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    <article-meta>
      <title-group>
        <article-title>Professional Empowerment of Women in Technology: An Analysis of Student's Participation in WordPress Volunteering at the Faculty of Computer Science,</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <string-name>Universidad Fidélitas</string-name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <string-name>Costa Rica.</string-name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <string-name>Ing. Rita Robles Loaiza</string-name>
          <email>rrobles@ufidelitas.ac.cr</email>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <string-name>Ing. Elineth Morera Campos</string-name>
          <email>emorera@ufidelitas.ac.cr</email>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <string-name>Universidad Fidélitas</string-name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <string-name>San José</string-name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <string-name>Costa Rica</string-name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <string-name>Universidad Fidélitas</string-name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <string-name>San José</string-name>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <string-name>Costa Rica</string-name>
        </contrib>
      </contrib-group>
      <pub-date>
        <year>2025</year>
      </pub-date>
      <abstract>
        <p>This study explores how women studying computer science experience professional growth when they take part in volunteer roles within the WordPress community. To better understand this connection, we conducted a qualitative study using ten semi-structured interviews with students from the Faculty of Computer Science at Universidad Fidélitas in Costa Rica, all of whom have volunteered on WordPress-related projects. Through a thematic analysis, we identified the motivations that drew them in-such as gaining hands-on experience and giving back to the community-as well as the benefits they perceived, including strengthened technical and social skills, increased confidence, and the development of leadership abilities. The women also described the challenges they encountered, ranging from persistent gender stereotypes to the difficulty of balancing studies, personal life, and volunteer commitments. Overall, the findings suggest that participating in free and open-source software (FOSS) communities gives women a supportive environment where they can build a stronger professional identity, expand their networks, and gradually assume leadership roles. These experiences may contribute to closing the gender gap in the technology sector. The study concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for broader inclusion efforts in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). It also highlights a series of promising practices that can help foster sustained participation and empowerment among women in technology-oriented communities.</p>
      </abstract>
      <kwd-group>
        <kwd>Women's empowerment</kwd>
        <kwd>women in technology</kwd>
        <kwd>volunteering</kwd>
        <kwd>free and open-source software (FOSS)</kwd>
        <kwd>open source communities</kwd>
        <kwd>WordPress</kwd>
      </kwd-group>
    </article-meta>
  </front>
  <body>
    <sec id="sec-1">
      <title>1. Introduction</title>
      <p>
        global challenge. Their presence in computing and technology programs is still noticeably low [
        <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref1">1</xref>
        ].
This underrepresentation not only reduces the diversity of voices shaping the field but also limits
women’s
access to
professional opportunities and the
kinds of skills that technological
environments typically foster [
        <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref2">2</xref>
        ]. In the world of free and open-source software (FOSS), for
instance, women make up only about 10% of contributors—an imbalance that clearly reveals the
gender gap [
        <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref3">3</xref>
        ]. This disparity is significant because women are not benefiting equally from the
career advantages, learning pathways, and professional visibility that open-source participation
often provides [
        <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref2">2</xref>
        ][4].
      </p>
      <p>Researchers have examined the roots of this gender gap, pointing to a combination of
sociocultural and structural factors. Deeply ingrained cultural stereotypes—for example, the notion
that computing is naturally a “male domain”—tend to discourage women’s involvement, narrow
their opportunities, and ultimately hinder their professional empowerment [5]. Cheryan and
colleagues (2015) found that these persistent stereotypes do more than exclude women from the
benefits of technology; they also erode their confidence to contribute or lead in the field, shaping
their long-term career decisions [5]. Even so, studies show that women’s participation in
technology can grow when inclusive spaces and meaningful development opportunities are
intentionally created [6]. Along this line, inclusion initiatives and targeted programs have played
an important role. In a review of successful cases, Fletcher and Thompson (2019) highlight that
women’s empowerment in technology becomes attainable when discriminatory barriers and
gender bias are directly addressed, especially through structured initiatives designed to promote
digital inclusion [7]. International organizations have echoed this message, emphasizing the need
for public policies and educational strategies that reduce the digital gender divide and equip
women to thrive in today’s digital economy [8].</p>
      <p>Across Latin America, these recommendations have inspired various gender-focused digital
education policies and programs aimed at closing participation gaps in Information and
Communication Technologies (ICT) [6][8][9].</p>
      <p>In today’s digital era, women’s professional empowerment in ICT is tied to developing
technological competencies, building strong support networks, and increasing their visibility
within the field [9][10]. Here, empowerment refers to the ability of women to take charge of their
career paths, access decision-making roles, and strengthen both their confidence and autonomy in
settings historically dominated by men. While recent studies in Latin America show signs of
progress, they also reveal that many women still struggle to fully recognize their own potential to
lead or direct their professional growth in ICT [11]. Research from Ecuador, for example, found that
only half of the women surveyed felt capable of steering their own careers in technology, 40% were
uncertain, and 10% did not feel capable at all [11]. These findings highlight that, although attitudes
are improving, a significant number of women have yet to build a solid sense of confidence in their
abilities—pointing to the urgent need for environments and experiences that help strengthen that
belief.</p>
      <p>
        Free and open-source software communities, such as WordPress, offer a promising space for this
kind of empowerment early in a woman’s academic journey. These collaborative technical
communities give participants the chance to learn by doing, exchange knowledge, and contribute
to real projects that have global reach. For many women, volunteering in open-source initiatives
becomes a valuable opportunity to build technical skills, grow professional networks, and begin
positioning themselves within the broader tech ecosystem—well beyond the classroom [
        <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref1">1</xref>
        ].
