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Though, a new report into women working in the tech sector has set off a few alarm bells. The advocacy group Tech Beyond Gender surveyed two hundred female workers tech workers. It found more than half have considered leaving their current positions and over a third of thought about quitting the sector altogether. Mina Setsh Kumar from Tech Beyond Gender is with me to explain this finding. Mina, good evening to you, Thanks for being with.

Though, a new report into women working in the tech sector has set off a few alarm bells. The advocacy group Tech Beyond Gender surveyed two hundred female workers tech workers. It found more than half have considered leaving their current positions and over a third of thought about quitting the sector altogether. Mina Setsh Kumar from Tech Beyond Gender is with me to explain this finding. Mina, good evening to you, Thanks for being with.

Me, Good evening, Thanks for the time.

Me, Good evening, Thanks for the time.

So you've done these interviews, there's some quite some quite radical claims being made here. Tell me how you've come to the conclusion. You know, half of the people you've interviewed have considered quitting do you know?

So you've done these interviews, there's some quite some quite radical claims being made here. Tell me how you've come to the conclusion. You know, half of the people you've interviewed have considered quitting do you know?

Whine?

Whine?

Yeah, cool, so let me it's just my correction here this report we surveyed women and gender diverse professionals working in New Zealand tech sector. I think it is gener frustration and a feeling of hopelessness for these people working in tech sector where more than forty person have experienced gender based microaggressions in their workplaces, and more than seventy seventy percentage have reported no training or to create awareness regarding microaggressions have been provided in their workplaces. And besides that, more than seventy percentage of them are dissatisfied with paid transparency and more than half of them feel that they're not being paid fair, with disparities particularly affecting technical and migrant professionals.

Yeah, cool, so let me it's just my correction here this report we surveyed women and gender diverse professionals working in New Zealand tech sector. I think it is gener frustration and a feeling of hopelessness for these people working in tech sector where more than forty person have experienced gender based microaggressions in their workplaces, and more than seventy seventy percentage have reported no training or to create awareness regarding microaggressions have been provided in their workplaces. And besides that, more than seventy percentage of them are dissatisfied with paid transparency and more than half of them feel that they're not being paid fair, with disparities particularly affecting technical and migrant professionals.

What do you consider a microaggression? Forty percent say that they've had gender based microaggressions committed against them. What is that?

What do you consider a microaggression? Forty percent say that they've had gender based microaggressions committed against them. What is that?

So? Microaggressions are subtle, often unintentional comments or behaviors or actions that communicate bias or stereotype towards a person or a group. So this is particularly targeted towards marginalized or minority background.

So? Microaggressions are subtle, often unintentional comments or behaviors or actions that communicate bias or stereotype towards a person or a group. So this is particularly targeted towards marginalized or minority background.

So I'm sorry, sorry just one. You said that it's unintentional aggressions and yet it's targeted. How can it be both?

So I'm sorry, sorry just one. You said that it's unintentional aggressions and yet it's targeted. How can it be both?

Well, because this is because of the stereotypes that are so ingrained in our society. There are certain systemic issues that we have really not addressed. So it's easy to just assume in a meeting that a woman would probably be there to take notes or be a people manager and not see a woman as a front end developer or a solution architect or a technical lead. So that's what I meant, because it is very unintentional because we are so ingrained in those stereotypes.

Well, because this is because of the stereotypes that are so ingrained in our society. There are certain systemic issues that we have really not addressed. So it's easy to just assume in a meeting that a woman would probably be there to take notes or be a people manager and not see a woman as a front end developer or a solution architect or a technical lead. So that's what I meant, because it is very unintentional because we are so ingrained in those stereotypes.

Right, but what can you give us an example of what a microaggression is?

Right, but what can you give us an example of what a microaggression is?

So being interrupted in meetings or having ideas appropriated, or facing some dismissive comments, or like just having some remarks such as, oh you're surprisingly technical, or even saying uh, well you're too aggressive? Is being assertive at the moment? Right?

So being interrupted in meetings or having ideas appropriated, or facing some dismissive comments, or like just having some remarks such as, oh you're surprisingly technical, or even saying uh, well you're too aggressive? Is being assertive at the moment? Right?

Yeah, but these things will happen to men too, I mean, you know if so if if somebody, if a manager interrupts a man, is that a microaggression?

Yeah, but these things will happen to men too, I mean, you know if so if if somebody, if a manager interrupts a man, is that a microaggression?

No?

No?

Possibly. I'm not saying that men do not have any issues as such. Probably they do face issues.

Possibly. I'm not saying that men do not have any issues as such. Probably they do face issues.

But then isn't it Isn't that the point though, that if you know, are there are good managers and there are bad managers. It doesn't necessarily mean just because somebody interrupts you that they are success or that they're doing it because you're you're a woman.

But then isn't it Isn't that the point though, that if you know, are there are good managers and there are bad managers. It doesn't necessarily mean just because somebody interrupts you that they are success or that they're doing it because you're you're a woman.

But certain systemic barriers make all of these behaviors very pronounced for women and gender divers professionals. So because of the stereotypes that are so ingrained in US, we just assume certain things and just talk about it without really thinking about it. So, for instance, if I'm in a meeting and if I'm actually providing a technical input this way along with few other men in my team, that message that I would convey will hold value if it comes if it is backed by another man.

But certain systemic barriers make all of these behaviors very pronounced for women and gender divers professionals. So because of the stereotypes that are so ingrained in US, we just assume certain things and just talk about it without really thinking about it. So, for instance, if I'm in a meeting and if I'm actually providing a technical input this way along with few other men in my team, that message that I would convey will hold value if it comes if it is backed by another man.

Okay, MANA, thank you very much for explaining this to us. I really appreciate it. MENA statist Kumar from the Tech Beyond Gender, which is an ED advocacy group for women in tech, I mean, what do you say. I just think the whole, the whole. I've read the I've read the release from this group. I just think it sounds like absolute b Yes, half have considered quitting. Go and ask any worker anywhere, and half of them will tell you they have considered quitting their job. It doesn't matter what gender they are, who their bosses. Half don't believe they're being paid very well. Go and ask any worker, doesn't matter what gender they are, and they'll tell you that they're not being paid very well. Go and ask how many have had microaggressions, and then define it as loosely as that, and half will have said that they've had microaggressions.

Okay, MANA, thank you very much for explaining this to us. I really appreciate it. MENA statist Kumar from the Tech Beyond Gender, which is an ED advocacy group for women in tech, I mean, what do you say. I just think the whole, the whole. I've read the I've read the release from this group. I just think it sounds like absolute b Yes, half have considered quitting. Go and ask any worker anywhere, and half of them will tell you they have considered quitting their job. It doesn't matter what gender they are, who their bosses. Half don't believe they're being paid very well. Go and ask any worker, doesn't matter what gender they are, and they'll tell you that they're not being paid very well. Go and ask how many have had microaggressions, and then define it as loosely as that, and half will have said that they've had microaggressions.

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