According to the Wall Street Journal Women make up 36.8% of entry-level workers in tech. The Harvard Business Review found that 50% of women in STEM fields will leave mid-career, hostility in the workplace is the most heavily cited reason for this. Some argue that the percentages of women in STEM roles are low because they just aren’t interested in the fields, to this I say **BULLSHIT** I am a part of these statistics.

Speaking from experience machoism and gender bias is rampant in the Tech field and I have left a job because of this. However, I do see hope for women in these fields. There key players such as Cisco, Facebook, and Alcoa who are looking for ways to change their company cultures and utilize women in their workforce.

http://www.historicalstockphotos.com/images/xsmall/33_riveter_woman_working_on_wires_of_a_motor.jpg

Steemit is another example of women in tech. Large numbers of women are writing articles and utilizing block chain technology. To all the women out there - Keep it up! We too can make our place in moving tech forward.

https://techcrunch.com/2016/04/14/women-in-tech-whats-the-real-problem/ https://hbr.org/2008/06/stopping-the-exodus-of-women-in-science/ http://www.wsj.com/articles/whats-holding-back-women-in-tech-1458639004

“Women shouldn’t be afraid to put themselves forward” –Sarah Wood Co-founder and COO of Unruly Media

It is very easy to focus on these statistics and other barriers we face as women in the world of tech. It can be easy to lose sight of the fact we are doing what we love and get bogged down by the forces working against us.

With this in mind I wanted to post something more positive, more motivational. To get this discussion going I thought I'd share a blog article written by a graphic designer I am acquainted with. You can read the article here.

If you don't feel like clicking on the link I'll give you the main takeaways. Through the author's experience in the Tech world she compiles a list of assets she has seen women bring to the table.

Women show a propensity for connection, including the ability to connect nerds to designers to laymen.
We have an eye for creating work spaces that help clients feel comfortable; let’s face it, most women are more tuned into their surroundings than men.
In my experience, women are better able to translate geek-speak into language that clients can understand and even relate to.
Females have a knack for intuiting the feelings and emotions of others in the group, which translates into unique business development ideas.
Women are collaborators and community builders—two essential skills for pulling people together to accomplish complex tasks.

This list barely scratches the surface of what women have to offer the technology. What are some things you bring to the table ?

#steemit #tech #writing #minnowsunite