Women & STEM: what are we doing to close the gender gap

In 2015, the United Nations established the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 February) to raise awareness about the importance of diversifying STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). 

It was not so long ago though, (1975), that women used to dominate these sectors. Grace Hopper, Ada Lovelace, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, and Joan Clarke, were all women pioneers in computing. Things have changed, and not exactly for the best. 

Nowadays, women hold only 25 percent of computing jobs in the United States. This is a global tendency.

We are taking action

Moove It embraces every chance to vindicate the importance of debugging the gender gap and actively encouraging more girls and women to join the industry.

We support causes like Anima, a technological high school where teenagers can learn what is necessary to work in the industry. To join the World celebration of Girls in ICT, every April 23rd we join and support the #Techyxeldía activity and try to raise awareness about the industry situation.

We also sponsor the Ricaldoni Scholarships, so that students living under precarious situations can finish their computing sciences degrees. 

More could and should be done 

That’s why Moove It founded an Equity and Gender Commission. Gladly, not only women but also men are part of this commission, working together to debug the gender gap, and to bring more equity to the company, and hopefully, the industry. 

The main goal of the Commission is to visualize how the gender gap, and gender inequity in general, manifests inside the company, and solve those issues. Along with local organizations like CUTI, the focus will be on raising awareness in the IT industry, and actively taking action into transforming the industry so that it is a fair, equal field to work, grow and develop on. 

“It is so important to make women’s role in the industry visible, so that more girls feel identified and represented. The so-called gender gap is a reality, but I’m sure every single one of us can do little things to close it bit by bit” said Cecilia Gutiérrez, developer in Moove It.

Talks about gender will be organized, as well as workplace harassment workshops and a solid proposal to educate, correct and eradicate any type of not inclusive, misogynistic attitude. 

Change starts with education

It is important to understand that young women’s choice to not pursue a career in technology despite wanting to do so, is mostly consequence of their upbringings. What do we make them believe they’re capable of doing? 

The IT Industry will only be able to hire smart, resourceful IT women, if young girls are given the opportunity to educate themselves in technology. 

That means talking to children, demonstrating girls are represented equally in the field, and above all, educating adults in power positions in the industry, so that they can be receptive to change. 

At the end of the day, what the IT industry should bet on, is compromise and attitude. These aspects know no gender, age, race or nationality. Most importantly, they are gained and discovered through equal opportunities. That’s why at Moove It, we keep asking ourselves this question and now encourage you to do the same:

How do we bring more girls into this field?