Why it’s important to encourage more girls into tech

We have invested resources into developing women’s careers, we have vowed to pay women equivalently to their male counterparts, and we have made public commitments to make our society equitable. And, still, despite all of this, instances of gender inequality are rife. Is our gender bias systemic? Have we got gender fatigue? And will we ever achieve gender balance in tech?

TO HELP SHED SOME LIGHT ON THESE QUESTIONS, WE SAT DOWN WITH GRANT SMITH, VP OF EDUCATION OF KIDS CODING SPECIALIST CODE NINJAS.

At locations across the UK, Canada and the US, kids learn to code in a fun, safe and inspiring learning environment. With a game-based curriculum, kids love to learn and parents clearly see results. For more information, visit www.codeninjasfranchise.co.uk.

WHILE THERE IS A HUGE DEMAND FOR COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS IN THE UK, WITH A RECENT STUDY SHOWING THAT AROUND 750 NEW PROGRAMMING JOBS ARE ADVERTISED EVERY DAY^1,, ONLY 26% OF WOMEN CURRENTLY ACCOUNT FOR THE UK TECH WORKFORCE²

It is clear that more needs to be done to respond to the gender disparity in the industry and encourage more women to pursue a career that offers lucrative opportunities in the UK. In the mind of Justin Nihiser, CEO of Code Ninjas – the kids coding experts – the road to encouraging more women into the industry starts early on.

When considering the gender gap in the tech industry, we first must ask – why does it matter? Other sectors, such as nursing, have been shown to have similar issues with gender equity. A recent study shows that only 11% of registered nurses in the UK identify as male³. While perceptions of certain sectors are rightfully being challenged, as a society, we have become accustomed to the idea that certain careers are more male or female. Arguably, some jobs may befit certain genders or individuals from specific backgrounds; however, there are certain industries that are missing out on the collective contributions that can be made from a diverse workforce.

Encouraging more women to code is far more important than meeting a quota. Although it is paramount to ensure our industry is as diverse as possible, we must also understand that women bring far more to the table than helping to reach a company’s Diversity and Inclusion goal. The British Computer Society study found that once young women choose computing, on average they outperform their male counterparts⁴. While not discrediting the work that male programmers bring to the industry, it is clear that the sector is missing out on a vast amount of talent by failing to shed its negative connotations for women. To change these misconceptions and encourage these highly skilled girls to start a career in computing, we must ensure that it is a desirable and welcoming environment.

For this to be effective, positive perceptions of the industry need to be established from the start. Gender gaps begin early; a recent study found young girls report less interest and self-efficacy in technology compared with boys in school⁵. However, the same study found that girls given positive programming experiences reported higher technology interest and self-efficacy compared with girls without and did not exhibit a significant gender gap relative to boys’ interest. While this research shows that stereotypes around STEM activities are strong at an early age, the research also suggests malleability. It is possible to put girls on academic trajectories that can result in increased engagement in computer science and engineering if teachers, parents, and policymakers develop positive STEM experiences for girls.

Currently, girls are missing out on the opportunities that developing an understanding of STEM at an early age will offer them in years to come – both professionally and personally. To bridge this imbalance of gender equality, leaders at Code Ninjas believe that a strong foundation and early adoption of technology will set the path for the future. While diversity is about far more than gender, at Code Ninjas, the focus is on lifelong analytical and problem-solving skills through creative learning that will benefit girls and boys. The greater the range of children we can excite about coding now, the greater the diversity of thinking and problem-solving we will see in the next generation of STEM leaders – bringing new and surprising solutions to the problems we face in the future.

REFERENCES

1. CodinGame
2. Tech Nation: Diversity and Inclusion in UK Tech
3. Nursing and Midwifery Council
4. British Computer Society
5. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology: Programming experience promotes higher STEM motivation among first-grade girls