Why Women Are Leaving Tech
As of now, women account for a very small portion of the American tech industry — less than 30%. And according to a recent report from New View Strategies, 38% of working women are considering leaving their jobs in the tech industry within the next few years.
COVID-19 has impacted these numbers — a 2021 report from McKinsey & Co. shows that 42% of women feel burned out, compared to only 32% in 2020. A Trustpilot survey suggests that 43% of women in tech are working longer hours now than before the pandemic.
In addition, the devaluation of domestic work means that women tend to carry many household responsibilities without pay or recognition. Other pressures specific to the tech industry include a lack of female mentors and role models and difficulty advancing into higher positions.
The first problem is self-perpetuating — if women leave the industry because there are no female role models, there will be no female role models for future generations. Unfortunately, many women steer clear of tech from an early age, partly because of cultural stereotypes like “boys are better at math.”
Early stereotypes affect adults as well as children. Although nearly as many women as men are applying for leadership roles in tech, only 28% of these positions are filled by females. This may make women in tech feel they have to work harder than male colleagues to prove their competence.
Continue reading: https://alltogether.swe.org/2021/12/more-than-one-third-of-women-in-tech-are-looking-to-leave-their-jobs-within-two-years-heres-why/
As of now, women account for a very small portion of the American tech industry — less than 30%. And according to a recent report from New View Strategies, 38% of working women are considering leaving their jobs in the tech industry within the next few years.
COVID-19 has impacted these numbers — a 2021 report from McKinsey & Co. shows that 42% of women feel burned out, compared to only 32% in 2020. A Trustpilot survey suggests that 43% of women in tech are working longer hours now than before the pandemic.
In addition, the devaluation of domestic work means that women tend to carry many household responsibilities without pay or recognition. Other pressures specific to the tech industry include a lack of female mentors and role models and difficulty advancing into higher positions.
The first problem is self-perpetuating — if women leave the industry because there are no female role models, there will be no female role models for future generations. Unfortunately, many women steer clear of tech from an early age, partly because of cultural stereotypes like “boys are better at math.”
Early stereotypes affect adults as well as children. Although nearly as many women as men are applying for leadership roles in tech, only 28% of these positions are filled by females. This may make women in tech feel they have to work harder than male colleagues to prove their competence.
Continue reading: https://alltogether.swe.org/2021/12/more-than-one-third-of-women-in-tech-are-looking-to-leave-their-jobs-within-two-years-heres-why/
