WomenInTech. IT specialists from Dushanbe on their start and obstacles for women in IT

Shohinakhon Hoshimova, city — Dushanbe, QA-engineer, scrum master, @shahinya_rus

About Me

I am a resident neonatologist, tester, and scrum master in 10 international projects at Velox-Software. I test and manage all communications between product managers, graphic designers, and developers.

In my third year of university, I wanted to try myself in the IT field. I took software testing courses, read a lot of literature, and listened to lessons on various platforms. I joined an international company, and after a three-month probation period, I was offered a contract.

How I Entered the IT Profession

I was drawn to the IT field by a desire to explore new things. After completing courses and self-study, I started my career at an international company, where I was quickly able to prove my competence and secure a contract.

On Stereotypes

A team consisting of men sometimes questioned my professionalism and work due to my gender and lack of higher education in IT. This was a great disappointment for me.

Women in IT can face prejudices and stereotypes about their professionalism. I overcame these obstacles through perseverance, a desire to grow, and the ability to defend my knowledge.

Recommendations for Those Just Starting Out

Do not be afraid to start from scratch, even in a field dominated by men. Your gender, age, or lack of specialized education are not barriers. Belief in yourself and a desire to develop will open many doors for you in the IT field.

Robiya Rakhmatova, city — Dushanbe, IT specialist, linkedin

About Me

I am an IT specialist at one of Tajikistan's large construction companies, "Sebeston-2018." In addition to automating all office workflows, I also develop small websites and Telegram bots, and conduct programming courses at "Alif Academy".

I am also a graduate of TechGirls, an exchange program in the USA designed to empower and support young women who want to obtain higher education and build a career in STEM.

Although my family is immersed in the IT field, my interest only sparked during my school years in 2019, when I attended programming courses. At that time, I was inspired by the eagerness of schoolchildren and students to study IT, a field that is not as well developed in our country.

I immersed myself in learning and self-development, and after six months of hard work, I began conducting my own courses. I attracted specialists to organize classes on "Data Science" and "Hour of Code." This period involved many trials and errors that led me to what I do now.

How I Entered the IT Profession

After entering university, I began to devote more time to developing myself as a specialist. I got my first internship as a backend developer. I was lucky with my mentor—he helped me overcome imposter syndrome and taught me how to develop myself independently. This is important if you want to work as a developer.

During my work, I received an endless stream of new information. Thanks to perseverance, I was able to move forward, began studying system administration, and discovered new career opportunities at other companies.

On Stereotypes

At one of my jobs, management had questions about my competence. They did not believe that I could solve the test tasks in the interview that puzzled some other employees. At that time, I was the only female developer in their company. It often happens that other specialists, especially at first, try to test your level and confuse you while performing tasks.

I also encounter the stereotype that people do not distinguish what exactly you do. They think that if you are an IT specialist, you can fix any device and hack any website.

Obstacles for Women in IT

Many girls who want to try themselves in the IT field lack the confidence that they can develop along this career path. There are also many other factors that affect self-doubt. I know many capable girls who lost interest due to lack of parental support. Everyone faces different kinds of obstacles on this path. I cannot compare my life path, where I had all opportunities for development, with the paths of people who grew up in different environments. And especially with girls from remote areas where long-standing traditions exist, and their modern views on life may not be understood.

Everyone must be able to show and prove to others, and first of all to themselves, what they are capable of.

There were times when girls could not even receive an education. Fortunately, nowadays there are many free programming courses for girls. The main thing is that a person can confidently assert themselves in this and try.

Recommendations for Those Just Starting Out

Develop discipline. This applies not only to programming and information technology but also to any other fields in which you want to achieve success. Surround yourself with people who have similar goals and views on life, because a planted tree will only grow in a favorable environment.

If you want to get a job, be prepared to go through many interviews. Try to gain experience on projects, not just study theory. After interviews, do not be afraid to ask what you still need to work on.