Volunteering can also act as a catalyst for career development. Studies have shown that young
people who volunteer are more likely to find employment and advance professionally. One report
found that volunteering is associated with a 27% higher chance of securing a job, and that
employers often view volunteer experience as a meaningful asset on a candidate’s résumé [12]. In
the field of information technology, contributing to non-paid open-source projects—whether
through coding, event organization, documentation, or support—can showcase a person’s abilities,
elevate their visibility, and expand their professional network, all of which can positively shape
their career trajectory.
      </p>
      <p>
        Guided by this perspective, the present study examines the volunteer experiences of university
women participating in WordPress initiatives. WordPress—one of the most widely used free
software projects worldwide—has an active community that organizes events (such as WordCamps
and meetups), develops code, translates materials, and provides support, largely through voluntary
work. Within this global ecosystem, several efforts have emerged to increase women’s
participation, given their historical underrepresentation in open-source communities [
        <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref3">3</xref>
        ].
Interestingly, informal reports from the WordPress community suggest that it may be more
inclusive than other tech-related projects, with a growing number of women taking on
event-organizing roles, giving talks, and contributing in non-coding areas such as design and
documentation [13][11]. This article presents an exploratory analysis of how volunteering in
WordPress has shaped the professional development and empowerment of women studying
computer science. We seek to understand their motivations, the skills and confidence they gained,
and the challenges they faced, ultimately offering recommendations to encourage and sustain
women’s inclusion in open-source technology communities.
      </p>
    </sec>
    <sec id="sec-2">
      <title>2. Theorical Framework: Empowerment and Gender in Technology</title>
      <p>Women’s empowerment in technological fields is generally understood as a process through which
they gain agency, skills, and meaningful opportunities that allow them to shape their own
professional paths and influence the environments around them [15]. From the perspective of the
capabilities approach, expanding women's autonomy and strengthening their abilities is essential
for addressing gender inequalities [27]. In the ICT sector, empowerment involves far more than
technical training—it also requires dismantling the cultural and organizational barriers that have
historically limited women’s participation and advancement. The literature identifies a series of
structural challenges: early educational biases, workplace cultures that fail to include or support
women, and the chronic lack of visible female role models in technical professions [5][7]. Cheryan
et al. (2015), for example, demonstrate how stereotypes—such as the image of the “male, solitary
programmer”—can erode women’s sense of belonging in computer science programs, affecting both
their performance and their persistence in the field. These obstacles contribute to women's
underrepresentation in advanced stages of tech careers, including leadership and specialized
positions. Still, research consistently shows that when supportive conditions and targeted
initiatives are put in place, women can thrive and fully develop their potential in technology [6].
