Why Women in Technology Matter

why we should have more women in tech field

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

In recent years, the field of technology has been growing at an exponential rate. With this growth comes a greater need for qualified individuals to enter the field and help contribute to its continued advancement. Unfortunately, the percentage of women working in technology-related fields is still woefully low. In fact, according to a report from the National Center for Women & Information Technology, women held only 26% of professional computing occupations in 2019.

So, why does this matter? Well, for starters, women bring a unique perspective to the table when it comes to problem-solving and creativity. Additionally, having more women in technology can help make the industry as a whole more welcoming and inviting to others. After all, women have been facing discrimination in male-dominated fields since time immemorial. If we can help break down those barriers in tech, maybe other industries will follow suit.

The Importance of Diversity

One of the most important reasons why we need more women in technology is because of the importance of diversity. Diversity leads to innovation; without it, companies tend to get stuck in their ways and fail to see potential new solutions to problems. But when you have a workforce that reflects the diverse world we live in, you open up your company — and your mind — to new possibilities.

For there to be true diversity in tech, however, we need to do more than just get more women into the industry. We also need to make sure that they have an equal opportunity to succeed and advance within their careers. According to a study from McKinsey & Company, women are 20% less likely than men to be promoted from entry-level positions. They are also 15% less likely to be promoted from one managerial level to the next. This statistic is even worse for minority women, who face even greater obstacles throughout their careers.

What Can Be Done?

There’s still a lot of work that needs to be done for women to achieve parity with men in tech — but that doesn’t mean it’s an impossible task. Several initiatives and programs have been set up specifically to help encourage girls and young women to pursue…