11 Things Women In Tech Are Tired Of Hearing

As of 2013, only 6% of chief executives at leading tech companies were women, and a staggering number of young women aren't even aware that a career in technology is an option.

Women tend to be treated differently than their male counterparts in professional environments, especially when those environments are technical. That's why it's essential for females in tech jobs to have access to helpful mentors to help them understand and innovate within their fields.

Discrimination by gender still exists in some circles, which is why it's not surprising -- but still upsetting -- that a reported 18.2 percent of computer science degree holders are women, but a substantially smaller percentage work in roles at Silicon Valley's top companies.

Then maybe you should spend some time with Anita Borg, the founder of the Institute of Women in Technology; Grace Hopper, the inventor of the world's very first compiler; or Radia Perlman, also known as the "Mother of the Internet."

Then you might not be looking hard enough! With awesome programs like Girls Who Code and Black Girls Code making waves and inspiring young women of all backgrounds, the future is looking undeniably bright for a more diverse tech workforce.

Pro tip: Cuteness shouldn't be a consideration when C++ is your second language.

Too many managers confuse aspiration and confidence for abrasiveness and bossiness. Remember: an all-female engineering team didn't create one of the world's first military computers with blushes and false modesty.

It's a far too common misconception that a woman must choose between her career and her family, and it's a misconception created entirely by, well, people who aren't aware that a woman can absolutely have both.

Oh, really?

The lack of women in tech has been a big problem for a long time, but what's surprising is that many young women simply aren't aware that a career in tech is a realistic goal.

Fun fact: The tech industry is full of female entrepreneurs who are actively redefining what it means to create, engineer, and innovate, and that number's only set to grow.