Mentoring programs, women-led networks, and equity-oriented policies within tech companies
have yielded promising results in reducing gaps in participation and career progression [9].</p>
      <p>A central component of empowerment in technology is the development of professional
confidence and self-efficacy. Bivens (2020) argues that closing the gender gap in tech requires not
only providing women with access to training and digital tools, but also nurturing the confidence
needed to innovate, take risks, and step into leadership roles [16]. This idea aligns with the concept
of technological self-efficacy [25]: when women genuinely believe that their contributions are
valuable within technical environments, they tend to engage more actively and aspire to
higher-level positions [25][19]. Conversely, the lack of visible female role models and the persistent
undervaluation of women’s skills can weaken that sense of self-efficacy. In one study, only 55% of
women working in ICT considered themselves role models for others—partly because their
achievements were not sufficiently recognized [16]. This underscores the importance of
highlighting women’s leadership in technology and fostering communities of practice where their
contributions are acknowledged and reinforced.</p>
    </sec>
    <sec id="sec-3">
      <title>3. Participation in Open-Source Communities</title>
      <p>
        Open-source and free-software communities occupy a unique place within the broader tech
ecosystem. They rely on voluntary collaboration, transparency, and merit-based contribution, and
they function across geographical and cultural boundaries. Despite these strengths, such
communities have long struggled with issues of diversity. Research on women’s participation in
open-source projects shows a persistent and significant gender gap: global estimates suggest that
only about 9–10% of contributors identify as women [
        <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref3">3</xref>
        ]. Their representation in highly influential
roles—such as core maintainers or lead developers—is even lower, often around 5% [4]. Scholars
have traced this disparity to a mix of social and technical dynamics. Barriers to entry, including
communication environments that can be unwelcoming or hostile, as well as unconscious bias
during code review, often discourage women from staying active in these spaces [17]. Trinkenreich
et al. (2021) note that the most frequently cited obstacles for women contributing to open-source
software are social in nature. These include the lack of female peers with whom to share
experiences (peer parity) and communication practices that reflect competitive or exclusionary
technical cultures rather than collaborative ones [17]. These factors shape the perception held by
many women that open-source environments are not designed with them in mind, leading to
higher dropout rates and reduced visibility of their contributions.
      </p>
      <p>Even so, the landscape is gradually shifting. There is growing evidence that open-source
communities can offer powerful opportunities for professional development when the right
conditions are in place. For many women, contributing to a free-software project provides a chance
to learn new tools, work on meaningful problems, and connect with professionals outside
traditional academic or corporate structures [18]. Motivations such as altruism—the desire to “give
back” to a community—and a sense of affinity or belonging (kinship) have been shown to play a
central role in sustaining women's participation in open-source projects [18]. When these
motivations are supported—through positive mentoring experiences, inclusive communication
practices, or peer networks—retention and long-term engagement tend to improve. Receiving
recognition for their contributions, such as having their code accepted at equal or even higher rates
than male contributors [4], can further reinforce women’s confidence and encourage deeper
involvement.</p>
    </sec>
    <sec id="sec-4">
      <title>4. WordPress Initiatives</title>
      <p>Within the WordPress ecosystem, several initiatives have been launched to promote inclusion and
address longstanding gender imbalances. Around the world—and notably in Costa Rica—the
community has organized events such as Women WordPress Day and women-led activities during
International Women’s Day. These spaces have encouraged many women to take their first steps
into public speaking, lead technical workshops, or simply attend a tech event without feeling
isolated or out of place [19][20]. The outcomes have been consistently positive: participants
reported feeling welcomed, valued, and more confident about engaging in future events [21]. In
some cases, this initial involvement sparked long-term engagement, creating a ripple effect.
Women who took on their first organizational roles often continued doing so, eventually becoming
leaders within their local WordPress communities [20][20]. These experiences suggest that when
open-source communities intentionally create supportive environments, they become powerful
spaces for empowerment—places where students can apply their knowledge, develop new skills,
and challenge the gender norms that remain common in traditional tech spaces.</p>
    </sec>
    <sec id="sec-5">
      <title>5. Methodology</title>
      <p>To examine how WordPress volunteering contributes to women’s professional empowerment, this
study adopted a qualitative research approach using an intrinsic case-study design. The case of
interest centers on the experiences of women studying computer science who participated as
volunteers in the WordPress community associated with Universidad Fidélitas and its surrounding
local network. The following section outlines the methodological design used throughout the
research process.</p>
      <p>The sample consisted of ten women between the ages of 20 and 25, all enrolled in the Faculty of
Computer Science. Between 2023 and 2025, these students actively volunteered in various
WordPress initiatives. Most were in the middle or final stages of their bachelor's degree programs.
