March is the month when we honor the vital role women have played in history. The game changers. The women who shaped our world. From scientists like Marie Curie and mathematicians like Ada Lovelace (who is also considered the world’s first computer programmer), countless women have led the world along the path to the modern era, sometimes honored and sometimes, sadly, ignored. This month, Feroot honors the unsung female heroes in software development and cybersecurity—the everyday women on the front lines of world’s digital revolution who are changing the world for the better. Our blog—Code of Honor: The Women of Software Development, JavaScript, and Cybersecurity highlights these women.
Code of Honor: The Women Behind Today’s Digital Revolution
Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring a series of interviews with women working in the fields of web application development, computer science, software development, coding, and cybersecurity. Feroot is proud to support women in these technical fields. With bad actors flooding the internet, careers in coding and cybersecurity offer women the opportunity to truly create a safe digital landscape for everyone.
More Women Needed in Cybersecurity and Software Development
While women make up 51% of the U.S. population, only 25% of the cybersecurity workforce are women, according to estimations by Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS). Female computer scientists face similar gender gap challenges. A 2019 study on “Gender trends in computer science authorship” by researchers from Cornell University, found that women accounted for only 27% of the published research in computer science. Similarly, only about 20% of the computer science graduates are women. Much of this gap stems from negative connotations about women in computer science fields, according to the American Association of University Women. Researchers also suggest that the U.S. educational system places less emphasis on girls learning computer science compared to boys. Additionally, in an industry dominated by men, females lack role models.
Women Can Fill the Cybersecurity Gap
With the cybersecurity skills gap a continuing and growing challenge, leveraging the untapped potential of women could solve the problem. By focusing on recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in cybersecurity, not only can organizations bridge the gap, but also expand their own employee cultural diversity. Tactics including cybersecurity and coding training opportunities, mentorship programs, and internships for women.
Check Out These Badass Women!
While you’re waiting to read our interviews, we encourage you to check out these articles on the talented and tough women working in the fields of cybersecurity and software development.
- The Unsinkable Maddie Stone, Google’s Bug-Hunting Badass
- 10 Women in Science and Tech Who Should Be Household Names
Learn More About Client-Side Security
To learn more about client-side security, check out our new e-book: The Ultimate Guide to Client-Side Security.