Gender Parity in Tech: Men's Perception vs. Women's Reality

A recent survey by the recruitment firm Nigel Frank International has revealed a stark contrast in perceptions regarding gender equality in the tech sector. The study found that 80% of men working in tech believe that women in the industry are treated equally. However, this contradicts the experiences and years of data reflecting gender inequality in the tech sector.

Hannah Samano, CEO and Founder of Femtech company Unfabled, challenges the notion that the tech ecosystem is open to anyone, stating that invisible structural challenges hinder equality. She emphasises the importance of engagement, observation, and allyship from men in tech to address these challenges.

The survey, which included over 1,300 men in cloud computing, indicated that only 6% of male participants disagreed with gender equality, while 14% neither agreed nor disagreed. This disparity between perception and reality highlights the need for increased awareness and understanding of the issues faced by women in tech.

Anna McDougall, Director of Product and Engineering at Axel Springer National Media & Tech, stresses that achieving gender equality in tech is not just about increasing the number of women but creating an inclusive environment where they feel a sense of belonging. According to a Web Summit survey from 2023, women in tech are now experiencing more gender inequality than they did the year before.

Evelyne Adjei Mensah, founder of the French deep tech company Trust in Isotopes, notes that some men may not be aware of the inequality in tech and emphasises raising awareness so that children have diverse role models.

The study by McKinsey reveals that women occupy only 22% of all tech roles across European companies, with a potential drop to 21% by 2027 if current trends persist. To address these challenges, McDougall recommends that men actively support gender diversity by hiring women, paying them properly, and intervening if inappropriate behaviour occurs.

Hannah Samano highlights the significance of addressing the funding gap for women in tech. The survey points out that until more women are involved in investment committees and become limited partners, the challenges of achieving gender equality in funding will persist.

The survey findings underscore the need for a more comprehensive understanding of women's experiences in tech and the importance of collaborative efforts to create an inclusive industry.