Women Entering Tech - Challenges Women Face in the Technology Industry

The technology industry is growing rapidly, creating a demand for IT professionals in various new roles. To obtain more talent, organizations, companies and educational institutions have recently targeted individuals, especially women to join the technology industry. Despite the increasing number of women entering the industry, a current phenomenon of the lack of women in the tech field causes various challenges for women and consequences which affect women’s mental health. This thesis aim is to research the challenges women face in the technology industry, examining potential root causes of the problem and how these challenges impact women’s progress in their careers. The subject is examined by explaining the phenomenon's background, addressing the current situation in the field from a worldwide perspective, but deepening the analysis for the audience in Finland. The paper is divided into sections that support the hypothesis of women entering tech, facing challenges in the industry, and potentially planning to leave the industry. The research is made by studying various theoretical sources and by conducting a survey for women in tech in Finland. The theoretical part aims to provide a wide perspective on the phenomenon from current sources, such as professional publications and news platforms, while the practical part in a form of a survey gives the viewer a chance to explore local perspectives of working women in tech. Research methods include a combination of qualitative and quantitative research. Finally, the discussion is concluded in final results, recommendations, and future study suggestions. The results indicate that women face similar challenges worldwide and in Finland, often describing challenges to rise from a male-dominant environment, lack of role models, inequality, and various other obstacles that don’t let women progress equally in the field. The goal of the thesis was to gather information on women’s current state in the industry and bring women’s challenges forward, encouraging transparency of the subject