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Diversity and inclusion are important. As a tech company, we know that various valuable perspectives come with every culture, nationality, or gender. We celebrate the differences in how we see the world; these differences lead to innovations that change the way we live. KUDO is well aware of the lack of diversity in the tech space, specifically when it comes to the gender gap. In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re using this blog to draw attention to this gender gap in tech. We’ll also celebrate the women in tech who have changed the way we live.
Where are we now?
Although the tech industry has expanded by 79% within the past 30 years, only 25% of tech employees are women, and of this 25%, only 9% are women of color (www.cio.com). For those who break into the tech world, statistics show that women are 45% more likely to abandon their IT careers than men; 50% of women leave the industry by age 35. Why do women leave the tech industry at such a high rate? This phenomenon does not occur due to women’s incompetence but rather due to discrimination and a lack of inclusivity (www.burlingtoncodeacademy.com).
When race is factored in, discrimination towards women is two-fold. BIPOC women have stated that they experience both sex-based and racially motivated reasoning for being denied promotions.
Women’s incomes are significantly lower than men’s, in general, and in the tech industry—over half of the women in tech make less than men who hold the same positions. These statistics still hold even in companies with women in CEO and founder positions (www.burlingtoncodeacademy.com).
Three women in tech you should know
To pay homage to the countless women who have contributed to the tech industry, KUDO has decided to spotlight some of these women’s stories. The first of which being Ada Lovelace, the first-ever computer programmer. Born in 1815 to Lord Byron and Anna Isabelle Byron, Ada’s mathematical abilities manifested early in her youth. This talent eventually led her to collaborate with Charles Babbage on the “Analytical Engine,” an incomplete device that resembled the modern computer. Due to her contributions to this invention, Lovelace is often referred to as the world’s first computer programmer (www.globalapptesting.com).
Logged into your Wi-Fi today? You have a woman to thank for that as well.
Hedy Lamarr was an actress and inventor who lived during the mid-1900s. In 1942, she patented her “secret communication system,” a frequency hopping system designed to misguide radio-controlled torpedoes during World War II. This technology later inspired the inventions of WIFI, Bluetooth, and GPS (www.globalapptesting.com).
Lastly, Annie Easley was a NASA rocket scientist who paved the way for diversity in the STEM world. At the time of her initial employment, she was one of only four Black employees at the NASA Lab. Throughout her fruitful career of 34 years, Easley contributed to countless programs, including the Centaur rocket project (which laid the foundations for space shuttles in the future, as well as dissolving discriminatory barriers for BIPOC women in STEM everywhere (www.globalapptesting.com).
KUDO recognizes the value of diversity and will continue to recognize the monumental role women have played in the tech world. We will be celebrating International Women’s Day all month long by highlighting our leaders here at KUDO.
What is KUDO?
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