Sexism in Technology

­­On 22 February I ran across this excellent article by Tracey Lien at the LA Times entitled "Why are women leaving the tech industry in droves?" The article was about the frustration that women feel working in technology due to widespread sexism, which in this case resulted in the women interviewed in the article abandoning tech altogether for hopefully greener pastures.

I work with tons of fabulous women in tech, and the article got me thinking – Are women really leaving technology in droves? How big a problem is this and how can we help fix it?

I reached out to a few of my successful clients that have worked in IT for  a while and compiled some stories and some super helpful advice for women. I also asked a few of my peers and will post their responses over the next few days.

In a nutshell, yes it is tougher for women in IT and the tech industry but there are things you can do to make it work for you … if you want it to. I also think it is important to understand that everybody has to pay dues. My husband, although not a woman has been very successful in technology – but as he says – he has slept on more than one data center floor to get where he is.

Is there sexism in technology?

Unfortunately, the answer is yes and in some cases if it is downright awful.

Our dear friend GG is one of the smartest and talented people I know.  An experienced consultant and a Fulbright scholar who has worked in the US, South Korea, and Germany shared some interesting thoughts. She is regularly called by names that are not hers – some of them are not even close to the one she calls her own. Also, several of the women I spoke to said it is very common to be expected to be responsible for administrative tasks such as note taking and getting coffee for their colleagues.

Another friend RG  has a long history in consulting told us a story that is frankly horrifying, but maybe too common. In big consulting, the model is "eat what you kill."  Compensation and promotions in these highly competitive environments are closely tied to business you close and manage.  She closed a big book of business and had it passed to a lesser-qualified colleague who subsequently put her in charge because he didn't have the skills – she did the work and got none of the credit. During an otherwise glowing review, she was told she should smile more – I am pretty sure that men never hear that during their reviews. This is another manifestation of perceived gender roles – men that don't smile are deemed serious businessmen, women that don't smile are unapproachable and distant.

HJ says it is common for her to offer ideas, which get  brushed over and then later lauded when brought up by male peers.  She says it has ben a challenge to get her ideas heard. HJ at the urging of a friend did a little experiment and found that she had an easier time getting others to follow her instructions when her hair was short and brown then when longer and blonde. Interesting …

All three of the women to whom we spoke indicated that it had been a challenge finding good strong female mentors in their careers.

How do our friends make it work?

We got some interesting guidance and feedback from our three women in tech. GG says you always have to be at your best. Unfortunately, we have to work harder than men – fair not so much, but for now it is a requirement and honestly, this is the case with women in the workplace in general not just in technology. RG advised other women to make sure they don't allow the men around you to push you into the more administrative tasks. Once you agree to be note taker, you may be saddled with that role undermining your efforts to be treated as equals.

Both GG and HJ said it was critical to push back against the status quo – don't be pigeon-holed and don't allow others to talk down, especially when the discussion goes "techie."

HJ has come up with a technique that seems to work to ensure she gets her say – after putting something out for discussions she stands up – grabs coffee or a drink – which allows her to disrupt the flow a bit and makes sure the rest of the group cannot just gloss over the topic and move on to something else. HJ also says it helps to specifically ask someone else for their thoughts on what she has just said – this forces the other people in the room to pause and reflect on what was said.

One of the other ideas we heard was regarding how things are said.  Our women in tech found it easier to make things happen when suggesting an action and asking for consensus rather than issuing orders – again not "fair" but it does reflect the reality of the world in which we live and work.

Personal branding was also brought up as a tool to foster equality. Manage your brand and image and how others see you. As you become a senior woman in the room – they don’t see how you bring your strengths to the position – consider what kind of leader you are and present that externally – you have to stand out and understand and play to strengths.

At the end of the day, sexism is real – in technology and out.  See if any these suggestions work for you. We would love to hear your thoughts?

Over the next few days, we will be posting the thoughts of a few of our peers in career services. Thanks to our friends Erin Kennedy, Jessica Hernandez, and Amanda Augustine for their help in putting this together.