Gender equality in the technology sector has declined in the past year, according to six in ten women who work in the field. Although they feel more prepared than ever to lead teams (81%), more than half (56%) believe that the current geopolitical scenario – with the shutdown of diversity goals and programs by companies and federal agencies in the US – is impacting the presence of women in an already scarce and male-dominated area.
This is what the data of the sixth edition of the “State of Gender” report shows, which annually surveys global women’s participation in the “technology” sector and its challenges. The research was conducted by a team from the Women in Tech inclusion program at Web Summit, the world’s premier technology and innovation event. The results were released just weeks before the Lisbon edition, which will be held from November 10-13.
“Boys’ clubs are back with a bang,” said one interviewee.
The geopolitical dimension hinders diversity
The numbers reveal a dramatic change from year to year in the survey. In 2024, 51% of women believe that gender equality in the technology sector is improving. This year, 60% reported that this movement had worsened.
Most believe this decline is due to a decline in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and global instability, which has left gender equality issues in the background. Others point to the so-called “war climate,” which will have limited funding for projects aimed at training women and reduced resources allocated to diversity in companies.
According to the survey, 61% of participants do not agree that the technology industry is taking appropriate measures to combat gender inequality.
Although women feel more confident and prepared in the tech market, the day-to-day challenges remain practically the same, according to the latest editions of the survey. Bias, underrepresentation in leadership positions, and imbalance between personal and professional lives are long-standing obstacles.
Nearly half of those interviewed (49%) reported that they had experienced sexism or some type of bias in the past 12 months. In 2024 and 2023, these percentages reached 51% and 54%, respectively. For them, masculinity is more implicit. This is evident when they are interrupted in meetings, when their ideas are ignored or re-explained by male colleagues, and even when their technical expertise is frequently questioned.
In addition, more than eight in ten women said they feel they need to work harder than their peers to prove themselves, the highest rate in the past three years.
Choosing a career or starting a family is still a dilemma. More than half of interviewees (56.5%) reported that they needed to choose between one thing and another, an increase of more than seven percentage points compared to last year.
“If you’re not willing to stay late in the office every day because you have a family, you won’t get the same promotion opportunities,” said one interviewee, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Although obstacles remain, they are optimistic about the role technology can play in rebalancing the game. A majority of women (77%) said they use AI tools every day, and three in four believe AI and automation can promote greater inclusivity, creativity and work-life balance.
On the other hand, one in four fear that technology will eventually reinforce existing gender biases.
The survey interviewed 671 participants from the global Women in Tech community, a Web Summit program. There are participants from Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa. The ages range from 18 to 74 years, most of them between 35 and 44 years.
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