10 Ways to Celebrate Women in Tech

March is Women’s History Month all over the world, but that doesn’t mean we have to stop celebrating women in tech after March. Women make up only approximately 15% to 22% of all data science professionals, according to various surveys from Global Gender Gap Report and BCG research. There are lots of things you can do throughout the year for female founders and technologists! 

Sometimes it can be hard for women in the tech industry to feel appreciated and celebrated. Read on to learn 10 different ways to celebrate the women in your life who are doing great things in tech.

1.Launch a Campaign

Every day, there are women who make a difference in our world.. They care for their family and friends. They give without expecting anything in return. They inspire us to go above and beyond. It is important to show these women love, appreciation, and respect by hosting a campaign for them! Hosting a campaign is easy and doesn’t require much work. All you have to do is write your own blog post about the women that matter most in your life and share it with friends on social media using the hashtag #StrongWomenArmy. 

2. Create a Safe Space for Women

  • There are many ways to support women in STEM. Women who are interested in computer science, or any other STEM field, can do a lot to reach out to other women and help them feel comfortable. Here are some ideas of  safe spaces for women that you can help create. Invite a speaker to talk about her career challenges and struggles 
  • Do a Girl Geek Dinners event with the goal of getting more girls into the industry 
  • Start your own company and prioritize hiring  female engineers

3. Create a Community

Celebrating Women in Tech can be hard, so here are some suggestions on what to do to celebrate them while also fostering a sense of community: 

  • Re-share social media posts you find inspiring 
  • Share your feelings and thoughts about women in tech with social media 
  • Participate in a hackathon or game jam 
  • Volunteer at an event or event planning 

4. Celebrate Women’s Achievements

Another way to celebrate women in tech, is to celebrate their achievements throughout the year. Here are three ways you can celebrate women in technology even after March:

  • Plan a celebration a year in advance for the next International Women’s Day on March 8th 2023. 
  • Check out organizations like Girls Who Code and Black Girls Code
  • Invite a woman who writes about tech to your community chat

5. Make People Aware of the Problem

Women are still under-represented in many areas of the workforce, including the tech industry. Therefore, it’s important to celebrate women who have succeeded and push for more diversity overall.

While tech companies and organizations that work with them are not legally bound to disclose the gender of their employees, I think it would be great if they did. We should expect women to be hired in any field whether it’s STEM or an artistic profession; the fact that we’re still in a place where this is even debated shows the power of these industries’ patriarchal undertones.  

6. Learn From One Another 

During Women’s History Month, everyone needs to learn about the history of women in workplaces. We can reflect on this and see what other initiatives we can take to help further equal opportunities for women in STEM fields. 

At the end of the day, we are all in this together. If one person changes their view to see things through the eyes of a woman in STEM, then we will have already made our mark. We may even find that women are helping each other out instead of competing against each other. Perhaps then there will be an entire generation of women to come who grow up wanting to work for NASA.

7. Share your Knowledge

You might think that Women’s History Month is over and done with, but I want to remind you that there are always so many ways to celebrate women in the workplace. Whether it’s talking about a woman who inspires you or being proactive in your career, there are plenty of ways to make this month more meaningful. 

8. Give Back

Women have been largely underrepresented in the technology industry. To help remedy the lack of women in tech, companies should consider giving back to charity organizations that work for women’s rights and educational opportunities.

9. Engage Women in the Workplace

Engaging women in the workplace involves many different strategies. One strategy is to make them feel welcome and respected. This can be done through open and honest dialogue, creating opportunities for collaboration, and being a role model of how to be an effective leader. 

Another strategy is to employ the principles of emotional intelligence to recognize when someone needs or wants something to make them feel better or more secure. It is important that the person receiving these gestures understand their intent and not take offense at their messaging.

10. Encourage Women to Enter the Field of Tech

According to the Pew Center, women make up 47% of the workforce in America, but only 17% of computer science majors. This disparity is due to a lack of female role models and mentors in technology that encourage young girls to study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) fields. 

Instead, women are often encouraged to pursue the arts and humanities. As a result, men outnumber women in STEM fields by 3:1. In order to create more opportunities for young girls in STEM fields, it is important to celebrate women that are excelling today in these industries.
To learn more about how Udacity connects to women in tech, listen to our Women in Tech Webinar.

Eraina Ferguson
Eraina Ferguson
Eraina Ferguson is the Marketing and Communications Manager at Udacity. Her recent monologue, Listen to Her, was read by actress Marla Gibbs and featured at the WACO Theatre’s 50in50 event. Her writing has been featured on NBC Universal, Red Tricycle, LA Parents Magazine, and the LA Times. Eraina lives in California with her husband and children.