The document discusses challenges faced by women in IT careers and provides suggestions to promote gender equality. It notes that women who display leadership qualities are often called "bossy" while men are seen as leaders. Several common challenges for working women like balancing work and family responsibilities are also outlined. The document recommends policies for companies to adopt to support women, such as flexible work hours and on-site childcare. It suggests women speak up more in meetings and encourages changing perspectives to promote gender equality in the workplace.

1. HOW TO BE
EMPATHETIC TO
WOMEN IN IT
“In our objective to achieve gender equality, we must not only seek
opportunities because we are women. We must seek success because we
are capable.”
1
Pranathi Birudugadda

2. 2
Strong
Makes decision quickly
Can lead the team easily
Commanding
At times abrasive
Strict
Disciplined
Would you want to work with the above said person?
IMAGINE A MAN WITH THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS

3. 3
IMAGINE A WOMAN WITH THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS
Strong
Makes decision quickly
Can lead the team easily
Commanding
At times abrasive
Strict
Disciplined
Would you want to work with the above said person?

4. 4
As per a survey conducted by a voluntary group
78% people felt positive about the male described with
the above characteristics and are willing to work with him.
12% people felt positive about the women described
with the above characteristics but are not very open to work with
her.
10% has no issues with either of them.

5. 5

6. 6
We tend to attribute the qualities of strong commitment and
commanding to Men referring them to being a “Leader”
If a woman portrays the same qualities, we refer to her as
“bossy” and “attitude”
A study from Palo Alto Software, a Eugene, Oregon-based technology company,
shows that the women who do grow up to be leaders and display characteristics like
confidence and decisiveness are almost twice as likely to get called “bossy”.
WHAT DOES THIS SURVEY PROVE?

7. 7
Sometimes you need a blank template.
COMMON PROBLEMS FACED BY WORKING WOMEN

8. COMMON PROBLEMS FACED BY WORKING WOMEN
Work Life Balance
Pressure from family to be an ideal bahu
Family responsibility is considered Women’s sole responsibility
Working beyond the core hours
and the list goes on……
8

9. 9
Source: wikipedia.org/wiki/Work-life_balance
WORK LIFE BALANCE? IS IT GENDERED AS WELL
Working mothers often have to challenge perceptions and stereotypes that evolve as a wor
king woman becomes a working mother. Working mothers are perceived as less competent
and less worthy of training than childless women. Another study, focusing on professional j
obs, found that mothers were 79 percent less likely to be hired and are typically held to a hi
gher standard of punctuality and performance than childless women. The moment when sh
e becomes a mother, a working woman is held at a completely different norm than her child
less colleagues. In the same Cuddy et al. (2004) study, men who became fathers were not
perceived as any less competent, and in fact, their perceived warmth increased.

10. 10
Sometimes you need a blank template.
PROVIDING POLICIES THAT WILL HELP WOMEN TO
BALANCE THEIR CAREER AND FAMILY

11. 11
Sometimes you need a blank template.
PROVIDING CRECHES AND CRIBS AT WORKPLACE

12. 12
Extended paid maternity leaves
Providing flexible work hours
Having play school facilities in office premises
Work from home options
Equal opportunity for women who come back after long break
Increase in paid paternity leaves
Perks for new moms/dads
Companies that provide these options are likely to be referred to as female friendly
workplaces —SiliconAngel
POLICIES ADOPTED BY MOST ORGANISATIONS

13. 13
MATERNITY IS BEING TAKEN CARE OF, WHAT NEXT?

14. 14
FEW THINGS THAT MIGHT BE HURTING…
Planning meetings beyond working hours
Not giving equal chance for women to speak up in meetings
Even if they struggle to pitch in their opinion, it goes unheard
Having chai sutta meetings to discuss project details
Late night team outings/celebrations
Unintentional chauvinism
While the above mentioned problems are true for most women, there is a chance
for few exceptions

15. 15
FEW THINGS THAT MIGHT HELP…
Encouraging women to come forward and speak
Improving team dynamics by adding more women
Women rally days to recognise their contribution
Women hackathons, tech events, counselling sessions
Having dedicated core team for grievance redressal
These are few things that can be adopted at organisation or project level.

16. 16
WHAT A WOMAN SHOULD BE DOING
“A person who feels appreciated will always do more than
expected”

17. 17
Sometimes you need a blank template.
DISCUSSING ABOUT DAILY CHALLENGES

18. 18
BEING VOCAL ABOUT OUR OPINIONS AND ISSUES

19. 19
Sometimes you need a blank template.
TREATING ONESELF AS AN EQUAL MEMBER OF THE TEAM

20. 20
LEAN IN AND NEVER STEP BACK

21. 21
THERE ARE MANY PATHS TO THE TOP - UP, SIDEWAYS AND DOWN
FIND ALL MENTORS ALONG THE WAY
YOUR PATH DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THE SAME AS SOMEONE ELSE’S

22. 22
“It has taken 30 years for the Indian women to get out of the
kitchen and take her place at the boardroom. But in these 30
years, very few Indian men have gotten into the kitchen”
“I don’t want to be your other half
I believe that one and one make two”
“You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.”
—Oprah Winfrey
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM OUR PARTNERS

23. 23
WE CAN NEVER HAVE IT ALL. DON’T BE AFRAID TO DITCH
THAT SUPERWOMAN APRON!

24. 24
YIN AND YANG. LEFT BRAIN AND RIGHT BRAIN. MALE AND FEMALE.
TRUE SUCCESS REQUIRES A BALANCED VIEW OF THINGS. SEEK A
BALANCE

25. 25
Sometimes you need a blank template.
USE YOUR INTUITION TO FIND THE RIGHT THING TO DO

26. 26
Involve family in child care
Be realistic about your commitments
Be ready to confront your fears and discuss them
Educate the family about your goals and aspirations
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM FAMILY

27. 27
Sometimes you need a blank template.
CHANGE IN THE PERSPECTIVE IS MUCH NEEDED

28. 28
WITH BEST HOPE IN THE FUTURE

29. @Pranathi_B
/Pranathi.B
THANK YOU