Gender bias in IT, males likely in lead positions

Hyderabad: Women in many professions have made great strides over the years and have managed to attain fairly senior positions. But that’s not the case with the comparatively younger, and therefore one would assume, more liberal, software sector. 

The percentage of women techies who reach top or middle level positions is much less than their large presence at entry level would lead one to expect.

Most companies have 30 to 40 per cent of women techies in entry level posts. This is because women constitute a sizable number of final engineering graduates that are selected by IT companies in campus recruitments. For example, 95 per cent of Pegasystems India’s campus recruits this year were women.  

According to Shanti Sundar, senior director and HR head at Pegasystems India, the “unconscious bias” at the workplace is one of the reasons that we see fewer women techies in middle and high level positions.

“Male staff feels more comfortable dealing with a male superior than a female one. If there is any technical problem at work, they feel calling a male senior will be easy, especially at night. This bias is not deliberate,” she felt.

A surprising amount of old clichés about women working seems to inform the IT sector. Anil Yamani, MD of OSI Consulting, Madhapur, says, “A higher position in the IT sector comes with increased responsibilities and round-the-clock availability. Women techies after achieving few years of work experience tend to settle down in life and afterwards their responsibilities increase. Companies doubt whether they can manage the dual responsibilities effectively and deliver the goods in higher positions. It is not everyone’s cup of tea and hence only few women reach the top.” 

Chintala Srilatha, a city techie with 14 years of experience, says IT jobs are more stressful because there are no regular timings and that may not suit women. The old work-home balance is also trotted out as a reason for women's lower status. 

“Unlike men, women have to take care of day-to-day needs of the children and hence have more family responsibilities. I know some women techies who refused to take up managerial positions since they felt that it would be difficult for them to focus on both professional and personal fronts. They are content with individual positions which give them flexibility to focus on work during the day and then detach completely from work after going home to look after their children,” Ms Srilatha said.

Kashika Gupta, a senior compliance specialist at a leading MNC, says IT companies must do more to retain and promote their women employees. 

“Women are still perceived differently in our society. For years women have climbed the corporate ladder while maintaining healthy family structure. Companies need to take steps in breaking down gender bias by building a well-rounded team with both men and women in good roles that extend beyond the stereotypes,” she said.

Few women techies in I.T. sector
30 to 40% at entry level position
14 to 15% at middle level position
5 to 7% at higher level position