Are We Closing the Gender Gap in Cybersecurity?

**Executive summary:** This analysis highlights the persistent gender gap in cybersecurity—women make up roughly a quarter of the workforce with far lower representation in leadership—and details four key barriers (lack of visible role models, a confidence gap, work–life balance challenges, and pervasive "bro culture"). Citing studies and statistics, the author argues that increasing female representation not only advances equity but also improves security resilience, and urges organizations to treat inclusion as a strategic priority to strengthen their cyber defenses.