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+History- Alex
+“They operated the huge room-sized electromechanical computers that cracked codes, worked out military logistics and made ballistic calculations during the second world war. Later they went on to work for civil service departments – operating the computers needed for government to gather data and run properly. “It was viewed as unskilled, highly feminised work,” explains Hicks. “Women were seen as an easy, tractable labour force for jobs that were critical and yet simultaneously devalued.”(theguardian.com)
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+“Managers perceived women to be ideal for the computing industry because they didn’t think they needed to be offered any sort of career ladder, explains Hicks. “Instead the expectation was that a woman’s career would be kept short because of marriage and children – which meant a workforce that didn’t get frustrated or demand promotions and higher wages.” (theguardian.com)
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+One of these women was Ada Lovelace who is widely recognised as the first computer programmer. Her contributions to technology were only recently recognised in the 1950s by B.V Bowden who republished her notes in Faster than Thought: A Symposium on Digital Computing Machines. Ada Lovelace serves as a role model to women inspiring them to choose a career in tech. Her life is celebrated annually on the 2nd Tuesday of October to raise the profile of women in STEM and emphasise the power of female tech role models. (womenintech.co.uk)
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+The Bletchley Park codebreaking operation during WWII is a key moment in time for opportunities for women working in science, analysis and mathematics. The operation consisted of nearly 10,000 people and around 75% were women, yet these women were not formally recognised as analysts as their male counterparts were, they were instead asked to describe their jobs as ‘secretarial’. (womenintech.co.uk)
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+* Creating the first computer program (Ada Lovelace)
+* Inventing computing methods and devices, like the compiler (Grace Hopper)
+* Advancing human space exploration (Katherine Johnson)
+* Developing programs that influence how today's computers work (Margaret Hamilton)
+* Creating programs dedicated to studying technology's impact on social and ethical issues (Stephanie Shirley)
+* Promoting diversity throughout IT workplaces (Megan Smith) (purdueglobal.edu)
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+Current stats - Soleil
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+Despite national conversations about the lack of diversity in tech, women are disproportionally missing out on the ongoing boom in IT jobs. While women make up 47% of all employed adults in the US, as of 2024, women comprise only 35% of STEM workers, and held just 35% of tech jobs at the end of 2023, according to data from The World Bank. 
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+Recent statistics show that women comprise only about 25% of the tech workforce. This disparity is even more pronounced in leadership positions, where women hold only 11% of executive roles. 
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+Statistics show that women are significantly underrepresented in STEM fields, holding only about 25% of jobs in science-related careers. Black women, in particular, face even more considerable obstacles, representing just 3% of the women in tech. This disparity underscores the importance of acknowledging and supporting the achievements of Black women in this sector​​. 
+Recent studies have revealed that only 42%, less than half of working-age women are participating in the global workforce, and in some countries, this figure is even lower meaning that for every two men employed, there is only one woman.
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+In major tech companies, women are in the minority. Specifically, at Amazon, Facebook, Apple, Google, and Microsoft, the proportion of female staff is 45%, 37%, 34%, 33%, and 33.1% of their entire workforce, respectively. When it comes to leadership positions, these figures are 29%, 34%, 31%, 28%, and 26%, respectively.
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+The situation is especially dire in senior leadership; only 25% of C-level leaders are women, and a mere 5% represent racial minority females.
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+72% of women in tech report experiencing a prevalent "bro culture" at work, signifying gender discrimination.
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+What YOU can do about it (donation pages?, protests, etc.)