Women's History Month - Mythbuster #2

Hello all,

Why do myths persist, and why is it important to counterbalance negative ones? One important consequence of negative myths about women in technology is that these translate to a lack of support. So busting through the myths can change perceptions that can limit the offers of support.

For example, mentors are critical to developing leadership skills and getting leadership opportunities. But, according to published reports cited on the CIO.com website:

"The tech industry has been a predominantly male industry for decades, and as a result, there is a lack of sponsorship and mentorship for women in the industry. According to the Women in the Workplace 2023 report from McKinsey, men are ‘disproportionately’ benefitting from mentorship and sponsorship, and they do not struggle with having their accomplishments recognized and rewarded when working on-site in an office setting. Mentorship is an important aspect of becoming a leader, but while 58% of women say they aspire to be in leadership positions, only 39% say they feel they have a mentor who can help them achieve that goal."

So, let's bust the myths, and let's make sure everyone in our workplaces has the support they need to be successful.

Here are our SUNY Mythbusters for this week:

Myth #1: Women are not interested in or passionate about technology

“In my 30 years in Higher Education, I have not seen any difference in interest or passion about technology between men and women. Actually, that is not correct. I believe women in this industry are more passionate than men because they need to be. The fact that all these myths exist creates barriers to women, and they need to be more interested and more passionate to succeed.”
- Bill Grau, Executive Director, SICAS Center

Myth #2: Tech careers are only for individuals with strong mathematical or technical skills

“There are a wide range of technology careers that do not require strong mathematical or technical skills. For example, technical writing, user experience design, technical support, quality assurance testing, instructional technology, web design, project management, and more. My career in technology probably started when my parents made me take typing and Microsoft Office as electives in high school. From there, it seemed I just couldn’t shake my involvement with technology... The most important things aren’t mathematical or technical skills but curiosity, not being afraid to make mistakes, and not being afraid to ask for help or admit you don’t know something.”
- Jennifer Webb, User Services Manager, Computer and Network Services (CNS) SUNY ESF

Myth #3: Tech is a male-dominated field and not welcoming to women

"Not true. As I said in Myth #1, a few of my best mentors throughout the years were women that had degrees in other things such as philosophy and economics. More and more, we need better soft skills to be in this field. Tech people don't just sit at a desk in the corner and code anymore. We have to participate in meetings, talk to users, and be able to communicate with them on their level. I would say being well-rounded is much better."
- Michelle Paine, Director of IT Compliance, SUNY Empire State University

Myth #4: Women cannot balance family and personal life with a career in tech

“We have several women who balance marriage, children, and family while doing an exceptional job at the workplace.”
- Mike Notarius, CIO, ITEC

Thanks to everyone who's contributed thus far, please keep sending in your stories! And male-identifying allies...we want your stories too! How have you seen women busting these myths? How have you helped women bust these myths?

These are the myths we are busting in 2025:

• Myth #1: Women are not interested in or passionate about technology
• Myth #2: Tech careers are only for individuals with strong mathematical or technical skills
• Myth #3: Tech is a male-dominated field and not welcoming to women
• Myth #4: Women cannot balance family and personal life with a career in tech

You can still email your stories to me or submit them to this online google form.

All the best,

Holly