Almost 75% of women in the IT sector reported that they put in extra hours to boost their opportunities for career growth, a trend attributed to gender bias and discrimination.
The cyber and data protection company Acronis facilitated a survey through a third-party source, which gathered insights from 327 full-time female employees across the U.S., U.K., Spain, and Switzerland. As stated in the survey results, 71% of participants indicated that they extended their working hours to expedite their career progression, while 70% believed that men in the IT field were more likely to advance or be promoted faster than their female counterparts. Nearly two-thirds expressed concerns that their workplaces were insufficiently promoting or working toward gender equality, as per the findings from Acronis.
A number of respondents highlighted the absence of female leadership as a significant concern within the IT field. Specifically, 63% of women in technology indicated they perceive a scarcity of female leaders in cybersecurity, and 84% felt that tech organizations would benefit from having more women in leadership roles, according to Acronis.
“To advance gender equality in the tech industry, it is crucial to acknowledge that encouraging women to pursue IT positions is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage that opens up unique opportunities for both women and the companies that hire them,” stated Alona Geckler, senior vice president of business operations and chief of staff at Acronis, in a statement. “By incorporating more women into IT roles, organizations will benefit from a diverse array of perspectives and innovative solutions driven by creativity and enhanced problem-solving abilities. This not only strengthens teams but also positions IT companies to effectively meet the varied needs of their customers within an increasingly intricate digital environment, providing them a notable competitive advantage.”
Concerns regarding gender equality go beyond the simple representation of women in the IT sector; according to an Acronis blog, many IT teams already have female representation. “Half of respondents reported that their teams consisted of 25% to 50% women. Nearly 17% indicated that their departments were primarily female, while just over a quarter of those surveyed noted that IT departments in their countries had a nearly equal gender distribution,” the blog highlights.
On a positive note, 32% of respondents felt that both men and women receive equal treatment in the workplace. However, 31% believed that men are promoted more quickly. Only 34% of those surveyed “somewhat agree” that there are sufficient training and development opportunities available for women to advance in their careers.
To encourage greater gender diversity, survey participants suggested that additional training and courses could be beneficial. They also expressed that employers have a significant role to play in promoting gender equality by providing mentorship opportunities (51%), making an effort to hire more diverse candidates (49%), and ensuring equal pay (49%).
