Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, has helped start an unstoppable movement that just keeps gaining momentum. There are far too few women in technology and, until recently, girls have been discouraged from pursuing higher education in computer science. Girls Who Code is aiming for gender parity in these fields. According to their vision statement, “We believe that more girls exposed to computer science at a young age will lead to more women working in the technology and engineering fields.” We agree! Here are 10 reasons why you should get your daughters into tech.
1. Tech is the Future
The U.S. Department of Labor projects that by 2020, there will be 1.4 million computer specialist job openings.
2. Computer Science for All
Earlier this year, President Obama announced his Computer Science for All initiative aimed at making tech education available to all students from K-12 grade. “Our economy is rapidly shifting, and both educators and business leaders are increasingly recognizing that computer science (CS) is a “new basic” skill necessary for economic opportunity and social mobility.”
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3. CODEGIRL
Director Lesley Chilcott’s award-winning documentary follows girls from around the world vying to win the Technovation Challenge by designing the best app that addresses a community problem. As the the CODEGIRL website states, “By 2017, the app market will be valued at $77 Billion. Over 80% of these developers are male.”
4. Girls Who Code will be Giving $1 million in Scholarships This Year
Their goal is to provide computer science education and exposure to 1 million young women by 2020. Now, more than ever, tech education is available to girls at all income levels.
5. Only 4% of High School Girls Choose Computer Science as a College Major
Girls Who Code reports this disappointing statistic, “In middle school, 74% of girls express interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), but when choosing a college major, just 0.4% of high school girls select computer science.”
6. Elephant in the Valley
Elephant in the Valley is a survey of over 200 women working in Silicon Valley about their experiences with discrimination and harassment on the job. Just read a few of their stories and stats and you’ll want to fight for more girl power in tech.
7. Major Corporations are Participating in Getting More Women in Technology
Forbes reports, ” The non-profit organization, founded only three years ago, has also just scored $2.7 million of essential funding from AT&T T -0.23%, The Prudential Foundation and Adobe, to establish an alumni network where girls from its summer programs or local clubs can stay in touch, find job openings, and improve their coding.”
8. Your Daughters Could get a Serious Career Boost from High School Tech Programs.
The organization also announced more than 20 leading technology companies have pledged to share paid internships and other opportunities with Girls Who Code alumni as part of the organization’s ‘Hire Me’ campaign. Check out #HireMe Pledge.
9. Tech Isn’t All About Gaming and Electronics
Google’s Made With Code program introduces girls to the incredible variety of things you can do with code through mentoring and online projects like designing a Zac Posen LED dress, animation and creating digital accessories to give selfies pizzazz.
10. The Covergirl BeautyU App
Esi Eggleston Bracey, executive vice president, Global Cosmetics at Procter & Gamble Co. recently told WWD that working with two students from Girls Who Code was her favorite part of developing BeautyU, “Girls rock. They can do anything. We want to break gender barriers.”
