statements about inclusion and gender equality. What they say versus how they act doesn’t align more often than it should.

Despite 82% of venture capitalists claiming they’re prioritizing DEI practices to help underrepresented groups, 40% of women tech startup founders say investors have harassed them. A staggering 65% were propositioned for sex. Another 50% said they were told they’d get more money if they were a man.

On top of occasionally receiving harassment from investors, most women experience gender-based bias daily at the hands of their team members and bosses. For example, they’re frequently passed over for promotions in favor of their male colleagues. Many are judged or held to different standards because they work in a historically male-dominated field.

Even if women have the same — or better — education and skill levels as their male team members, they’re still thought of as having less potential and being less qualified. Research shows companies consider them less deserving of praise, regardless of context.

When you’re a woman in tech, it seems your work isn’t all that impressive. That is, until one of your male colleagues steals the credit for your ideas — then it’s the most brilliant thing your team has ever heard. This scenario might sound unrealistic, but plenty of women have similar stories.

Even if you don’t encounter sexual harassment or have your work stolen by male team members, you probably experience gender-based microaggressions daily. When you’re a woman, people are likelier to comment on your appearance at work, speak over you in meetings, and question your judgment during projects.

How Discrimination Impacts Every Level of a Company

The myth that women only suffer gender bias in entry-level positions has existed for too long. In reality, the discrimination they deal with isn’t just an unconventional method to prove their value in the workplace — and it doesn’t stop when they get promoted.

Whether you’re a high-ranking executive, a lowly intern, or the founder of your own startup, you’re almost guaranteed to experience gender discrimination as a woman in the tech sector. In some cases, getting a promotion might make you more vulnerable to it.

Ironically enough, the only reason many women don’t experience gender discrimination in upper management positions is because sexism prevents them from getting promotions. They account for only 28% of C-suite leaders. Unfortunately, they’re seen as less competent than men — even when they have better skills and more experience.

When you’re a woman, you’re less likely to be recognized for your achievements in fields where intelligence and innovation are highly valued. Most people subconsciously associate those kinds of words with men. For example, the term “visionary” was used to describe men 61% of the time it was used.

When Will Women Have a Place in the Tech Sector?

Although many tech companies are exploring DEI initiatives and inclusivity campaigns, the odds are still stacked against you when you’re a woman in tech. If you know you will see biased job descriptions, experience discrimination at work, and can’t even fund a startup without receiving harassment, you’re obviously going to be less inclined to enter the field.

Even if you’re already working in the sector, chances are you won’t stay for long. Women leave tech roles at nearly double the rate of men. Who could blame you? The gender discrimination starts when you pick your major and doesn’t stop even when you reach the C-suite.

If gender bias continues to be an issue in the tech sector, you can be sure women’s interest in the field will drop drastically. Although female mentors, DEI practices, and all-female hype teams can help carve a space out for this underrepresented group, there’s no guarantee they’ll want to stay there unless they feel they truly belong.

The Tech Sector Has a Gender Discrimination Problem

Fixing the discrimination problem is a combined effort. Every employee — regardless of whether they’re in the C-suite or an intern — has to rethink their gender-coded language, confront their subconscious biases, and support their female colleagues if they want to give this field any hope of recovering.

Sources:

https://spr.com/women-in-tech-statistics/#:\~:text=Of the women in tech,in meetings to unequal opportunities.”

https://situational.com/blog/leadership-skills-needed-to-thrive-in-the-modern-workplace/
https://womenwhotech.org/data-and-resources/state-women-tech-and-startups

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mariaminor/2020/12/05/women-in-the-workplace-why-they-dont-get-recognized-as-much-as-men/?sh=3b01450657df

https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210730-the-coded-language-that-holds-women-back-at-work

https://www.accenture.com/content/dam/accenture/final/a-com-migration/pdf/pdf-136/accenture-resetting-tech-culture.pdf