Women's History Month: leveraging data for good

Greetings and happy Women's History Month! This time of the year invites us to reflect on where women (we!) are in our society and what we can do to honor them (us!) meaningfully.  I'm sharing a few thoughts as a Latina founder based in the US, working in the intersection of games, tech, and security, serving global clients and users. I also have a daughter exploring the idea of pursuing a STEM career.

I invite you to take the front seat with me as I dive into a few data points and encourage us to keep moving toward a world of inclusion and equality in a constructive way. 

Data is telling us a story. How can we leverage that for good? 

Part 1 - Women in tech 

It's plausible and expected that women flourish in all industries, including tech.  

• Women make up 50% of the global population, earn over $20 trillion annually globally, and control over 33% of total household wealth (Goldman Sachs). 
• Companies that score high in gender diversity on executive teams were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability (Dixon-Fyle, Dolan, Hunt, & Prince, 2020). 

Women have made significant contributions to the field of technology throughout history, and their representation is crucial for driving innovation and progress. Yet, here we are:

• Women are now the majority of the US workforce (50.04%). But only 28% are in STEM occupations and only 20% are in computer science occupations. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021).
• In cybersecurity, for example, women held 25% of cybersecurity jobs globally in 2022 (Women in Cybersecurity Report, 2022).  
• Women in tech earn 17.5% less in wages than men: $100,895 on average versus $122,234 (Gruman, 2020).
• Only 21% of women said they believed the technology industry was a place they could thrive (Accenture, 2020).
• Less than 2% of LP-VC funding goes to women fund managers, and less than 2% of VC investments go to women founders (Techcrunch)
• 77% of women experienced rudeness, condescending, or unfriendly behavior from investors during pitches (Kapor Center).
• If we add black or Latina into these, the stats would be much lower.

Part 2 - Women in Games

Yes, we have the numbers!

• Nearly half of all gamers worldwide are women (Newzoo).
• In the US, women accounted for 48% of gamers (Statista); in Brazil, they represent 60,4% (Pesquisa Game Brasil).
• On diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, 59% of developers reported DEI efforts at their studios (2023 State of The Game Industry);
• Game companies are constantly investing in policies and tools to support players.
• We are also seeing more women CEOs, founders, executives, and studio heads, helping to create a more diverse and inclusive industry. 

At the same time, being realistic, we need more:

• Regarding gender representation in the video game industry, almost one-fourth (23%) of people are women and 5% are non-binary (2023 State of The Game Industry). 
• Women were the identity most harassed in online games in 2020 and 2021- 47% of women experienced harassment in multiplayer games. The number of players who quit playing because of harassment increased for the fourth consecutive year (Anti-Defamation League Report Hate is no Game Report 2022).
• 64% of women experienced abuse from male gamers in the UK and US (Bryter Female Games Survey, 2021). 
• 37% of female gamers don't reveal they're female, and 37% avoid speaking when playing online through fear of negative reactions (Bryter Female Games Survey, 2021). This campaign shows how real and difficult this is.
• Not less relevant, 91% of developers said player harassment and toxicity toward devs and studios is an issue in the industry, with the severity ranging from "minor" to "very serious (2023 State of The Game Industry).
• Again, if we add other layers such as black, Latina, and Asian into these, the challenges become wider and bigger.

So what do we do?

There are many working to drive change for women in those industries. I won't risk being unfair here because there are several amazing people and organizations to tag.

I also want to take this opportunity to emphasize this movement is not about hating men or a specific group but about including more women in spaces they are not well represented and treating them equally and with respect. 

I'm listing a few things I learned from my experience (giving and getting support) that can be helpful. I hope this helps.

• Think about access and power circle (an event that needs speakers, an executive dinner, or an investor looking for opportunities). What can you do to increase representation? What are the women who could be invited? Who can help you to access them? 
• If you know a woman founder, find ways to support her business: buy products, provide constructive feedback, make referrals, engage with her content, mentor, or advise.
• Offer support with resume reviews, job referrals, or interview prep. 
• Share DEI resources with your network and help more people to take action. Don't avoid conversations that are important to improve the above stats. Speak up if you see an injustice or disrespect (don't become a bystander). 
• Regarding harassment and hate against women in games, there is no silver bullet (I have to repeat this). Infusing an "act before the fact" mentality/tools is something that is still missing in many platforms. My company GamerSafer was founded with that mindset (ping me to learn more about how can we work together). I always encourage the holistic approach route, combining different strategies is key. Meaningful impact comes with breath and depth.
• It's always great to reflect on intersectionalities and "white feminism" when planning and designing projects, events, products, etc.

There is much more I could list, but I'll leave space for you to share your experiences and perspectives that might differ from mine.

This is an ongoing effort. What stats would you like to change? Are you involved in a cool project or initiative? How can we empower more women and create safer spaces for them in tech, games and beyond?

The moment is now.

Warmly,

Maria