The Unpalatable Truth: Why Women Are Stuck in the Slow Lane of Tech
In a stark rebuke to the notion of progress, the ICT sector in South Africa has exposed a shocking reality: the struggle for women to break through the glass ceiling is far from over. While there has been a slight increase in female representation in the industry, the pace of change is glacial, with women languishing in middle management positions while their male counterparts soar to the top.
"It’s a myth that women are equal in the ICT sector," says Wabo Majavu, executive of strategy and business operations at Africa Data Centres. "The numbers don’t lie. Women are stuck in internships, struggling to climb the corporate ladder while men breeze past them to reach the top."
The statistics are dire. According to the Commission for Employment Equity, women make up a meager 22% of the ICT workforce, with African women struggling to break through the 15% mark. The data is a scathing indictment of the industry’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
But what’s causing this stagnation? Majavu points to the lack of emphasis on diversity and inclusion in hiring practices, with companies prioritizing technical skills over inclusive hiring practices. "Companies need to start asking the right questions, like what are the core functions of their organisation and what technical skills are required? Then, they need to ring-fence those areas and start monitoring transformation."
The problem is compounded by the limited number of girls taking up STEM-related subjects at school, which hinders them from pursuing ICT-related courses at tertiary level institutions. However, initiatives aimed at encouraging young girls to enter STEM fields are slowly gaining traction, with government and corporate partnerships reaping rewards.
As Majavu so aptly puts it, "The struggle is real, but we need to stop pretending that progress is being made. It’s time to face the uncomfortable truth and take concrete action to transform the ICT sector."
