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Women of Color in Tech
Book

Women of Color in Tech

A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the Next Generation of Technology Innovators

Susanne Tedrick
Wiley, 2020
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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Well Structured
  • For Beginners
  • Insider's Take

Recommendation

This youth-oriented self-help guide will appeal to anyone considering a career in tech – especially those just launching their careers, and, of course, women of color. As technical specialist Susanne Tedrick explains in the opening and concluding chapters, the “standard career advice” genre doesn’t speak to the experiences of women like her. Nevertheless, the bulk of the book does the service of focusing on contemporary skills-building and job-seeking advice applicable to all women – and men too – at the start of their careers.

Summary

Tech careers offer enormous rewards, but also challenges – especially for women of color.

Women constitute only about 25% of the US tech workforce – a number that hasn’t budged since 2007. Within this group, Black women make up a small minority, and find themselves mostly in support and administrative roles. Nearly all employees of color are forced to deal with bias. Regular microaggressions, bullying, pay inequities, and the stigmas of tokenism and affirmative action often erode Black women’s resolve to pursue or continue tech careers. The number of Black women in tech has declined by 13% since 2007. 

Parents, teachers and society in general still subtly discourage women from science, tech, engineering and math (STEM) professions – whether consciously or not. For women of color who do gravitate toward tech, private grants and loans often prove more difficult to obtain. Women of color, in general, have less time to prepare for college, are more likely to juggle work with studies and/or face other external pressures not endured by their white counterparts. Only&#...

About the Author

Northwestern University graduate Susanne Tedrick works as a technical specialist for a Fortune 500 firm. In addition to writing and speaking about women of color in the tech field, she volunteers with organizations that help women of color succeed.

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