Women entrepreneurs face greater hurdles than men who raise money for high-tech startups from venture investors. This leads to disappointing results. Because of this, the number of women in the field of information technology is declining.
Stubborn statistics
A recent report reported that 482 teams led by women founders raised a total of $ 2.88 billion last year. This represents 2.2% of the $ 130 billion invested in the venture capital business for the year. This percentage has not increased compared to the previous year. As a result, there are fewer women founders. And even fewer are women in the field of information technology.
They face difficulties, becoming not only the founders of new companies, but also simply developing a career in the field of information technology. The director’s position at all becomes perhaps a pipe dream.
Captured by stereotypes
The statistics digest over the past 28 years reports that computer majors have gone through booming and recessionary cycles among students. The report notes that the number of male and female students who were awarded degrees in this field has increased and decreased at the same time, and that general views on computer science are not gender.
In 1984, 37% of specialists in this field were women, but by 2014 this number had dropped to 18%.
Researchers have argued that many women choose not to do computer science because they are held captive by stereotypes and believe that it is “not a female affair.”
The more these stereotypes continue to spread, the less women are likely to be employed in the field of information technology. This in turn leads to the development of stereotypes about gender differences in the technological sector.
Inspirational example
However, there are successful women in the field of information technology that debunk these misconceptions. One such leader is Medha Parlikar, co-founder and CEO of CasperLabs, a technology venture capital firm.
She began working in the technology industry in the early 1980s. The woman was engaged in the supply of production software to large companies.
Parlikar shared what she learned during her career and debunked three myths that, in her opinion, deter women from finding work in the computer sciences.
1. Women are not risk averse to build large, scalable enterprises
“This is definitely a myth,” says Medha Parlikar. “Creating a scalable business is a matter of acquiring and developing customers, finding a niche in the market, as well as failures and ongoing training. The qualities necessary for the leader do not know the gender. Unfortunately, in the entrepreneurial space, one extremely powerful and widespread stereotype is that women are not risk averse. ”
This myth is based on the assumption that risk taking is necessary for a successful entrepreneur. Great stories are full of examples of risk. However, research in academia has coined the term “survival bias”. This phrase refers to the fact that people are more likely to tell stories about the great risk that caused success. However, no one likes to talk or listen about the years of hard work that led to the creation of successful software products.That is why the risk, which is customary to talk about, can be significantly overstated.
2. Working conditions are hostile to women
“There are startups that are hard on women, and that's sad,” says Medha Parlikar, who currently leads a technical team of more than twenty developers and researchers.
“Obviously, there is a level of professionalism and decency that is expected in the work environment. When you must take a position and vigorously discuss technical details with a team of men, you must remain unconvinced. I had to learn to follow my truth and it changed the whole world for me. I have not been taught this. That was what I learned in practice. I always had answers, I just needed to believe in myself. ”
3. Computer science is not feminine
There is a common misconception that women must act and dress like men in order to move forward. A typical engineering outfit may consist of a signature T-shirt, jeans, sandals and a sweatshirt. Some even copy masculine behavior, getting used to drinking cold beer in bars with colleagues. All in order to join the team.
Medha Parlikar states that a very small number of women work in this area. The computer scientist Margaret Hamilton, who coined the term "software engineer" and wrote the code, which was an integral part of NASA's Apollo missions, was inspiring for her.
The advent of a personal computer led to the fact that less and less young girls began to engage in computer science. Medha Parlikar stated that her father made sure that she was exposed to personal computers at a young age. “Computer science has allowed me to have a great career that has given me the flexibility to work from home and stay with children. This is a great career for women. ”
“In my experience, as a woman, you can stand out from a group of men and help your voice be heard when you speak,” Medha Parlikar says. “I continue to wear dresses, heels, use lipstick and perfume, not forgetting about my femininity. I've always been like that. But when I am in the coding den, ending the developers sprint, I do not focus on the differences between myself and the men I work with. "I remain myself and do my work, I will sometimes enjoy a beer with the team after a hard day."
Computer science is an area that opens doors and provides great opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Do not be afraid to take your place in the field of information technology, as Medha Parlikar and some other women who have achieved success contrary to stereotypes have done.