How Stereotypes Deter Women from Tech Careers
The tech industry has long struggled to attract and retain female talent, with women making up less than 30% of the technical workforce at top companies like Google and Facebook. This gender disparity begins early, with girls often losing interest in computing by junior school, and continuing into university computer science programmes, where women are vastly outnumbered by men.
The image of the anti-social, hyper-focused male remains pervasive in pop culture, which only serves to deter many girls and women from ever picturing themselves in the industry. These narrow perceptions of who belongs in tech start shaping girls’ attitudes and self-perceptions early on, discouraging them from STEM education and charting a path away from tech careers.