As technology increasingly becomes more important in our everyday lives and the sector grows exponentially; it is vital that women are aware of career opportunities available to them, and paths into the tech sphere. As a Black woman in the UK tech space, Amina Aweis has found ways to bridge the gap by creating accessible online content that promotes transparency and eliminates gatekeeping. Her Youtube channel has amassed over 60,000 views and is a safe space for tech newbies to learn about coding, what it takes to become a software engineer and the realities of life as a developer. Together with Twitter (Where she has over 25,000 followers) and Instagram, Aweis uses social media platforms to share tips, career advice and has created a roadmap for teaching tech skills. Earlier this year, she became a Web Accessibility Advocate, striving to make accessibility the standard, not an afterthought. As part of her new role, she transcribes her Clubhouse rooms and incorporates British Sign Language in her videos. In February, YouTube recognised her channel, Develop With Amina, for her efforts to break down barriers in tech, and was featured on the platform’s official page for a month. She was also celebrated as part of the Black Creatives in STEM. Aweis talks to AMAKA about her unconventional path into tech, and the need to invest in women in the industry.
Women have played a pivotal role in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) industries, although they have not always been recognised for their efforts. They were foundational and fundamental in the dawn of computers during the Second World War.
Programming started out as a “female-friendly” career in the 1940s. In fact, mathematician Ada Lovelace, now widely known as the first computer programmer, wrote an algorithm for a computing machine in the mid-1800s. Neil Armstrong's one small step for man may not have happened without Katherine Johnson, who was responsible for the calculations at NASA that made the manned space missions possible in the early 1960s and the moon landing in 1969. Considering all the accolades of known and unsung women, it is hard to fathom why they face extra hurdles and are still underrepresented in the sector, and why it is male dominated.
Amina Aweis, a former software engineer, who is now an advocate for web accessibility explains that STEM roles, particularly programming, were historically seen as “feminine” jobs. So, it’s less about “women overlooking” it and more the “lack of information about the opportunities available in the industry.”
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The Dangers of Stereotypes and Gender Bias
Entrenched gender bias and stereotypes, deep-rooted within the fabric of society, are driving girls in education and women away from STEM-related fields, according to the United Nations. Other gender-related issues including pregnancy and age can also play a part in women’s struggles in the sector. Although the United Kingdom’s 2010 Equality Act defines this as discrimination, the issue is that there is a marked difference between active gender and age discrimination and implicit bias in the recruitment process. While discrimination is rife in the hiring process, methods aimed at ensuring it doesn’t happen often sees firms gloss over the issue with blanket statements that bring no resolve. Meanwhile, hiring decisions are made on impressions, via industry connections or nepotism — if the recruiter already has a certain person in mind, this bias could see others lose out.
Experiences like these could cause women, especially those from Black, African and Ethnic Minority backgrounds to overlook the industry altogether. “I think this sector is overlooked mainly because of the lack of access and gap in skill set that women and underrepresented communities aren’t getting access and education to,” says Aweis. Only around 30% of all female students select STEM-related fields in higher education, data from UNESCO shows. Women are significantly underrepresented in information technology, accounting for only 3% of ICT graduates globally.
Aweis, who is Somali-British and based in Ipswich, England, points out the “lack of investment to retain women” who enter the tech sector as a major issue. “When I realised this, I knew that utilising my voice as a Black Muslim woman was key in helping push against the narrative that women aren’t interested in tech,” she says.
Aweis, 23, has worked in several other sectors including digital marketing and did not go to university, took an unusual route into the tech industry. She used YouTube and other online resources to learn the necessary skills she needed before applying for the tech roles she wanted. “I chose tech because there is stability in pay and work life, but also because I can be creative and practical,” she explains. “Working in tech gives me the freedom to contribute to the digital space with my technical skills.”
Her main advice is to figure out what you are good at and enjoy doing, build those skills and put yourself out there. It takes “a lot of networking” to get what you want, she adds. “I’m grateful for the few people that would vouch for me when I needed the opportunity to be in certain spaces to show what I’m capable of,” says Aweis. “I think this is what really helped my career trajectory and it’s also why I push for transparency online when it comes to the reality of career, planning goals and transitioning.”
Building Confidence and Resilience
According to Aweis, another major difficulty is the level of confidence and resilience individual candidates may or may not have. And for the young techie, you need plenty of this. Unsuccessful job interviews can have a devastating impact on people’s mental health and wellbeing, affecting their self-esteem, self-worth and confidence. “It got to a point where I couldn’t actually afford to be shy about what I wanted so I would talk about it out loud online,” she says. “It also meant doing lots of interviews, getting rejected and using the feedback to bounce back and try again.” Aweis is quick to emphasise how she built her confidence over time in the industry. “I’ve developed my voice in the many sectors I’ve worked in by carving my own space and refusing to let people create it for me. I’m very intentional with how I speak about my work and my goals in this industry. This is what gives me the freedom to switch and move around even within tech.”
Technology is embedded within many sectors and is one of the world’s fastest growing industries. At around $2tn (£1.4tn), the sector generates 10.5% of the total US economy, only behind manufacturing and government. In Britain, the digital sector contributed £149bn ($210.2bn) to the UK economy in 2018, accounting for 7.7% of the economy as a whole, according to official figures.
So, why is there a lack of investment in developing women’s careers? “There’s a lot of money and amazing career growth opportunities in this industry. Not only is it important to encourage more women to explore this industry, it’s vital that women get good access to mentorship and sponsorships,” says Aweis. “The change needs to happen from the top down in this industry to make it more accessible for women, especially Black women because the talent and the demand is there. It’s the accessibility and structural change that needs more work.”
In her new role as a web accessibility advocate, Aweis works to raise awareness and pushes for more accessibility in the digital space. As part of her work, she ensures that her content meets the Web Content Accessibility Guideline (WCAG). Aweis who has started incorporating British Sign Language into her YouTube videos, said: “Around one in five people in the UK have a disability so it’s important for me to prioritise accessibility as a standard and not an afterthought. I also believe that when you design with integrity, accessibility becomes a default and it’s something I make sure to engage with.”
How women can get into tech and stand out from the crowd
The former software engineer created a roadmap for people who want to pick up programming. She says the best way to stand out is by using your strengths in your current job to your advantage. For example, if you’re good with spreadsheets, could it be that you may like analytics and data? If so, explore those roles and look at where you need to put in the work. People want to know what you stand for, who you are and how it relates to the professional path you are taking. So, Aweis uses what she knows and the experience she has garnered over the years to her advantage; not just to advance her own career, but to help others see their own potential and what’s truly possible when you move with intention and purpose.
The power of social media and how to utilise it
“I’ve been community building online since I was 16 and it has quite literally shaped my professional life,” says Aweis. “Every single job I have on my CV right now, I got through Twitter.” She points out that online spaces such as YouTube, freeCodeCamp and social media are great tools that can help beginners in the sector find their feet and enable them to upskill. And people are always there to lend a hand. It’s worth noting that in the UK, there is actually a skill gap in this industry and while there is some competition, it’s not as intimidating as people may think. Nevertheless, Aweis advises women to put in the work because that’s what’ll pay off in the end.