What does it mean to be a part of ‘women in technology’? For me, it means being a woman in tech is about making space for other women to be in tech as well.
Ten years ago, if you asked me what it meant to have a ‘women in tech’ group and if there was any value in such an endeavor, I would have said no.
Women in Tech is Standard
Growing up in Jamaica, there were always women in power. We had a woman prime minister. We have the highest rates of women leaders in the world. Women comprised most of my university classes. Yes, I was
a Computer Science major, and the women outnumbered the men.
I saw no disparity or any tendency leaning towards a male-dominated field. Even when I started my career, a lot of my fellow workmates were women.
What changed? Moving to another country showed me that not every woman feels as comfortable going into tech. In some places in the world computer science is a male-oriented field and is dominated by males. There are women who are passing up a chance at a great paying career because their society does not appreciate the contribution they could make.
I spoke to young women who told me that guys would look down on them as a woman, downplaying their femininity, if they chose engineering subjects. What’s up with that crap?
Bring More Women to Tech
Now, I am certain women in tech groups are important. They’re not about the domination of any gender.
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