The Plight of Women in Tech 20+ Years Later
July 1, 2026Tags: community, culture, careers
20+ years in tech has taught me one undeniable truth: ‘innocent’ micro-aggressions aren’t innocent. The constant interruptions, the dismissal of ideas solely because I’m a woman, the subtle undermining - it adds up. It chips away at your confidence, drains your energy, and ultimately, forces you to question your own reality. 😵💫
This isn’t just about human behavior anymore. We’re now facing algorithmic gaslighting - AI systems reinforcing biases, dismissing contributions, and subtly distorting data to undermine female perspectives. 😠The algorithms themselves can actively devalue our work, even if no one is consciously directing it.
I recently snapped at someone I considered close, and frankly, I’m still reeling. While I’m frustrated that I snapped at them and destroyed trust, I am still frustrated that my words get twisted, my experiences invalidated, and I still get portrayed as the sole bad guy. 😩 This is unacceptable. This isn’t about blame; it’s about recognizing the cumulative impact of all these behaviors - human and technological - that systematically erode our confidence and professional standing. It’s exhausting being consistently underestimated.
Let’s be clear: leaving tech is happening because of this culture. A friend is starting a flower farm, another a bookstore, and one works in their art studio. They’ve chosen paths free from this ongoing devaluation.
💡 If you’re in a position of influence - listen more than you speak, amplify female voices, and actively challenge these seemingly harmless interactions and demand accountability from the systems used to evaluate our work. We deserve to be heard, respected, and valued for our contributions.