What are some challenges that I may face in a field that would be considered dominated by males?

I’ll share some of the challenges I’ve faced in my schooling, career, and as someone with brothers and no sisters. I’ll also offer some of the strategies I’ve found in dealing with these.

I've worked at four tech start-ups in the last ten years. ln my experience, you will likely be talked over, interrupted, and not listened to. Your opinions will be dismissed. You’ll propose an idea and no one will seem to care. A week later (or in the same meeting) a man will suggest the same idea and everyone will love it. You won’t be included in conversations about things you have been working on. You may get dragged into political power struggles.

You will have to stand your ground, speak loudly, repeat yourself, and back up what you say with data. Overall, you have to learn to not take anything personally. Don’t be afraid to lean into conversations, invite yourself to meetings, ask to be included. No one is out to get you or purposely exclude you. No one is keeping track of what you’ve said or done. It’s easy to get upset and assume you aren’t being respected solely because you are female but there are many other factors. Get as much education as you can. Become an expert in whatever subjects, languages, tools, and projects you work on. When you know your stuff your confidence will show and give you an undeniable authority. Don't take a me against them attitude. Focus on working together to solve problems.

You’ll also find amazing male allies and mentors if you make an effort to build relationships. Much of the advice I’m giving you came from men in my life who believed in me and gave me opportunities to grow and succeed. I gained their trust by putting in hard work and genuinely caring (about the impact and quality of our work and about them as individuals.) My relationships with them are generally drama-free and fun but they also push me to take on things outside my comfort zone. Definitely go for it! Reach out to me if you ever need support.

Hi Sabrina,

I would not go into tech thinking about what challenges you may face. If it is your passion go for it, build your brand, do your homework, work hard, be connected and ask.
Have a support system around you. I have been in technology for 16 years. Not just technology but cutting edge technology ...yes women are outnumbered but that does not stop me. There is no differentiation from my perspective. We have an equal number of men ...supporting their wive's careers or single dads etc.
And yes depending on the environment that you are in you need survival skills.

One of my supervisors recommended a book called "Nice girls don't get corner office". It is short, quirky..not a literary ride but it talks about how girls are raised and are expected to behave in society and they get judged by others who grow up learning the same. I recommend reading that.

Hi there, Sabrina!

First, my bonafides. I've worked in information technology for my entire career, so close to 20 years now. I started as a UNIX/Linux Systems Administrator and then moved into Network Planning and finally Cybersecurity. I didn't have a technical degree when I started (BA in Political Science), but I've since gone on to pick up an MS in Project Management, an MS in Information Systems Security, and I'm currently working on an MS in Information Security and Assurance with a focus on Vulnerability Management and Penetration Testing (graduating June 2017). I also hold the CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) and CISM (Certified Information Systems Manager) certifications.

When I started my career back in 1996 (at a different company from Verizon), I got the UNIX job because the (male) head UNIX Systems Administrator didn't think a woman could do the job. He made a bet with the (male) manager of the team that I'd fail, and then they offered me the position. HE LOST! :)

That's a pretty egregious example of how women can be treated by male counterparts, and I'm glad to say that, for me at least, it's only gotten better. Verizon is wonderful that way - I know I'm earning equal pay for my skillset and I'm rewarded and promoted commensurate with my performance.

That said, I still encounter the "old boys' network" at times, where I'm working with individuals who talk over me when I'm trying to make a point, or who assume that I don't have any experience or certifications and act very surprised when I turn out to walk the walk as well as talk the talk. I've learned to list my certifications and degrees in my signature line because it's easier to put those things right up front and get people to listen to me when I'm talking about cybersecurity.

This really is changing, however. It's not nearly as bad as it was in the late 90s, and the default is switching to respect rather than doubt. You learn what YOU want to learn, and then you go out there and you teach people what you know. Don't ever let someone, male or female, make you doubt yourself when you know you've done the work and understand the issue at hand. Confidence is cool.

I hope this helps, and good luck!

Laura

Hi Sabrina,

Love that you are pursuing a career in tech, and security is fantastic domain! Excellent proactive question. There will be various factors, both common and unique, that will impact what your personal experience in this field could be. I can share some moments from my personal journey.

When I took my first IT specialty course program several years ago, I was one of one or two females in the classes. I did not mind that much, because I grew up with alot of close male relatives which may have contributed to my being comfortable, plus I was very focused on my career goal. Additionally, my program had a good diversity mix of various age groups, different industry experiences, and race and ethnicity. I identified with all those categories as well.

In my first few jobs, I had good experiences where the companies and teams I worked with had a good mix of people. At times, I have been the only female on my team. I had very positive experiences with my male leaders nurturing and sponsoring me. As I progressed in IT roles and worked at more companies, I have encountered some interesting personalities and cultural environments that seem to enable some individuals to go unchecked, and thus the challenges of unconscious bias and microaggressions did surface.  

These challenges show up in several forms, like not being heard in meetings or credited for your ideas and work efforts. Not being recognized immediately as really knowing your tech stuff or possessing leadership skills, so the male on the team gets more attention and opportunities. Which then leads to exclusion, compensation inequity, and severe delays in promotions. The bumps in the road did not stop me from progressing in my career, loving what I do, and being in a happy place today.

They key is, though the field has a large population male talent, you are in truth working with a small group of people day to day that impact what your workplace experience and achievements will be. Do your research about the employer you are considering to work for.  Assess the personality and values of your hiring manager and your team before you join and after.  Communicate, communicate, and communicate if something does not feel right to clear up misunderstandings and take appropriate steps from there. Never give up on your pursuits. You do belong in IT!

