Women in tech  

Brazil Malaysia Nigeria

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The Aurora Tech Award aims to support women founders. Our research has identified  a significant gap between the number of startups founded by women vs. those founded by men.

89%

Currently, significantly more men are building careers in technology than women.

64%

36%

Total

77%

23%

Male

52%

48%

Female

n=299 (Total)

Yes

Significantly higher/lower than opposite gender at 95% significance level: >M,F/<M,F

To answer the question of what drives this gap, we investigated the following five parameters:

1
Reasons for choosing an educational direction
2
Information channels about tech careers
3
Job offerings from companies
4
Barriers to and reasons for working in technology
5
Role models

Reasons for choice of educational direction

Brazilian students choose their educational paths based on interest  and knowledge rather than gender stereotypes.‍

There's a lack of information about STEM projects in schools. And the most popular reasons for choosing non-STEM subjects among women are bullying and special attention directed at girls in IT.

For me STEM subjects are interesting
52%
STEM subjects are relevant to the
career I plan to choose
48%
I’m better in STEM subjects
37%
In school teachers make STEM
subjects appealing for me
24%
There was a lot of information about STEM
careers at school
17%
STEM subjects are for everyone, there is
no gender connection
14%
I am okay with a primarily male
environment
4%

I’m better in humanities or other
subjects
34%
There was a lack of information about
possible STEM careers at school
34%
In school teachers didn’t make STEM
subjects appealing for me
19%
STEM subjects are not relevant to the
career I plan to choose
11%
Girls who study IT experience bullying/
special attention
10%
Top-3 reason of choice
among women
For me STEM subjects are not interesting
8%
I didn’t want to be active
in a male dominated environment
3%
STEM subjects are for boys only,
 there is no place for women
1%
Other
2%

Information channels about tech careers

Publications
38%
Social media
33%
Professional websites
32%

Details

Read publications
38%
Saw information on social media
33%
Found information on professional
websites
32%
I conduct research
 about STEM careers by myself
31%
Visited conferences
 and got knowledge there
27%
Found information
 in online forums
26%
My friends/relatives worked
 in STEM companies
22%
I was told about it in school
19%
Official information
 from the authorities
16%

Significantly higher/lower than opposite gender at 95% significance level: >M,F/<M,F

n=145 (Male)

Yes

85%

15%

n=152 (Female)

Yes

77%

23%

Significantly higher/lower than opposite gender at 95% significance level: >M,F/<M,F

Barriers to, and reasons for working in technology

In Brazil, the main reason given for choosing to work in technology is personal preference.
‍
Others choose to work in technology for economic reasons (salaries and career growth).

The dominant barriers are: competitive labor market, fast-paced work environment and high pressure to meet deadlines.

Details

Reasons to work in technology
Interest in technology 
and its possibilities
53%
Attractive salary and benefits
49%
Opportunity for career growth
48%
Personal interest
43%
Access to the latest technology
 and tools
43%
Possibility to work
 from home or remotely
38%
Job stability
37%
A challenge and the creative
 freedom it offers
33%
Desire to make a positive impact
in the world
31%
Desire to work with an innovative
and modern team
29%
Strong sense of purpose
23%
Other
1%

Barriers to working in technology
The market is very
competitive
42%
Excessive competition
 for job opportunities
30%
Fast-paced work environment
29%
High pressure to meet deadlines
25%
Difficulty keeping up with the latest technological advances
18%
Limited opportunities 
for career progression
17%
Lack of sufficient training opportunities
16%
Lack of job security
9%
Unclear job roles and responsibilities
9%
Difficulty building and maintaining customer relations
8%
Other
2%

Significantly higher/lower than opposite gender at 95% significance level: >M,F/<M,F

Taking into account the various factors at play, including disparities in access to resources, traditional gender roles  and expectations, existing government policies and support mechanisms for startups, the Women in IT research tested  the hypothesis that there is also a need for local role models

ROLE MODELS: STEM-workers

For men

Mark Zuckerberg
10%
Steve Jobs
10%
Elon Musk
10%

For women

Ada Lovelace
11%
Grace Hopper
7%
Carol Shaw
6%

ROLE MODELS: non-STEM-workers

For men

Bill Gates
13%
Elon Musk
13%
Mark Zuckerberg
11%

For women

Carol Shaw
7%
Ada Lovelace
5%
Gisele Bundchen
4%

We find evidence for this in the fact that, of all role models named, only two categories are considered local: close circle (eg. parents, university professors, etc) and Gisele Bundchen.

Details

STEM workers

Mark Zuckerberg
10%
Steve Jobs
10%
Elon Musk
10%
Bill Gates
9%
People of close circle
7%

Ada Lovelace
11%
Grace Hopper
7%
Carol Shaw
6%
Susan Wojcicki
5%
Hedy Lamarr
4%

non-STEM workers

Bill Gates
13%
Elon Musk
13%
Mark Zuckenberg
11%
Steve Jobs
11%

Carol Shaw
7%
Ada Lovelace
5%
Gisele Bundchen
4%

Brazil Malaysia Nigeria

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Women in tech

The Aurora Tech Award aims to support women founders. Our research has identified a significant gap between the number of startups founded by women vs. those founded by men.

Currently, significantly more men are building careers in technology than women.

Total

Male

Female

To answer the question of what drives this gap, we investigated the following five parameters:

Reasons for choice of educational direction

Information channels about tech careers

Publications

Social media

Professional websites

Barriers to, and reasons for working in technology

Role models

ROLE MODELS: STEM-workers

For men

For women

ROLE MODELS: non-STEM-workers

For men

For women

STEM workers

non-STEM workers

Women in tech  

The Aurora Tech Award aims to support women founders. Our research has identified  a significant gap between the number of startups founded by women vs. those founded by men.