‘I feel intimidated’: TikToker says she’s the only Black woman at a tech conference

The tech industry has a diversity problem. While the percentage of employed women across all job sectors in the US is now reaching gender parity at 47%, “the five largest tech companies on the planet (Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google and Microsoft) only have a workforce of about 34.4% women,” per Built In. They also report that only 3% of “computing-relating” jobs are held by Black women.
Furthermore, women of color are promoted less often than white women, and “studies have shown that managers are quicker to forget the achievements and statements of black women than they are to forget those of white men or women,” according to Built In.
In practice, this can make women of color working in the industry feel alone, disrespected, and unmotivated to continue in the field.
TikTok user Natasha (@tashathecaptain) recently shared her thoughts on the topic after discovering that she was the only Black woman at a tech conference.
“Less than one percent of the people here are Black, and I think I’m the only Black girl in this entire place,” she says in her video.
This has led to negative consequences for Natasha, both personally and professionally.
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