# Equality-Pushing Tech-Friendly Initiatives Girls Who Code Seeks to Inspire & Empower Women in Tech By Kalin Ned | Published 2019-03-11 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/empower-women-in-tech References: [ca.girlswhocode](https://ca.girlswhocode.com/) Girls Who Code is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to close the gender gap and empower women in tech environments. The existence of such a collective is crucial in assuring equality in the field as studies find that "82 per cent of Canadians picture a man when they imagine a computer scientist," as well as that "one in two Canadians cannot name a single woman scientist or engineer." The initative to inspire and empower women in tech is expanding to Canada where 50% of the workforce is female but less than 25% are in [STEM jobs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/workforce-challenges). Girls Who Code makes [free programming courses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jump-start-your-career) available. The not-for-profit launched in November of 2018, while it has been operating in the United States for quite some time and has reached over 90,000 girls in the country. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.2/10 - Popularity: 22% | Activity: 35% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 10% men, 90% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Science](https://www.trendhunter.com/science) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Women in Tech Empowerment:** Initiatives like Girls Who Code aim to inspire and empower women in the tech industry, helping to close the gender gap and bring a more diverse perspective to the field. - **Increasing Diversity in STEM Fields:** Efforts to promote equality and diversity in STEM jobs, including free programming courses for girls, can help address the underrepresentation of women and minorities in these fields. - **Changing Perceptions of Computer Science:** By challenging the stereotype of a computer scientist as a man, initiatives like Girls Who Code are changing perceptions of the tech industry and paving the way for a more inclusive future. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Tech Education:** With a focus on providing free programming courses to girls and promoting diversity in STEM fields, tech education providers have an opportunity to help close the gender gap in the industry. - **Non-profit:** Non-profit organizations like Girls Who Code can leverage technology and partnerships to address societal and gender-based issues, driving social change and promoting equal opportunities. - **STEM Industries:** STEM industries, including tech and engineering, can benefit from increased diversity and gender equality, introducing new perspectives and driving innovation in these fields. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Inspiring Women-Focused Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/computer-science-is-everything.md) - [Women-Focused Tech Hiring Drives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hiring-drive-2025.md) - [Employment-Focused Charity Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/free-tech-training.md) - [Youth-Focused Coding Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/e-liza-dolls.md) - [Gender Inclusive Gaming Mentorships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/xbox-mentorship-program.md) - [STEM Education-Focused Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stem-education.md) - [Technology Gap-Addressing Education Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/technology-gap.md) - [Accessible Education-Focused Organizations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/canada-learning-code.md) - [Female Chef Delivery Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/made-by-women.md)