REPRESENTATION RESET

The gender gap is nothing new for women in tech, but emerging technologies are posing new challenges, like algorithmic biases and cybersecurity attacks aided by artificial intelligence. This calls for urgent action

-  AAKANKSHA CHATURVEDI

IN THE EVER-EVOLVING the under-representation landscape of today's tech industry, of women in the workforce is a debilitating reality. The gender gap is not only an issue of equity or equality, but also stands as an obstacle in the path of innovation. Hence, closing this divide isn't just an exercise in brushing up the industry's credentials, rather it's a strategic imperative, necessary for the industry's and society's holistic growth.

Starting from the low representation of women in the tech workforce to the minuscule number of women-founded start-ups and the problems they face in raising funding, this gender gap manifests itself in other more concerning aspects, like the effects of algorithmic biases on women's lives, and the weaponisation of AI-based tools to perpetrate cybercrimes against women. These varied concerns necessitate a re-evaluation of the tech industry's attitude towards diversity, inclusivity and security.

While women make up 36 per cent of India's tech workforce, per data from Nasscom, their share in the workforce drops drastically as one starts looking up the corporate hierarchy. For instance, only 7 per cent women held executive-level positions, according to Skillsoft's 2022 Women in Tech Report India Region, while only 13 per cent were working in director-level roles, and 17 per cent held mid-level managerial positions.

Srividya Kannan, Founder and Director of Bengaluru-based digital solutions firm Avaali Solutions, cites the highly competitive and demanding nature of tech-sector jobs, topped up with a culture and work environment that makes it difficult for women to balance work and family life, as some of the reasons behind the drop in women's participation in senior management roles. That apart, "One of the critical challenges is the pervasive gender bias and discrimination that still exists in the workplace, especially in the tech sector," she says.