Advice for The Upcoming Generation of Women in the World of Tech

Although women have grown their numbers across STEM studies and careers, we still remain significantly underrepresented in these fields. Strides continue to be made towards finding an equilibrium in the gender balance within STEM fields.

The next generation of female innovators are poised to take their seat at the table, in a moment in history when technology has increasingly influenced the way we live, work and learn. There are invaluable lessons this new, upcoming generation of female STEM leaders can learn from those who have already experienced many facets of the industry.

For any woman entering this space, it can be an intimidating and uncomfortable arena. With conviction, each individual woman will need to push past her fears of the unknown in order to achieve her ultimate goals. Women who have experienced this first hand will attest to the fact that they’ve had to push back hard against stereotypes, find their comfort in the most uncomfortable of spaces and more.

Gender Stereotypes Are A Thing Of The Past

It’s always a difficult decision to choose a career path that isn’t much sought after by your demographic. It generally means that you’ll always be the odd one out, or at the very least, one of a few within that demographic. Women looking towards pursuing a career in a STEM field may be pressured to maintain the status quo and settle for something that is generally seen as more woman-friendly. But there should be no compromise when it comes to the pursuit of your dreams.

Chemical Engineer Susan King recalls her experience as she entered the field of Chemical Engineering:

“Before I even began into my career, I learned a great deal about what my experience in Engineering would be like through my education. I quickly realized that there was an inherent bias that existed, but I would not let it get anywhere near my passion and drive to succeed. When women begin to pursue careers in STEM fields, we are bombarded with unforeseeable opposition, and need to respond accordingly.”

“Never limit your capabilities to what another says is possible. You can’t let the internal bias of others impair your capabilities. As an individual, you’ll always bring your unique perspective to the table, and you can't let those natural and hard-earned talents go unnoticed.”

“Opting to pursue a career in STEM can be a difficult decision for a woman, even with the advancements that have been made these days,” explains Tech blogger Edna Edinger of Academized and Paper fellows.

It’s Time to Get Comfortable with Feeling Uncomfortable

Marie Mitchell began her career as a Computer Scientist just a few years ago in 2016, but has already had a great deal of experience that she wants to share with women new to the field of STEM when it comes to finding your place within the field.

She explains, “As a woman entering the space of computer science, it can be an incredibly uncomfortable space to get into. There will be many instances where you may not feel you’re able to do this because of the pushback you may experience. Don’t let any of that get to you.”

“Be prepared from the start to be comfortable with any of these pressures or elements that make you feel uncomfortable. If you’re getting into a STEM field, chances are you’re going to feel uncomfortable in more ways than one.”

“When you’re ready for what’s to come, you can prepare yourself for the reality. If you’re able to actually shadow women in STEM, you’ll get a better firsthand understanding of the industry overall and where you fit in,” explains Sheila Scholl who is a career writer at AustralianHelp and BigAssignments.

Mitchell continues, “I had to actually become a part of a program like Women in Technology and immerse myself into it before I was able to shadow likeminded women within the same industry. They helped me understand the nuances of coding and helped me collaborate with other females in the field to work towards elevating the field of computer science.”

It’s always uncomfortable to branch out into the unknown. When you have a passion for something, it’s vital not to let the discomfort act as a barrier towards the pursuit of that passion. Gender barriers continue to be broken down and within the various STEM fields, this is truer now than ever.

Nora Mork is a tech journalist at UK Writings and Boom Essays. She shares her experience by speaking at public events and writing for blogs, such as Essay Roo.