Do women in technology get the respect they deserve?
Despite various companies striving to improve diversity, inclusion and equality measures in the workplace, Ivanti believes the answer is still “No.”
A company known for unifying IT and security within the digital workforce, Ivanti recently conducted a new survey called the “Ivanti Women in Tech Survey 2018“. The survey looks at over 500 women currently working in the technology sector from around the globe, with insights from Ireland, the UK, and the US. During the study, Ivanti asked women about their experiences with gender disparity in the workforce, and the results weren’t good.
Females in the tech space today still struggle with problems like having their suggestions dismissed, and they’re constantly battling for a chance to prove themselves alongside their male counterparts.
The Problems for Women in the Tech Workforce Today
43% of respondents in the study that a lack of female role models in the industry is a major concern, but the problems don’t stop here. This year, a government requirement for companies to share information about the wages they pay men and women in their workforce dragged issues with salary into the light. All employees in Britain with at least 250 staff must now report the difference in what they pay their male and female team members.
The results showed that woman is regularly short-changed in many industries, including the technology sector. 75% of the respondents in Ivanti’s study agreed that if businesses want to attract more women into the tech environment, they need to be willing to pay them the same as male employees.
While the survey did reveal more women are making their way into tech today than we had five years ago, Ivanti’s research also highlighted the issues females face when trying to thrive in a previously male-dominated sector. One in five women in the study said that it’s crucial for today’s women in tech to understand their worth going into the industry.
There’s Still Work to Be Done
The Director of Field Marketing for Ivanti, and Women in Tech ambassador, Sarah Lewis noted that the latest report shows that more must be done to encourage greater gender diversity in technology. Women in the sector today shouldn’t have to fight to get the same pay as their male counterparts or receive the same degree of respect.
The good news is that there are opportunities for the women who do make their way into the tech environment. Sally Bogg, the Head of User Services for Leeds Beckett University spoke at a customer event for Ivanti, talking about how varied and exciting a career in technology can be.
Ivanti’s Women in Tech Survey is part of a growing initiative by the company which launched in Summer 2017. The campaign is intended to support women within the tech industry who want to share their ideas with like-minded peers and support the growth of equality in the sector. Ivanti also supports STEM solutions, and regularly publishes online resources for women in tech.
