Is CODING a gender-biased skill?

“It’s always the right time for change if you want it to be.”

We witness everyday that how the IT industry is being dominated by Men. Everyone around us is okay with the scenario and defends the situation by saying that “Coding is more of a Man’s job.”

SPOILER: NO, it’s not.

Do you know JavaScript and Java are two completely different programming languages? If “Yes”, then you are way more smarter than I am because 6 months ago I didn’t know. I have done my bachelors in Business Management. You don’t expect someone from Commerce to know all these details, right? Well only if you have real interest in technology, which I didn’t back in the days. But now, this is the most exciting thing which I want to know more and more about everyday.

Being born in the late nineties, we have seen a complete transformation of technology. In these 20 years, we went from the Internet to Artificial Intelligence. Crazy, right? But in this kind of world, Do you think you can survive without having some basic knowledge of coding or worse without knowing how to operate computer? Because soon there will be only two kind of jobs, as described by Marc Andreessen:

“The spread of computers and the Internet will put jobs in two categories: people who tell computers what to do, and people who are told by computers what to do”

By the way you know the first person to write a program was a WOMEN. How Cool!

But still everyday we come across things like- “Hey coding is not a girls thing-it is more like mathematics, Why don’t you try teaching or apply in the banking sector? These jobs are more secure and comfortable for women.”

I am not sure about you but people used to tell me that. Everyone always says that “Women are creative”. They should get involved in non-tech jobs. But don’t you think that tech is one of the creative fields today. Moreover it is Miraculous as it allows us to do more with less. Then why are not there enough women in the industry?

Confused…?

Allow me to make it simple for you. Yes, thats true Coding is logical but it is equally creative. Look all around you, all these different apps that we use daily: Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Uber, Medium itself, you name it there’s an app for the same. Convenient, right? How do you think all these apps came into action? It is all creativity and technology combined.

Now forgive me for breaking this to you but technology and creativity do go hand in hand. Wow, that’s some relief. So don’t you think we need to get more Women like us in the industry? Because I definitely do.

From the last 6 months I am working in an Ed-tech company which helps people to launch Tech career. We are getting all the different enthusiasts in our coding bootcamp but the number of female students is very minimal. The constant fear and lack of confidence among women for coding is not going to change the scenario. As a report by Anita Borg Institute, the scenario is such because:

“Women often can’t see their career paths. They look up and don’t see anybody that looks like themselves so they end up leaving the field.”

We should change this scenario. “Masako Wakamiya, a Japanese 82-year-old woman learned to code last year, and she’s now the world’s oldest app developer.” If this 82 year old Women can learn coding, What’s your Excuse? There are enough people to look upto all you need is Desire to learn and change your fate. Employers out there are looking for all the different Women.

According to a Course Report, an organisation that monitors the bootcamp industry, nearly 40% of Women are getting into the coding bootcamps to get the skills. Now, its your turn to be the change you are looking for.

PS: If you want to get the skills to change your fate, reach out to me at amisha@goharness.in.