The number of women in the tech industry who have a coding skillset is shockingly low, with a recent study showing that only 12% of IT graduates are female.
That’s not to say there aren’t females out there learning code; if you’re reading this article right now, the chances are high that you’re one of them. The problem is that many don’t know where to start a career in tech or get involved.
However, there has been a shift in popular opinion that anyone can do coding in recent years. In contrast, this shift has helped open the door for a more diverse group of people with different backgrounds and experience levels to explore programming.
It also means that many women are missing out on the great privilege of learning how to code. This blog post will discuss why learning to code can be a great career decision and give you some tips in getting started with your programming journey.
More Women Are Needed in Tech
A new study by Girls Who Code found that the number of women interested in STEM degrees has dropped dramatically over the past ten years.
This study found a 31% drop in women enrolling in computer science degrees from 2000-2010.
This has resulted in many problems for companies trying to hire new employees because they struggle to find qualified females to fill open roles within their organization.
Women make up around 24% of all workers in STEM fields, but more women are needed to fill these companies’ open jobs. The more women who enter the technology industry the better prepared the workforce will be for future employment.
Why Does This Matter
The truth is that having more women in tech leadership roles has been shown to bring about better results for companies both financially and culturally within their workforces.
This is because diversity has been shown to bring about more innovation, better collaboration with teams, and higher success rates.
The truth is that having more women in tech leadership roles has been shown to bring about better results for companies both financially and culturally within their workforces.
On the financial side, some studies show companies that have women in leadership roles see a boost in their return on equity by 34%. On top of this, Fortune 100 CEOs with diverse backgrounds make 16% more than their counterparts without diverse experience.
Thus, having women in the tech industry has been shown to bring about more successful products with lower failure rates. They are better at listening and communicating with their teams and understanding clients’ needs for a product or service.
When You Have All It Take To Become A Great Coder
Nothing should stop you from becoming a great coder. You can be the best in your field and even start a company based on your coding skills.
You Are Creative
Creativity is one of the most relevant traits you can have as you pursue your career in tech. You are constantly seeking new ways to solve problems and finding creative solutions for complex issues.
Thinking like an expert and solving problems in new ways is an essential trait for programming.
You Are Good With Programming Languages
When you are good with all coding languages, you’re equally comfortable working in any language regarding the crunch.
You can code up an idea for a web app in Ruby on Rails or Flask, then drop it down into Python if that works better; when the time is right, whip out your JavaScript knowledge and get hacking away.
You Are A Team Player
When you love helping others in your company when they need it the most, you enjoy being a member of a community committed to helping each other out, no matter what time of day it might be.
This commitment comes from an innate desire to go above and beyond for your co-workers and customers.
Working for a firm with strong values is important because it ensures that everyone can depend on each other for support.
5 Reasons Girls Should Learn How To Code
Perhaps you plan to become a software engineer, data scientist, computer analyst, or businesswoman; computer coding using programming languages is essential to acquire.
However, the following are the reasons why learning to code should make it on every woman’s to-do list:
1. You Will Take Control Of Your Career
It is like taking control of your career decision-making process when you learn how to code because it makes you more valuable in the job market.
You can also ensure that coding skills are always relevant and in-demand, which means less fear about switching jobs or getting laid off.
2. You Will Challenge The Tech Industry Standard
Coding gives girls a sense of power over the world around them, and they can create and build their future rather than wait for it to happen. It is a tool that everyone should have access to because the more people who know how to code, means new opportunities.
3. You Will Keep Your Mind Active
You won’t be stuck in an office environment doing the same thing over and over again. You might not even realize you are using coding skills daily until it comes to your attention.
4. You Will Indulge In Personal Perks
You will realize that your skillset is valued on merit, not on whether you look like a super-model or wear lipstick.
You will know the satisfaction of creating something from scratch and seeing it work right in front of you. You will be able to gain the respect and admiration of your peers.
5. Your Time Is Now
You don’t have to wait for the ideal opportunity time before you start learning. Whether you want a new job or want more knowledge about technology and computers than is necessary for this day and age, everyone should know, even if it’s just basic HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and C++.
The Top 5 Skills Needed To Become A Great Coder
1. Coding Language
You can’t be a software developer or engineer without becoming proficient in at least one programming language like JavaScript or Python.
Also, you will need to understand how to use the standard-essential developer tools like Git, GitHub, and a lot more.
2. Self Reliance
Learning to write code can be complex, so you have to be extremely patient. You have to learn to overlook distractions and not wait for other software engineers to solve technical problems.
3. Communication Skills
Coders frequently work with teams requiring them to write code to understand and maintain other software developers.
In addition, developers need to explain complex concepts to inexperienced coders in a relatively simple way.
Coders frequently work with teams requiring them to write code to understand and maintain other software developers.
4. Recognize The Limits Of Machine Intelligence
Computers can’t think for themselves, so this is something that needs to be kept in mind. However, you’ll need to acquire a mindset where you believe the computer should only execute commands you explicitly gave.
5. Critical Thinking
Because code cannot be physically measured, you’ll need to learn how to represent it in a way that makes sense.
You must consider things from various viewpoints and make fascinating judgments based on what may seem simple.
13 Resources For Women Who Want To Learn How To Code
The following are the 13 resources for women who wish to learn how to code, but they have been divided into categories so that you can quickly discover what you’re searching for:
Website Training
1. Girls Who Code
The Institute of Women’s Policy Research survey research shows that only 20% of young women are interested in STEM courses and computer programming.
