I have been a Software Engineer for nearly a decade, and for much of that time, I was the only woman on my teams. When I entered my first computer science class in 2010, I was struck by the sea of male faces surrounding me. As I scanned the room for a fellow female student to sit beside, I spotted just one or two before settling into an empty seat. This experience shaped my expectations for the presence of women in my field moving forward.

I know you might be expecting a negative story, but honestly, I’ve rarely encountered sexism—perhaps because I chose to overlook it. While I’ve had some unpleasant experiences with certain individuals, I wouldn’t attribute them solely to sexism; it’s possible those individuals were acting out of their own insecurities or frustrations over unmet goals. Who knows? That’s a story for another time. Additionally, the negative experiences I’ve faced weren’t limited to men; they involved women as well.

As a Muslim woman living in Singapore, I’ve noticed a scarcity of Muslim women in software engineering. In fact, as I reflect on it, I haven’t had any female Muslim colleagues in this field. However, I believe this scarcity is specific to Singapore because I see many Muslim software engineers on LinkedIn and have several Muslim friends in other countries who work as software engineers. While the community is still growing, I am comfortable in my faith.

I am also aware of the ongoing atrocities against Palestine and now Lebanon. May Allah bless the souls of the deceased and grant them Jannah. (This topic deeply affects me.) I practice my Islam personally and have not encountered anyone who openly discriminates against me for my religion. This might be because I am in Singapore, where the concept of racial and religious harmony is strong. It’s one of the things I love most about this place, as it makes me feel safe.

Now, let’s talk about colleagues. I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the best software engineers. I began my journey with an internship as a web developer, and I’ll never forget the lead of the team I worked with—he was incredibly helpful. It taught me an important lesson: you don’t have to be tough on people to get results. Kindness and empathy can achieve the same, if not better, outcomes.

I also had the privilege of working in a team led by a female director, who not only supported me but also offered valuable advice and a strong recommendation when I mentioned my interest in pursuing a Master’s degree.

After 10 years in software engineering, the most significant takeaway for me, and something I apply in my work every day, is the importance of kindness and empathy. I choose not to dwell on negative experiences because I believe in the power of positivity and the impact of all the wonderful people I’ve encountered.

Please comment about any positive or negative experience you faced as female/ muslim software engineers.