5 things that stop women from pursuing career in tech

By Apeksha Kaushik, TimesJobs

Statistics continue to tell us that even in this information age, the women to men ratio in technology space continues to be low. It is becoming important to narrow this gap, because when it comes to consumers of technology, numbers speak a completely different story.

More women are making or influencing buying decisions today. It makes a lot of sense for a business to have more women, who understand the customer psyche better. Tech world realises that it is becoming increasingly important to have more women in the board room, computer labs, sales and production management.

So what is not bridging the gap? While it is a multi-dimensional problem, Jagrati Shringi, CTO and head-Online Marketing, Voylla Retail Private Ltd analyses the top five reasons.

But you are a girl!

Gender stereotype is one of the most important reasons. In our society while boys learn problem solving with lego, puzzles, strategy games, girls are given kitchen sets and Barbie dolls. While boys are encouraged to question and reason with authority, girls are expected to accept and comply. Standing your ground and having the courage and conviction to ask for what you deserve is a very important ingredient for becoming a successful leader, something which is missing in the way our society raises girls.

But, who do I look up to?

This is truly a vicious cycle. There are very few role models to look up to within the social circle. Media and social pre-conditioning skew the vision towards one particular section, with most girls dreaming to become one of the glamorous diva they grow up idolising.

But, it's not cool!

In general, women like to work with people and men like to work with things. Women also have a higher need to "fit in". In classrooms, the divide becomes clearer. The geeky, techie girls are not the hip group, and in quest of blending in. Thus, more girls are likely to choose the "in" group than the "nerd" group.

But, who else will sacrifice?

The leaky bucket of women dropping from tech pipeline starts from an early age and continues much longer. Beginning from who has more right on the education fund among kids, to who will take breaks for taking care of kids/elders to who would leave everything to move with the spouse, the faucet remains open.

But, she is a woman!

We live in a paradoxical world. While more and more companies are crying loud that they do not have enough women in tech and leadership roles, there is a strong bias when they hire and promote. Wage equality - as Patricia Arquette talks about in her much appreciated Oscar speech, but we all were Meryl Streep in response, going "hell yeah". Organisations need to introspect deeply on how they hire/groom and mentor women executives to ensure they are building an ecosystem that is conducive for women to thrive.

Having said that, times are changing, especially in tech and e-commerce, where we have such inspirational women with such candour and valour that the light at the end of the tunnel seems quite close. I am sure these shining stars will fill light and hope in the hearts and dreams in the eyes of little girls all over the world!