A survey conducted by Yoctoo indicates life is still challenging for women working in the IT sector.
Ensuring the value of women in the technology sector is properly recognized is a constant challenge. It is what the third edition of The Main Challenges of Women in Tech Survey shows, conducted by Yoctoo, a recruitment and selection consultancy specializing in the IT sector. It reveals that 78% of women have already suffered discrimination.
Unfortunately, it is in businesses where discrimination happens most, with 61% of cases occurring there, followed by 36% in the school environment and 32% in the recruitment process.
Paulo Exel, Director, Yoctoo, said: “We need to identify these actions and fight for all women to be recognized and valued.”
Among the most common situations are manterrupting, which are interruptions made by men (pointed out by 46% of women); mansplaining, which consists of a man explaining something obvious to a woman (35%); and bropriating, which is when a man takes credit for an idea from a woman (33%).
About 21% of women report bullying, and 19% complain of gaslighting, a form of psychological abuse that makes women doubt their sense of self and sanity.
Prejudice begins even before hiring. About 22% say that the female gender has trouble during recruitment processes – which increases to 53% when they are still studying technology.
Once hired, 61% of female respondents say they have to prove their technical skills all the time, and 46% say that the biggest challenge is to be respected by male leaders, peers or subordinates.
Despite all these difficulties, the IT sector has been increasingly attractive to women. The possibility of continuous learning, added to a passion for the job, has only increased.
In 2019, the opportunity to learn was mentioned by 8% of the interviewees, rising to 33% in 2021 and 54% in 2022. Compensation and benefits are also increasingly considered, having registered an increase of 18% in 2019, to 39% in 2021 and 52% this year.
To change the scenario of gender discrimination in practice, companies need to create opportunities for women to develop, participating in multidisciplinary activities with access to innovative technologies.
Thássia Gonçalves, specialized consultant in hiring technology and digital professionals, Yoctoo, said: “It is also advisable to offer a structured career plan, with the possibility of profit sharing, continuing education programs, in addition to a healthy organizational climate, which offers work with autonomy, flexible hours and purpose.”
Another essential aspect is flexibility. Around 61% of women are looking for jobs with flexible hours, and 49% with a full home-office option. For 63% of the survey participants, encouraging greater female participation in technology, starting when women are still very young, is considered one of the main factors to support this inclusion. Another factor is salarying equalization in all hierarchical levels, mentioned by 50% of the respondents.
For Gonçalves, Yoctoo representative in this study, companies need to provide more dialogue between men and women, reinforcing the need for inclusion.
“This is necessary to strengthen their self-esteem from an early age and to help them to feel as empowered as any professional. We have to give opportunities in the basic vacancies, even if they do not have experience, then they can develop themselves. We need to start somewhere.”
The data is supported by the sample collected from 286 females, between 26 and 40-years-old, among students, analysts, developers, IT executives, technical team leaders and others.
In addition to this study, Yoctoo prepared an e-book with 50 pieces of advice for women in tech. The material, entitled Advice from Anonymous Friends in Tech, gathers tips from more than 190 women who responded to the survey.
Ingrid Alves, Marketing Coordinator, Yoctoo, said: “This was one of our best gifts during the data analysis. After reviewing all the material collected, we thought the best way to highlight the inspiring advice would be to build this extra book with tips from those who have needed support on their journey.
“We believe this is a genuine way of showing all women who want to venture into technology careers that, even with challenges, they will not be alone.”
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