Participants were selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling by contacting students
known for their involvement in local WordPress events (such as WordCamp San José, local
meetups, and WordPress Diversity workshops). Prior to data collection, each participant signed an
informed-consent form guaranteeing the confidentiality of their identity and ensuring that their
statements would be used only for research purposes.</p>
      <p>Data were gathered through individual semi-structured interviews conducted either in person
or via videoconference, depending on each participant’s preference. On average, interviews lasted
approximately 45 minutes. The interview protocol explored four central themes:
1. Motivations for joining WordPress volunteering — what sparked their interest and what
they hoped to gain;
2. Experiences and learning outcomes — the roles they performed, the technical skills
acquired, and the development of soft skills such as teamwork, communication, and
leadership;
3. Perceived professional impact — how volunteering influenced their confidence, career
opportunities, networks, and future outlook in IT;
4. Challenges and barriers — difficulties related to gender, time management, community
dynamics, or other factors.</p>
      <p>With participants’ permission, all interviews were audio-recorded and later transcribed
verbatim to facilitate detailed analysis.</p>
    </sec>
    <sec id="sec-6">
      <title>6. Data Analysis</title>
      <p>The study employed thematic analysis [22], supported by qualitative analysis software (Atlas.ti
[26]). To begin, both authors read the full interview transcripts to gain familiarity with the data.
They then carried out an open-coding process, identifying segments of text that were relevant to
the research question. From the initial list of codes—such as “improving technical skills,” “lack of
confidence at first,” “support network,” “feeling like a role model,” and others—emerging themes
were grouped and refined.</p>
      <p>Through iterative discussion and revision, the researchers consolidated five main thematic
categories that captured the essence of the participants’ experiences:
●
●
●
●
●</p>
      <p>Motivations for participation
Development of technical skills
Growth in social skills and leadership
The role of community and support networks
Challenges encountered during volunteering</p>
      <p>To ensure reliability, both investigators independently reviewed the transcripts and
compared their coding decisions. Any differences or interpretive nuances were resolved by
consensus, ensuring that the final themes accurately reflected the participants’ narratives.
Given the intentionally small and localized sample, the results are not meant to be
statistically generalizable; instead, they offer an in-depth, contextually grounded
understanding of the phenomenon under study.</p>
    </sec>
    <sec id="sec-7">
      <title>7. Results</title>
      <p>The coding and categorization process produced five central themes that describe how the students
experienced their volunteer work within the WordPress community and how it influenced their
professional development. Below, each theme is presented along with illustrative examples drawn
from the interviews. To protect confidentiality, participants are identified as P1–P10.
Desire for hands-on learning; applying
academic knowledge; participation in
global projects; expanding networks;
recommendations from professors or
friends; curiosity about events;
inspiration from female leaders; stepping
outside routine; contributing to a global
tool.</p>
      <sec id="sec-7-1">
        <title>Content management and configuration;</title>
        <p>site optimization; databases and web
design; theme and user setup; version
control; event logistics; child-theme and
CSS creation; Figma use and testing; site
migration; forum management; culturally
adapted documentation contributions.</p>
      </sec>
      <sec id="sec-7-2">
        <title>Communication and teamwork;</title>
        <p>leadership; event organization; time and
crisis management; technical writing;
public speaking; decision-making;
facilitation; conflict resolution;
networking; empathy.</p>
        <p>Increased
settings;
overcoming
proactivity
networks;
recognition.</p>
        <p>confidence in
participation</p>
        <p>stage
and
sense</p>
        <p>professional
as speakers;
fright; greater
resilience; stronger
of purpose and</p>
      </sec>
      <sec id="sec-7-3">
        <title>Adapting to non-academic dynamics;</title>
        <p>impostor syndrome; time management;
limited prior experience;
English-language meetings; contribution
structures; shyness in networking; low
initial self-esteem.</p>
        <p>Create
beginner
highlight
introductory
recognize
inclusive
leadership.</p>
        <p>mentorship spaces; document
steps; peer-support teams;
achievements; offer</p>
        <p>workshops; formally
volunteer work; promote
culture and visible female
7.1.</p>
        <sec id="sec-7-3-1">
          <title>Motivations for Participation</title>
          <p>Participants reported a wide range of motivations for getting involved in WordPress volunteering,
often combining several reasons. A common motivation was the desire to gain practical experience
beyond the academic curriculum. Many felt that contributing to WordPress would allow them to
apply the theoretical knowledge learned in university to real-world projects. As one student
explained: “I saw an opportunity to learn through practical experience and expand my professional
network.” (P5, age 20)</p>
          <p>Another strong motivator was the wish to give back to a community that had already benefited
them. One participant noted: “WordPress has given me so much—I’ve learned a lot from its
resources—and volunteering felt like a way to give something back.” (P2, age 21)</p>
          <p>Networking also played a significant role: “My mentor suggested I volunteer at WordCamp. She
said it would help me make connections.” (P8, age 23)</p>
          <p>Finally, several students mentioned that volunteering would strengthen their résumé and help
them stand out in future job applications: “Having experience in a global community looks good on
a CV.” (P3, age 22)
7.2.</p>
        </sec>
        <sec id="sec-7-3-2">
          <title>Development of Technical Skills</title>
          <p>All participants agreed that volunteering in WordPress helped them develop or reinforce relevant
technical skills. The specific skills varied depending on the roles they assumed within the
community. For example, some students contributed directly to open-source development: “I joined
because I’m passionate about open source and wanted to be part of a global community.” (P1, age
24)</p>
          <p>Others supported event organization and learned complementary technical and design skills.
