Help A Range of Women Reinvent Themselves

Increasing the number of women with CS degrees would greatly assist employment parity in tech.

But there are many women who already have degrees and experience in other fields who could also benefit from Melinda’s efforts.

There are also women who, practically speaking, are not going to be able to afford a CS degree due to life circumstances and finances.

Initiatives for Non-Traditional Women

Women With Degrees Who Want to Pivot

I would love to see initiatives that promote a reinvention of sorts for women already in the workforce who are not going to back for a second bachelor’s degree. These are women who have stagnated in one field or another who want to move into technology.

Women Who Have Left the Workforce

Intiatives for women who have left the workforce. This includes women who have either left the workforce for children voluntarily or because they lacked the institutional support to do both.

Many of these women still maintain a middle class to upper middle class lifestyle and initiatives that help them begin tech businesses at home or to work part-time as remote employees/contractors would be great.

Poor Stay at Home Mothers

There are many stay at home moms in the central part of the country and in more rural areas that would love to work, but can’t afford daycare or who can’t find jobs that justify paying those costs.

Overall, we outsource many tasks at rates that Americans in many parts of the country would find acceptable. As difficult as it is to imagine, there are many places where $14-$16/hr support entire families.

We outsource virtual assistant, data-collection, light-coding, WP development…etc at similar rates.

Women Over 50

People are living longer.

A woman in her 50s has 20–30 more years of life and work to experience. While age discrimination issues are an issue for both genders in tech, it is especially difficult for women technology where youth is often correlated with competence.

It would be great to find ways to capture the experiences, capital and talent of female Americans over 50 by attracting them to the tech industry.

Increasing gender parity among computer science graduates by addressing pipeline issues is a long-term strategy.

I would like to see such initiatives supplemented by efforts that increase access to the tech industry for women outside of universities and colleges.

By providing training, pivoting opportunities, small-business opportunities, retraining or certifications for non-traditional women interested in entering tech, we could have a much more immediate impact.

In any case, Melinda Gates’ attention to this issue is great news for women all across America.