5 Resources for Women Who Code

By Mike Riley 4 years ago

A 2016 study found that, of the three million pull requests submitted on GitHub, nearly 80-percent of the ones written by women were approved, compared to the 74.6-percent of code written by men. Essentially, this means that women are better at coding (numbers don’t lie) than men, but the lack of women in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) industries remains exceedingly low. Only 25-percent of computing jobs are held by women, only 5-percent of women own startups, and only 3-percent of women say a job in tech is their first choice. Gender bias is one of the main things holding women back from following a career path in tech. Below are a few resources to help women smash the glass ceiling and lead in the tech world.

1. Program Tutorials

Initiatives to help women who want to develop a career in tech are sprouting up all over the web. One example is MotherCoders, a nine-week, onsite training program that helps moms develop the skills to code and advance their careers in tech. The organization even offers onsite daycare at their locations to help moms balance childcare and work.

Another is Girls Who Code, an organization that gives girls the opportunity to learn coding and exposes them to potential tech job opportunities. Many tech schools also offer scholarships to women, so be sure to research opportunities for studying and professional development.

2. Professional Attire

Any professional woman knows that having the right tools and knowledge is just half the battle. You also have to dress the part in order to succeed. You can do this by establishing a set wardrobe for work and professional opportunities. Your professional attire should include pieces like ankle length pants, wide leg or straight leg trousers, skirts of different lengths, tailored jackets, and a few pairs of flats. Avoid skinny jeans, graphic tees, and flashy accessories unless they’re clearly acceptable at your workplace.

Online Training

The internet is a beautiful thing for people who want to expand their knowledge from home. For women who want to train on their own time, resources include:

  1. Khan Academy. This free resource is great for anyone who wants to learn the basics of coding and web development. You have the freedom to start and stop training whenever you want, which is great for any busy working woman.
  2. Rails Academy. This online resource provides women with the tools and technology to pilot their ideas. The program teaches women coding in various languages like Ruby and Python, so they can become familiar with functions like np.arange.
  3. Skillcrush. With Skillcrush, you can take online classes in just about anything related to tech and the internet—web design, data analytics, and web development. So whether you want to learn how to code or become an effective online copywriter, Skillcrush has you covered. The program isn’t limited to women, but it was started as a way for women to break into the tech industry.

Communities

  1. Women in Technology Slack Channel. This communication channel has more than 800 members and allows any woman to join, regardless of their expertise. Here, you can connect with other like-minded women involved in coding, web development, and other tech or software endeavors.
  2. Women Techmakers Slack Channel. This platform is divided into three groups: early career, mid-level, and established career. You can connect with other techies and find more resources to help your career.
  3. Women in Tech Facebook Group. Facebook groups are another popular platform to utilize for professional development and networking. Check out the Women in Tech Facebook group whose mission is to empower and support women in tech.
  4. Global Tech Women Facebook Group. Looking to collaborate with women all across the world? Then check out the Global Tech Women Group. Being a part of this group will expose you to Global Tech Women’s upcoming events as well.

Networking Events

Plenty of conferences and events are available for women in the STEM field. Some to check out include Gender Summit, which analyzes why gender bias exists in the STEM world, and the Grace Hopper Celebration, the largest gathering of women technologists.