Best in ‘female STEM graduates,’ worst in ‘women in tech’
A recently released index covering 41 countries which are members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union focuses on women in the world of technology.
It has paid attention to only a few of my colleagues, including Didem Eryar Ünlü, and I found the index in my inbox. However, it includes some important and promising data about Turkey.
The 2018 Women in Tech Index was released by the technology-oriented career startup Honeyspot based in Berlin.
According to the Honeyspot index, Turkey got the top spot in the rankings in terms of the rate of female STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) graduates, with 37.11 percent.
Japan is at the bottom of the list in the female STEM graduates rate, with 15.25 percent.
Of course, we should be proud of this ranking, but the index also indicates a grave dilemma that is unique to Turkey.
Although the rate of female STEM graduates is quite high in Turkey the rate of women employed in the technology sector is just 9.91 percent.
Where are the female STEM graduates?
Why can we not see the successful female STEM graduates at the forefronts of the technology sectors?
Do some female mathematics and engineering graduates prefer to stay at home? How can we explain the huge difference between the rates of female STEM graduates and women in tech?
By the way, the highest rate of women in tech is observed in Bulgaria, with 30.28 percent, and Australia follows with 28.00 percent.
On the other hand, the index shows two other positive indicators for Turkey.
Turkey is the country with the lowest rate of gender pay gap in tech, with 8.42 percent. In South Korea, which is often taken as an example in developing technology, the gender pay gap in tech is 41.17 percent.
Lowest rate of employed women
Emma Tracey, co-founder of Honeypot, has said the study has revealed some cultural case studies.
“Turkey has the lowest gender pay gap for tech jobs in the index, and the fifth lowest overall gender wage gap. Yet, they also have the lowest percentage of women in employment among OECD countries, with only 31.55 percent,” she said.
Welcome to the country of grave dilemmas!
You may find the Honeyspot index here: https://www.honeypot.io/women-in-tech-2018
Starbucks pays equally in Turkey
Another progress in dealing with the gender pay gap has been made by Starbucks.
The coffee giant, which has been implementing equal pay policy in the U.S. for the benefit of women and minorities, will spread the policy to its coffeehouse chains in Canada, Europe, Japan and China.
I was curious if the same policy would apply in Turkey, and asked the Shaya Group, the representative of Starbucks in Turkey.
“Starbucks in Turkey already pays equally,” they replied.
KOD awards ceremony
The Turkish Informatics Foundation has been organizing the “KOD Awards Educational Games” in order to support teaching STEM through games.
The top three winners of the 26-player final games took their awards on March 26.
“The KOD Awards will make a huge contribution to our education system,” said Faruk Eczacıbaşı, the chair of the foundation and vice president of Eczacıbaşı Holding.