Breaking Barriers: A Woman's Journey in the Software Industry
Written by Arzu Caner on March 27, 2023
I have stepped into another industry where it is difficult to be a woman. I say this because statistics present some striking results.
The first statistic that highlights the gender distribution in the sector shows that unfortunately, only about 5% are women. (Statista) Also, when we look at other research results on Exploding Topics, we see that companies with more than 10,000 employees report that women make up 26.2% of their workforce.
This statistic leads us to another question: Why is the number of women so low in the software industry?
Some articles I have read on this subject have stated that the underrepresentation of women in the sector is one of the most important factors. They also highlight that recruitment processes in the software industry can be biased against women, resulting in fewer women being hired or promoted.
Moreover, some women have felt excluded or marginalized in the software industry due to the prevalence of a "bro culture" in some workplaces.
Finally, these articles note that the demanding nature and long working hours of software development can be especially challenging for women who have caregiving responsibilities outside of work.
There are many communities working to empower women and give them a voice in this sector, and I am a member of some of these communities, including Lonca, Women Who Code London, Women Who Code, and Women Who Code Frontend. These communities are working hard to help women develop their skills and become leaders in the industry.
I hope that the software industry becomes