Mike Honda: Tech holds itself back by not employing enough women

The tech industry is pushing American business and society into exciting new areas. Innovations are coming at breathtaking speed, putting our country at the forefront of the future. But there is one area in which the tech industry is behind the times — gender diversity. Beneath the revolutionary facade of the industry lies a sobering fact: Computer science suffers from a significant gender imbalance.

In my home district of Silicon Valley, the computing industry is a major economic engine, driving a vibrant startup culture and creating tens of thousands of jobs. Yet, even though women make up more than half of the current U.S. workforce, they account for only about a quarter of jobs in the computing industry. Women from under-represented minority groups have an even steeper hill to climb, as African-American and Hispanic women account for a mere 3 percent and 2 percent of the workforce, respectively.

{mosads}Sadly, this discrepancy starts well before women enter the workforce. High school girls take more than half of all advanced placement exams but account for only 20 percent of computer science exam takers. This is a problem with deep roots.

To the computing industry’s credit, it has talked about the importance of having a more diverse workforce. Tech companies recognize that the current imbalance is a problem, as is the fact that they are missing out on a large, untapped reservoir of talent and intellectual capital. Imagine how the industry’s capacity for innovation would grow if it could tap into this talent by becoming more inclusive? This imbalance is also an economic issue, given the high-paying nature of jobs in computer science.

As with any complex problem, addressing the gender imbalance needs a multifaceted approach, with support from educators, business leaders, community members and policymakers. We need everyone at the table to create solutions targeting different aspects of the problem:  K-12 teachers getting kids excited about computer science, college officials who can figure out how to engage women, and businesses that can create a more inclusive culture. We need policymakers who can create and facilitate partnerships among educators, researchers and business leaders. 

Fortunately, we already have some solutions that work. Here in California, Stanford University and Harvey Mudd College have bucked national trends by increasing the number of female computer science majors. Harvey Mudd’s results are particularly impressive, as 43 percent of its computer science majors are women. 

In the K-12 space, organizations like Girls Who Code, founded by Reshma Saujani, are doing great work introducing and promoting computer science to young women. Last week was Computer Science Education Week, which encourages students of all ages to participate in the Hour of Code. Last year’s Hour of Code reached 15 million students from around the world. This year, about 50 million people have signed up to participate, a truly impressive reach. 

In Congress, I was proud to co-sponsor Rep. Tony Cárdenas’s (D-Calif.) Computer Science Career Education Act of 2014 (H.R. 4929). This bill would create grants for community partnerships that get more students engaged in computer science, with an emphasis on engaging students from under-represented groups. We need more such efforts at the federal level to encourage states and communities to invest in computer science education.

President Obama recently said: “No one is born a computer scientist. With hard work, and a little math and science, anyone can do it.” He’s 100 percent right.

The innovations and products from Silicon Valley have blazed new trails in almost every aspect of our lives. Imagine how much more could be done if women were full participants in the process.

Honda has represented congressional districts in California’s Silicon Valley area since 2001. He sits on the Appropriations Committee.