According to Ensono’s Speak Up 2022: Women’s Voices in the Tech Workplace report, women in the tech industry face intimidation, exploitation, harassment and subjugation.
The report states that a significant number of women working in technology have experienced physical and verbal harassment throughout their careers, and nearly half (44 per cent) of employers in the United States have experienced an increase in sexual harassment in the workplace in the last five years.
“We surveyed 1,500 female full-time tech workers in the U.S., U.K. and India about day-to-day challenges, the impact of remote work, and gaps in support and training. While we found many bright spots — like a rise in male allyship and benefits of remote work flexibility — we also found most workplaces have room to grow. Women across geographies still report unacceptably high rates of discrimination and harassment — in the U.S., about 1 in 5 women report experiencing sexual harassment and verbal harassment. There were also clear indications in the data that women are seeking new forms of career training and support that are currently absent, and feel held back without it, “the report said.
According to the report, “When it comes to women’s day-to-day workplace experiences and support networks, our survey found many gains to celebrate.” For example, about half of women in the United States (51 per cent), the United Kingdom (42 per cent) and India (57 per cent) said that the number of their male allies in the workplace has increased in the last five years.
Many women report toxic experiences throughout their careers, and these experiences vary by geography. One in five women (22 per cent) in the United States and India report verbal abuse, while the UK is close behind at 21 per cent. Women in the United Kingdom report more subtle forms of discrimination, such as microaggressions or being dismissed in group settings.
The study also found that women are discouraged from pursuing STEAM careers. Sixty-seven percent of those surveyed said they have faced discouragement or setbacks during their careers in technology, including discouraging them from pursuing a STEAM career in high school, or earlier (45 per cent), with 44 per cent saying the career path is male dominated, and 36 per cent saying it is too difficult for women.
It also documented the income gap for women in the United Kingdom. More remote and hybrid employment opportunities for female tech workers, and how barriers to women in technology can be broken down.
The sources for this piece include an article in TechRepublic.