Gender imbalance in web3 tech space

Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of crypto.news editorial.

Women have long been underrepresented in tech, and the crypto world is no different. While web3 emphasizes innovation, transparency and collaboration, there is still a noticeable lack of women in engineering roles. While attending DSS and DevCon in Bangkok, I observed a significant imbalance in gender representation among speakers and panelists.

But the tide is starting to change. Making its debut at DevCon 2022 in Bogotá, Colombia, the Women’s Hub at Web3 made a comeback this year with a cozy space designed to spark new connections. It offered a relaxed, engaging environment where anyone could join in the conversation, perfectly in line with the relaxed, community-focused nature of Web3.

My colleague Markella Gioka and I stopped by the Center and casually discussed the gender imbalance with others. In this article, I combined insights from our discussions to help young women overcome gender bias in technical roles. Sharing women’s stories in the web3 space can inspire those who are considering a career in this field.

Understanding gender and its impact on career choices

At Web3 Hub, we’ve shared the insight that gender really shapes career paths, especially in the tech world. While sex refers to the biological differences between men and women, gender is a social construct that encompasses the roles, behaviors, and expectations that society assigns to individuals based on sex.

Historically, social norms have mandated “appropriate” behavior for men and women. For example, in the 1950s it was unusual and often frowned upon for a woman to hold a full-time job. While women were expected to focus on the home and children, men were thought to be the breadwinners.

Fortunately, society has evolved since then and it is now common to meet doctors, teachers and police officers of both genders. However, it is still surprising to come across a woman working as an engineer or software developer.

Women are underrepresented in technology due to lack of talent or interest; It’s more about how society sees and shapes their potential roles. If we rarely see women in these spaces, young girls may feel like there is no place for them, which can push them away before they even start. Forex Suggest, for example, analyzed the top 50 founders of crypto companies and only 6% of them were female CEOs.

Women make up only 34% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Therefore, encouraging women to pursue education and careers in STEM will increase the availability of skills and reduce gender inequality in technology.

For example, Markella seamlessly had the opportunity to become a security engineer after completing his college career in computer science.

Markella Gioka: A woman in Web3

Markella Gioka holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Athens. After several internships at Nokia, Meta and Google, he joined Dedaub, where he worked as a security engineer investigating similarities and connections in the complexity of smart contract vulnerabilities.

In 2024, Markella gave a talk at the De.Fi Security Summit in Bangkok titled “Smart Contracts for Embeds: Leveraging Ready-to-Use LLMs for Fun and Profit.” Their work shows how large language models (LLMs) can improve smart contract analysis and provide innovative tools to improve security.

During our informal conversation at the center, Markella opened up about her experiences as a woman working in technology and shared personal stories that really resonated with me. I present the conversation below as a series of questions and answers:

— What challenges did you face as the only woman at Dedaub and one of the few women at web3?

“I can’t say that I personally encountered any obvious challenges while developing my career at Dedaub or in software engineering in general, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. One of the things that bothers me is that sometimes people assume you’re not an engineer. They might think you work in marketing or something; “There were people who told me that.”

“Also, when you’re the only woman in the room, people are sometimes overly careful not to say or do the wrong thing, which can be a little weird, but it’s obviously coming from a good place. “If you’re a woman working in computer science, you’re probably used to being in the minority from a young age.”

“Funny story: I was once the only woman along with the professor in one of my sophomore classes in college.”

— How has your presence as a woman affected Dedaub’s work culture?

“At Dedaub, I focus on creating a space where teamwork, open communication and honest feedback come naturally. “I don’t define my role as a woman, but I think different perspectives make us stronger as a team, and I’m happy to bring mine.”

— Given the underrepresentation of women in tech, were there any figures that inspired you to pursue your career and how did they influence you?

“Absolutely! There are many women who shaped society but never got the recognition they deserved. Take Christine de Pizan, for example; she was one of the first European women in the Middle Ages to make a living by writing. She broke the mold and that’s what most people aren’t ready to hear.” “At one time she spoke for the intelligence of women.”

“Many scientists say Ada Lovelace was the world’s first computer programmer. “With his work on the Analytical Engine in the 1800s, he imagined that computers could do more than perform calculations; they could create art and music.”

“We all do software debugging, but most people may overlook that the term was coined by a Woman, specifically Grace Hopper, when she found a moth causing a computer malfunction.”

“I believe Web3 and technology will soon achieve gender balance. “My generation is aware of this gap, but it is not limited to that.”

— What advice would you give to women who want to enter the web3 space despite ‘male dominance’?

“I don’t think the term ‘male domination’ really fits the web3 community. Even though most of them are men, I have never seen anyone care so much about an idea just because a woman presented it. We are quite young in crypto, the average age is under 30, we are international and open to new ideas. Dedaub and web3 in general feel like home to me. My advice to anyone who wants to make an impact on Web3 is to work hard, not be afraid, and think outside the box.”

Solution

Even though Web3 aims for decentralization and inclusion, women are still noticeably missing from tech conversations. This gap is influenced by a number of social factors, including long-standing prejudices, gender stereotypes, and a lack of visible female role models in tech.

Still, efforts like Women in Web3 Hub show that people are becoming more aware of these issues and are actively working to make web3 more inclusive. By giving women a space to connect, share their stories, and support each other, these initiatives can help usher in the next generation of female leaders on web3.

Giorgio Bonuccelli

Giorgio Bonuccelli is an experienced sales and marketing leader currently employed by Dedaub, a web3 security company specializing in audits and monitoring technologies. With a background that includes Acronis, Parallels and Dell, he has led multinational teams, organized data-driven campaigns and developed highly effective sales pipelines. Giorgio’s interest in historical cycles and human behavior influences his understanding of the present by recognizing similar patterns across time and space, such as intergenerational dialogue, courtship, friendship, and romantic relationships. One of the most popular sayings is: “No matter the century or place, we fell in love the same way.” Outside of work, Giorgio actively encourages inclusive conversations and advocates for inclusion and diversity.