Khristine Carino is a Vancouverite and advocate for women in technology. She believes that the gender gap in tech is a result of an era where men dominated the computer and dot-com revolution. However, Carino notes that women played a significant, albeit invisible, part in the development of tech in the past. According to Statistics Canada, Filipino women represented almost half of all Filipino people with post-secondary credentials in computer and information sciences. Carino sees hope in the various initiatives of public and private organizations in BC and across Canada that aim to support and encourage women to enter the tech industry. By giving women the opportunity to finance start-ups and supporting them, organizations can address the deficit in bringing women into tech. The future is bright for women in tech, and with ongoing efforts, more women can succeed in STEM fields.
Advocating for Women’s Involvement in the BC Tech Industry
The BC Tech Association reports that only 18% of the tech workforce in the province is made up of women. However, Vancouver resident Khristine Carino, an advocate for women in technology, stresses that tech encompasses nearly all aspects of daily life and all kinds of jobs. Carino is part of a group of women and organizations that aim to encourage more women, regardless of age, to enter the tech industry, also known as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
Statistics in Canada continue to show that women are underrepresented in the tech and digital information sectors. For instance, Canadian women account for roughly 20% of information and communication technology (ICT) specialists in the private sector. Among Canadian women aged 16 to 24 who can program computers, only 26.8% can do so, which is lower than the 29.7% average among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, according to Statistics Canada.
Moreover, of Canadian women with “post-secondary credentials in computer and information sciences,” only 31.5% worked in STEM in 2020 and 2021, compared to 50.1% of men with the same credentials.
Carino emphasizes that “women in tech” means not only those who code or who work in software or hardware engineering but also those who work in the technology industry in different roles, such as receptionists, people in sales, or those who advocate for more women in the industry. She stresses that the involvement of women in programming, such as for cellphone applications, is particularly important given that women account for 50% of tech users. Without enough women developing apps, women may not have experiences that meet their specific needs.
Carino asserts that involving women in the tech industry is essential because women are users of technology and its applications and solutions. However, she acknowledges that women are being left behind because there is a general perception that jobs in tech are for men only, leading to hesitation among younger generations, girls, and young professionals to enter the field.
To conclude, it is clear that getting women involved in the BC tech industry is beneficial for everyone. By encouraging more women to participate in STEM fields, companies and industries can benefit from diverse perspectives and experiences, while women can help shape and create technology that better reflects their needs and interests.
Acknowledging Women’s Contributions to Tech Development
Khristine Carino, a Vancouverite and advocate for women in technology, notes that the gender gap in tech is a product of a bygone era where men dominated the computer and dot-com revolution from the top down. However, she emphasizes that women were invisibly part of the development of tech in those days, as they stayed home and supported their spouses. Carino’s Filipino background is also noteworthy, as Filipino women represent almost half (46.9%) of all Filipino people with post-secondary credentials in computer and information sciences, according to Statistics Canada.
Despite the participation gap, Carino sees hope in the different initiatives of both public and private organizations in BC and across Canada to support and bring women into tech. She believes that women should be given the opportunity to finance start-ups and that organizations must continue to bring light and support to women to address the deficit in supporting women or bringing them into tech.
In conclusion, Carino’s insights highlight the role that women played in tech development in the past, despite their invisibility. Moreover, the advancements of Filipino women in tech indicate that women have the potential to succeed in the field. With the ongoing efforts of various organizations to support and encourage women to enter the tech industry, the future is bright for women in tech.
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