A third (33%) of Russian IT specialists are annoyed by high salaries, the ability to repair all types of equipment and the stereotype that only men should work in IT. This is shown by a study by the online programming school Hexlet, the results of which were reviewed by socialbites.ca.
Thus, 40% of IT professionals encounter stereotypes several times a month, and 27% encounter stereotypes several times a week. At the same time, only 24% of IT professionals notice boilerplate phrases a few times a year.
IT professionals often face a stereotype about high earnings. The majority of respondents (74%) come across the statement that “salaries are high in IT.” The stereotype that IT professionals are unsocial was met by 45%; The third most popular stereotype was that only technically minded people can get into IT (39%).
IT professionals cited the following stereotypes as most troubling: high salaries (33% of respondents), the ability to repair any equipment (33%), IT being a male profession (33%), and especially “you are a programmer” ( (33%). The least painful stereotypes are myths about remote working (6%) and working 24 hours a day (8%). Only 20% of respondents are not bothered by stereotypes at all.
The majority of stereotypes come from familiar IT professionals and social networks (65%). They hear stereotypes the least from their wives or husbands (5%) and grandparents (10%).
At the same time, the interviewed IT experts are in no hurry to refute the encountered stereotypes. 50% do not pay any attention to such statements, and only 9% try to refute what they hear by entering into an argument.
“There are a lot of rumors and jokes around IT among people unaffiliated with IT professions that distort the perception of the entire field. And if for society as a whole this plays practically no role, then for those who plan to study in IT-related professions or switch to the IT profession, such stereotypes can play a cruel joke. For example, the stereotype that working in IT requires a technical mindset scares even people who are very interested in this field and can develop really quickly in it. The stereotype that IT is a male profession may influence women’s desire to work in this profession. This myth can also influence employers’ decision to unconsciously choose male candidates, even if female candidates have similar qualifications and experience,” commented Kirill Mokevnin, co-founder of online programming school Hexlet.
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