Diversity in the Tech Industry

The lack of diversity in the tech-industry is one of the biggest issues we must face if we, as a society, want to advance into the technological age. The status-quo is actively preventing technological advancement in our country; when at least 50% of the population feels uncomfortable joining the industry, and many other segments of the population, too, feel isolated working in a white-washed environment, there is no opportunity for the infusion of new ideas and talent into the workplace.

Women and minorities face numerous obstacles when entering the tech-industry. Even if they are hired which, according to some of the articles we read, is not nearly at the same rate as white males, women and minorities are not comfortable in the current prevailing tech environment, which propagates a sort brogramming culture. Surrounded by this, they are pushed to the fringe of the office, going to work each day feeling like outsiders. Although some are able to deal with these difficulties, many leave, shown by the disproportionately high retention statistics for women and minorities in large tech companies. It is good that many companies are making a concerted effort to hire more women and minorities, but that is not enough. I believe that, for true change to take place, there must be a societal effort to change these social norms.

As we read, many of the current stereotypical norms associated with computer programmers were developed from the behavioral studies of many tech companies in the early years of the industry. But, the problem was that these studies really only focused on one demographic, white males. So, as can be expected, the portrait of the computer programmer was really just the portrait of the privileged white guy. Reinforced over the next few decades, this portrait is now the norm. Across the country, women and minorities hesitate to even attempt to take up computer science, and other engineering disciplines for that matter, as their focus. We need to change this stereotype. This can only come through early-childhood education about technology. Teach kids that anyone can code, and that it isn't just something you're born with. If we actually can get kids interested early, then the future of the industry is guaranteed. Imagine how much better off we would be now if, over the last 30 years, the talent pool had been expanded by 50%.