However, when it comes time to choose what to study and which profession to pursue, something happens.
Girls Who Code was created to break this cycle by providing young girls with the technical skills and self-assurance to continue their IT professions.
2. Ada Developer Academy
The Ada Developers Academy is a specialized and selective training program for women and gender non-conforming individuals who want to code.
Ada teaches women courses on Ruby on Rails, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Git, and Source Control while relying on sponsors to pay for the intense in-class and industry internship experience (i.e., tuition is free).
3. MotherCoders
MotherCoders is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting women in entering the technology sector to establish successful careers for themselves.
MotherCoders’ goal is to assist women who have difficulty enrolling in educational programs to re-enter the workforce, advance their professions, and start new businesses by providing a part-time, 9-week training program (including onsite childcare) that teaches women how to code mobile apps.
4. Hackbright Academy
Hackbright Academy provides a 12 week accelerated training program for women that combines traditional classroom instruction and individual project work to give students a thorough understanding of software engineering.
5. Girls Develop It
Girl Develop It is another organization that provides affordable web and software development education to women all across the United States.
Girl Develop It strives to give ladies the confidence to create their website and mobile applications by offering in-person courses and neighborhood help.
Online Training/Courses
6. Skillcrush
At Skillcrush, you choose the skills you wish to learn on their website. Learn web development, advanced WordPress, web design, data analytics, and even copywriting for the internet are just some examples of the type of courses available.
Although coding for women is not the only goal of these programs (about 25% of students are male), they were created to assist female students to break into their chosen fields.
7. Rails Girls
The Rails Girls is an online resource dedicated to women who want to learn more about technology and get their ideas off the ground. Learn simple programming, sketching, and prototyping fundamentals.
In addition, get access to online web guides, materials, and tools to aid in the development of your ideas while also learning more about events where you may meet like-minded females looking to break into the tech sector.
Tutorials
It’s as simple as going online and looking for coding instructions. That said, the following are a little simpler for you by providing you with some tutorials, so you don’t have to worry yourself hunting online:
8. CSS Tutorials
Do you want to learn some CSS tactics so that you can improve your skills? Tripwire has compiled a list of the most helpful CSS lessons for you to practice on.
Each course is directed to your specific needs, so choose the one that works best for you and have a look.
9. Code Conquest Code Tutorials
Code Conquest’s collection of free code tutorials covers the most widely used website languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP.
These lessons can assist you in determining whether a language is the best fit for you by providing an overview of its features.
10. Code Avengers
The interactive and engaging nature of the Code Avengers tutorials takes learning to the next level. Although not specifically targeted at women, there’s a lot to learn about how to code games, apps, and websites using HTML, CSS, Python, and JavaScript. This training is available in multiple languages and requires just 12 hours to finish.
11. Khan Academy
This nonprofit organization offers people who want to learn how to code with step-by-step video courses on programming drawings, animations, and games.
You may also learn how to create websites using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python.
Slack Channels/Podcast/Videos
Here are some of the greatest Slack channels, podcasts, and videos for women who want to learn how to code.
12. Female Founder Podcasts
Take a look at this list of the greatest podcasts for women who want to break away from the pack and start their companies/enterprises:
Y Combinator’s Startup School Radio: They cover everything you need to know about starting, raising, and expanding your own tech company.
Girlboss Radio: each episode is a conversation with a famous woman who has succeeded in the corporate world. Discover how they got there and what they learned on the way.
13. Video Playlists for Women Coders
Check out this list of good video playlists to help you with any coding needs, whether you want to watch video content rather than written text:
Code path: They deal with software engineering as an ever-changing field, so if you’re just getting started, it might not be easy to keep up.
Find mentors, acquire new skills, and discover projects that will help you improve your coding abilities easier and more enjoyable.
WomenWhoCode: This nonprofit playlist of films, for example, helps to push women to excel in their tech professions.
With over 50,000 members from 20 countries (and with 3,000+ worldwide events), this is the natural place to be if you want a little boost of confidence and a lot of information.
The Key To Getting Started
The key to getting started on your programming journey is just to get started. The first step is always the hardest, but it becomes more accessible and enjoyable once you’re moving.
If you never start, then how will anything ever be achieved? Once you learn that there are no natural barriers other than those you place on yourself, everything opens up like a vast ocean of possibilities waiting for your exploration.
Women learn to code because coding represents independence in both thought and action, empowerment, self-sufficiency, creativity within constraints, problem-solving skills, and the ability to learn continuously.
Coding has become a fundamental skill like reading, writing, speaking, or listening, which should be taught in all schools around the world not as an elective course but rather as part of the core curriculum because that’s what coding is; It’s literacy for the 21st century.
Conclusion
Women may find coding to be an exciting and empowering experience. It would help if you learned how to code, and it will open doors to many opportunities for you.
Taking an online course, such as community groups or finding a mentor to assist you on the road to basic coding abilities, is the best approach to get started.
Do not let anything keep you out of the tech sector so that you can realize your aspirations. Don’t let misconceptions and gender bias get in the way of your success.
Take charge, make a strategy, and stick to it. Women coders are needed more than ever before.
So, if you have the motivation and commitment to work in the tech industry, check out these resources for some inspiration. You may undoubtedly encourage other women to pursue it as well.
