Career gaps have been plaguing women for years and pose a serious problem to their careers, along with other hurdles they face as working professionals. This article explores the scenario that sudden career gaps create in the lives of working women, their families, and society at large.
The global industrial landscape has been evolving fast, particularly in the post-Covid era, and diversity and inclusion have become critical factors for innovation and progress. However, industry has long struggled with a gender gap, with women being underrepresented significantly.
This article, written to commemorate International Women’s Day, explores the challenges women face in industry and how educational institutions can help them overcome such challenges through appropriate training and guidance.
The Career Gap Syndrome: A Global Phenomenon
Additionally, career gaps have been known to have a negative effect on the lives of most women. Take for example, women returning to work after pregnancy. As per published figures from the National Labour Bureau, on a global scale, fewer than 25% of women return to full-time employment after giving birth; out of that percentage, 79% eventually resign due to the challenges of balancing a full-time job with the responsibilities of caring for a baby. This is despite the fact that some women are qualified from some of the top academic institutions of their respective countries.
The Other Statistics Speak for Themselves
Here are some other relevant statistics that reflect the plight of women in global industry:
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Workforce Representation: According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2021, women represent only about 26% of the global workforce. In the United States alone, women comprise around 27% of workers in computer and mathematical occupations.
Leadership Positions: Women are also significantly underrepresented in leadership roles within industry. The AnitaB.org’s Top Companies for Women Technologists Report 2020 found that women held only 22.1% of technical roles and 19.1% of leadership roles in the top companies.
Startups and Entrepreneurship: Female-founded startups receive a smaller share of venture capital funding compared to those founded by men. According to Crunchbase, in 2020, companies with female founders received only 2.3% of the total global venture capital funding.
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Education and Degrees: While the number of women earning degrees in STEM has increased, there is still a sizeable gender gap. The National Center for Education Statistics reported that in 2018-2019, women made 35% of bachelor’s degrees, 30% of master’s degrees, and 25% of doctoral degrees in computer and information sciences in the United States.
Retention and Attrition: Retaining women in the tech workforce remains a challenge. A Center for Talent Innovation study found that 41% of highly qualified women working in technology, particularly, eventually leave the industry, with a significant portion leaving mid-career.
Gender Pay Gap: The gender pay gap remains evident in industry also. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 data, women in computer and mathematics-related professions earned 81 cents for every dollar earned by men.
Representation in Events: Women are often underrepresented as conference, event speakers, and attendees. The Female Quotient reported in 2019 that women accounted for only 24% of speakers at major conferences.
The Gender Gap: Gender disparity in the technology sector is yet another well-documented issue. According to National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) data, women comprise just 28% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This underrepresentation extends to leadership roles, where women are even scarcer.
It’s crucial to acknowledge that multiple organisations and initiatives are actively working to tackle these disparities and advance gender diversity and inclusion within industry.
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These statistics highlight the ongoing challenges and emphasise the need for continued advocacy and action to create a more equitable workforce.
Challenges Faced by Women
Now that the figures have outlined the gender gap in industry, it’s about time the challenges faced by women in the tech world came into focus.
Stereotypes and Bias: One of the major challenges that women in industry encounter is the persistence of gender stereotypes and biases. There is a prevailing misconception that certain roles within industry are better suited for men, leading to hiring, promotions, and overall professional recognition biases.
Lack of Role Models: The need for more women in leadership positions and influential roles within industry contributes to a lack of visible role models. This absence makes it difficult for aspiring women in industry to envision their success in the field.
Workplace Culture: Many women in industry report facing a challenging workplace culture dominated by a male-centric environment. Such situations can result in individuals experiencing isolation, exclusion, and possibly harassment, which can hinder their professional progress.
Unequal Opportunities: Women may need more opportunities in project assignments, mentorship, and access to career advancement resources. This disparity further widens the gender gap.
Catalysts for Change: Role of Educational Institutions in Preparing Women for Industry
Educational institutions providing technology and business-related programs play a pivotal role in tackling these challenges and cultivating an environment conducive to the success of women. Here’s how educational institutions can contribute to empowering women:
Promoting Inclusive Curricula: Educational institutions need to design technology and business-related curricula that showcase diverse perspectives and contributions, highlighting the achievements of women in such fields. Such efforts can help dismantle stereotypes and motivate female students to pursue and persist in their studies.
Supporting Women in STEM Initiatives: Establishing and actively participating in Women in STEM initiatives can create a supportive community for female students. These initiatives may include mentorship programs, networking events, and seminars featuring successful women in technology.
Fostering a Gender-Inclusive Environment: Further, educational institutions must actively work to create a gender-inclusive environment within their campuses. This involves addressing and eliminating discriminatory practices, promoting a culture of respect, and providing resources to support female students’ mental and emotional well-being.
Encouraging Female Leadership: Every educational institute should strive to have a diverse faculty, including women, in leadership roles within departments. When female students see successful women in positions of authority, it can challenge stereotypes and provide tangible examples of what is possible in their careers.
Offering Mentorship Programs: Mentorship programs linking female students with seasoned professionals in the tech and business sectors can be crucial in providing guidance, support, and valuable insights. These programs help bridge the gap between academia and the professional world while offering a sense of community.
Providing Career Development Resources: Universities can provide tailored career development resources that address women’s specific challenges in the industrial sector. This includes workshops on negotiation skills, leadership development, and strategies for navigating a male-dominated workplace.
Promoting STEM From an Early Age: To address the root causes of gender disparity in tech, colleges can collaborate with schools and organisations to promote STEM education from an early age. Encouraging young girls to explore and excel in STEM subjects sets the foundation for a more diverse and inclusive tech workforce.
Gender Equality at LSET
Tackling the gender gap in industry is a multifaceted challenge that requires cooperation from various stakeholders, including educational institutions. Therefore, educational institutions that teach technology can be instrumental in shaping the industry’s future by fostering an inclusive environment, providing support systems, and empowering female students to overcome the challenges they may face.
As society progresses towards a future increasingly reliant on technological advancements, it’s imperative to guarantee equal opportunities for women to contribute and lead in the industrial sector. By addressing the issues at the educational level, colleges can play a pivotal role in creating a more equitable and diverse industry for generations to come.
At LSET, we are proud to say that we firmly believe in gender equality and, accordingly, train women to make their mark in the world of business. For instance, our Single Mother or Widow Scholarship is a pioneering effort to help single mothers and widows get easier access to higher education. Besides, our women students are also allowed and encouraged to get paid internships with their male course mates.
Our female students are, moreover, encouraged to participate in workshops, practical training courses, seminars, and other educational exercises to voice their opinions and thoughts and leave an unforgettable imprint in the industrial world.
Promoting STEM From an Early Age: To address the root causes of gender disparity in tech, colleges can collaborate with schools and organisations to promote STEM education from an early age. Encouraging young girls to explore and excel in STEM subjects sets the foundation for a more diverse and inclusive tech workforce.
The LSET Startup Incubator, for example, is a comprehensive program designed to empower tech startup ideas, is also geared to provide business mentoring, technical expertise, and introductions to financial investors to any women-run tech startup to ensure its ultimate growth and success. Moreover, our women students can also retake courses for missed or repeat courses at no extra cost.
On this auspicious occasion of World Women’s Day, LSET reiterates its pledge to stand by women and commits itself more dedicatedly to their upliftment and empowerment.
