The I.T. industry, once perceived as a male-dominated sector, is rapidly becoming a desirable industry for women globally, including India. Reportedly[1], India has more female STEM graduates than major economies such as the US, UK, France, or Germany. However, while gender parity is at 50:50 in STEM, the number of women in actual job roles declines from the bullpen to the boardroom. Reports indicate that only 25% of women hold management positions, with less than 1% in the C-suite. These numbers are concerning, and there is a long way to go in achieving gender equality in India’s Tech Workforce.
The world’s first female crash test dummy is a significant example of why diversity in the workforce is essential in the fields of technology and engineering. A general opinion is that perhaps countless women and children would not have been at risk if women were part of engineering R&D teams. Inventing innovative solutions and solving complex problems demands a diverse range of thinking and ideas, equally contributed by both genders. A report by the Boston Consulting Group showed that diversity in leadership teams results in better innovation and improved financial performance.
How do we achieve Gender Neutrality in Tech?
Besides continuously encouraging and supporting young girls and women to pursue careers in STEM fields, there are many initiatives business leaders can engage in to achieve gender neutrality in the fields of technology.
Women in the workforce are bringing about significant changes by breaking gender biases and stereotypes. While the tech industry is predominantly male-dominated, organisations are inching forward to maintain a gender-neutral and inclusive workplace environment, by introducing various initiatives such as women empowerment, skill development, the LGBTQIA+ community and their welfare, and helping people with disabilities blend in, apart from assisting them in finding relevant opportunities. We all have a role to play in levelling the field for a gender-neutral technology industry. We strive to constantly uphold this at our company through various programs like UDAAN – our women returnship program, a women in tech mentoring program, an active women’s support network across Asia Pacific and most importantly, gender neutral policies across the board.
Reference [1] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-has-more-women-stem-grads-than-us-uk-or-france/articleshow/84571128.cms
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