Half of IT women stereotyped at work

Women employed in IT are being hurt by labelling, stereotyping and even sabotage at work, according to a new survey.

Some 53 per cent of attendees at a "Political Savvy for Women in IT" event said they had been the victim of such negative work experiences.

But over three-quarters, some 77 per cent, said they didn't feel they had the skills to handle such office politics, choosing to simply ignore it, change jobs or take legal action.

At the event - which was held by online job board womenintechnology.co.uk and Societe Generale - attendees said they wanted to learn how to better handle such situations. One said she "wanted to gain the ability to analyse and understand the political environment," while another wanted to learn how to manage "the egos of others in a testosterone fuelled workplace".

Maggie Berry, director of womenintechnology.co.uk, said the event was designed to "empower women who are working in a male-dominated industry and hopefully the attendees felt this was another step forward in us doing that."

Women at the event described different ways they have developed skills in managing office politics, saying it takes time, patience, and "bitter experience". Others suggested that their fellow women in IT focus on building rapport with managers and coworkers by networking and socialising.