Women in Web Design-It is no Longer a Man's World

Jobs in technology have traditionally been the domain of men. Men continue to dominate them today. However, a shift is happening in some areas, particularly web design. More women are taking up web design jobs in large and small companies. Many more are using their web design skills to start web design businesses right out of their homes.

There are many opportunities and challenges facing women in web design careers. This article discusses some of them.

Women in the industry

Women continue to be a small minority in the web design industry. There are several reasons attributed for the gap. Some say that women may have a degree of incompatibility with the circumstances of working at odd hours and in isolation because of their innate sociability. Others say that women lack prominent female role models in web design.

The web design community is one of the most progressive industries today having to accommodate innovation and progressive views. However, like with any other industry, women need to develop a tough skin to make it big in web design especially when working for large firms.

More opportunities for support

Currently, various organizations are coming up that support women in web design and other web development careers. Organizations such as PHP Women are advocating for the promotion of the status of women who work in the industry. These groups may be in support of women but are not exclusively women’s groups. There are men who serve in these organizations too.

Many of these groups offer mentorship programs for young women in college and high school in a bid to encourage them to pursue careers in technology. They organize gatherings where these young women can meet with other women who have worked in the industry for years, thereby gaining from their experience. This offers these young women female role models in an industry that is predominantly male.

More women taking up the banners

There are more women taking up web design as a career today than ever before. The popularity of online courses that allow women to study from home without having to disrupt family life has made it possible for many women to return to school. Women who choose to stay home to care for their families are also finding that they can work from home by choosing a career in web design.

Starting a web design business requires little in terms of initial investments. It also gives women an opportunity to express their creative and artistic side. These are all pluses for this career choice.

Advice for up and coming web designers

Take a walk into any web design class and you’ll find a large percentage of the class is female. There are a lot of young women pursuing careers as web designers. This ever expanding industry offers women the opportunity of having a challenging and fulfilling job. It is however important to prepare for it. Get the proper training and continue to learn about new technologies as they come up. Join groups where you can learn more about the industry and market your skills. es2M@