For a while now, my good friend has been telling me about struggles she’s facing with her boss (a high-ranking executive), that are based almost entirely on the fact that she is a woman. While she recently quit, it’s still upsetting to hear because though I’m, of course, aware that this degree of blatant sexism happens, I’ve honestly never experienced it firsthand. I haven’t always been professionally happy, but even when I’ve been overworked and miserable, I’ve never been discriminated against for my gender (or race) by any of my colleagues, male or female. For me, the only gender disparity I’ve seen up-close is working jobs where everyone I work with is female, but nearly everyone at the executive level is male.

With this in mind, I asked ten women who work in male-dominated fields (or at predominantly male offices) to share the challenges they’ve faced in their careers:

1. “Working in a male-dominated field, especially as one of the youngest 20-somethings in the office, means I now have the older brothers I always wanted. But that situation comes with its own set of challenges. While they are all, on a personal level, wonderful and look out for me, and want me to bring boys around so they can ‘approve’ of them at happy hour, that ‘little sister’ feel doesn’t always fit well in the workplace. They are often taken aback when I defend a strong viewpoint, or ask to be included in a meeting my male colleagues would never have to ask to be a part of. I’m learning that, if I’m ever going to move up and be considered a true ‘equal,’ I’ll have to be more assertive and straightforward, even if that means ditching my typical ‘nice girl’ attitude.” —

Sabrina,

Congrats on getting started on what can be a REALLY interesting profession.

I've worked in a variety of tech related jobs, from doing customer support for AOL dial up (yes, I'm a dinosaur) to working on mid-range computer programming (I was a business analyst, not a programmer), to working in process improvement (CMMI and Six Sigma) and database development, and now I've ended up way over here in Regulatory Compliance which has little to do with technology per se, but I am constantly doing IT development projects, as we use software all the time and need to improve it regularly.

I think, as women, we actually have an advantage in technology. My 'official' background is in technical theatre (I have a B.A. in theatre from a small women's college) and I have an MBA with a concentration in technology management. However, because I am flexible and able to make connections between things in ways that a lot of men are not, I've been promoted and given opportunities that others haven't for that reason.

Don't feel like you have to point yourself in a specific direction yet, either - security is an awesome area, and has a lot of advantages, but you never know what may grab your attention when you get into it, and that's fine. You don't even have to be a coder to work in tech - there are lots and lots of other positions where understanding the way the tech works and how it should be developed are critical and SDLC (software development life cycle) is a whole discipline in itself, and requires no coding, just an understanding of tech. Women are typically better at the human interaction side of software as well - and if you have an artistic or creative side, GUI design is critical to a decent software product.

Don't look at being the only girl in the room as an impediment. You are getting in on the the ground floor of a movement, and there is a lot of chance to learn new things and be the new expert. That's not a bad thing. Also, if you aren't afraid to speak up, it's been studied that women's voices (in terms of the tone of them) are actually more attention-getting in a noisy room. That's why women's voices are so often used for emergency announcements, etc. in public places. Don't be afraid to use your voice!

The other fun perks are being able to get in and out of the ladies room faster (men are often actually lined up to get in the mens room at tech conferences while women breeze in and out, believe it or not), getting preferential treatment when it comes to being stuck crawling under a desk to hook up a monitor, or carrying heavy stuff. I know darn well that I CAN do all those physical things, but it's nice to have an out - and it helps to keep your 'in charge' image intact, believe it or not. I wear skirts and dresses exclusively, am not afraid to use a pretty pen or have feminine accessories, but no one takes me any less seriously because of it. You can still be YOU and be in technology. Enjoy it!

Discrimination! It is everywhere. You just have to know to chose your battles right. I believe that as long as you know how to engage/blend yourself to people, regardless of what their genders are, you'll be fine. I have been working now on a field where I am the only lady in the group but still I am doing great. They are like brothers to me. Just keep studying since this field is so diverse. Keep yourself up to date and always step up.

As a female professional working in a male dominated industry, I would recommend the following:

1) If you are in a meeting, make sure you say something at that meeting. Speak up and be heard - no matter what

2) Self Promote! - Tell your bosses the great things you are doing and what a big impact it is having! Most men you work with will already be doing this - as a women if you don't you will fall behind

3) Ask for what you want - don't wait for it to be handed to you

4) Take risks - go for a promotion or opportunity even if you think you aren't ready or are underqualified - you will get the role and figure it out!

Good luck - Amy

Hi Sabrina:

Jessica is correct; I have encountered the same challenge when my ideas/efforts are usurped by a male. Although, sadly, I think that happens in many, many industries.

You will be coming up against an unconscious bias. The industry understands the need to diversify, but has a hard time overcoming stereotypes -- the root of the problem is known, now education and efforts to remove the bias are part of industry training. Take that as a signal that you are headed in the right direction!

The path is being paved, it will have minor bumps, but imagine the awesome feeling when you've arrived and can contribute your point of view, your energy and your creativity. Follow women who are leaders in Information Security: http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/feature/Women-of-vision-Honoring-25-outstanding-women-of-IT-security

Groups have already formed and can support you as you make your way. Check out the Women's Society of Cyberjutsu: http://womenscyberjutsu.org/

Lastly, check this out...lots of useful and interesting information on the need for women and minorities in infoSec: https://niccs.us-cert.gov/home/women-minorities

Best to you, you can do this!!!!

Bridget

Hi Sabrina!

Simply follow your dreams! If you are good at the role there is no difference between man and woman. But with your approach I'm sure you will be doing great!

We should not see boundaries that do not exist anymore. Successful company does not look at gender when hiring but skills and experience you can offer.

Our analytical team actually consists of women only. It is coincidence but it can prove you that gender do not matter!

Crossing fingers with you career plans!