One participant shared: “I handled basic HTML/CSS to explain it to others,” which helped solidify
her own understanding (P6, age 20).</p>
          <p>Several participants mentioned improvements in their technical English as they navigated
documentation or interacted with international contributors.
7.3.</p>
        </sec>
        <sec id="sec-7-3-3">
          <title>Growth in Soft Skills and Leadership</title>
          <p>Beyond technical abilities, a recurring theme was the development of social, communication, and
leadership skills. Some participants described starting out timid or unsure, only to gain confidence
through community engagement: “At first I was scared to speak or share ideas, but once I saw that
the team valued my opinions, I began to open up.” (P7, age 22)</p>
          <p>Several women eventually took on coordination roles or led activities: “After coordinating a
team, I now feel capable of leading professional projects.” (P3, age 22)</p>
          <p>Public speaking also improved noticeably: “After speaking in front of 50 people at a WordCamp,
presenting in class no longer feels intimidating.” (P8, age 23)
7.4.</p>
        </sec>
        <sec id="sec-7-3-4">
          <title>Community Support and Sense of Belonging</title>
          <p>A strong cross-cutting theme was the importance of community support. Many participants
emphasized that, unlike the competitive environment they expected, they found WordPress to be
largely welcoming and collaborative. They especially valued the presence of other women in tech.
“I had never worked with so many women on a tech project; in most university groups, everyone is
male.” (P2, age 21)</p>
          <p>Participants highlighted the influence of female role models—experienced organizers or
industry professionals who encouraged them and offered informal mentorship. “Whenever I
doubted whether I had the skills for a project, there was always someone—man or woman—who
encouraged me to keep going.” (P9, age 24)</p>
          <p>Some explained that this supportive environment inspired them to mentor newcomers: “Now I
also try to guide other girls who join the group.” (P7, age 22)</p>
          <p>WordPress thus became not only a volunteer activity but also a community of practice [23]
where women built professional identity and emotional support networks—key ingredients for
empowerment.</p>
        </sec>
        <sec id="sec-7-3-5">
          <title>Challenges and Lessons Learned</title>
          <p>Although the overall experience was positive, participants also described challenges. A common
struggle was impostor syndrome: many felt they “didn’t know enough” or “weren’t good enough”
to contribute. These doubts gradually faded as they received positive feedback, but nearly all
participants admitted experiencing them at some point.</p>
          <p>Time management was another recurring difficulty. Balancing studies, personal obligations, and
volunteer commitments was especially hard during high-pressure academic periods: “There was a
tough semester where I could barely attend meetings. I felt bad about it, but I learned to manage
my responsibilities better.” (P6, age 20)</p>
          <p>While none reported direct discrimination within the local WordPress community, some
insecurities were reinforced by outside comments. One student recalled a male engineer
questioning the value of volunteering because it was unpaid: “Why are you doing that if they don’t
pay you?”</p>
          <p>The remark made her doubt herself at first.</p>
          <p>Despite these challenges, all participants concluded that the benefits far outweighed any
obstacles.</p>
        </sec>
      </sec>
    </sec>
    <sec id="sec-8">
      <title>8. Discussion</title>
      <p>The findings of this study reaffirm and expand previous research on women’s empowerment in
technological environments while offering a nuanced look at the specific dynamics of volunteering
within an open-source community. First, the motivations identified in the interviews—gaining
practical experience, contributing to a cause, building professional networks, and improving
employability—align closely with motivations reported by women participating in open-source
projects globally. Prior studies have shown that opportunities for learning and the desire to “give
back” are particularly strong motivators for women contributors in open-source ecosystems [18]. In
this study, altruistic motivations surfaced clearly, with several participants expressing a wish to
return the benefits they had gained from WordPress. This suggests that emphasizing the social
mission and collective impact of open-source initiatives may be an effective strategy for attracting
more women to these communities.</p>
      <p>The interviews also underscored the importance of social capital [24]—especially mentoring and
networking—in women's professional empowerment. Access to experienced peers, potential
collaborators, and informal career guidance provided added value that complemented their formal
academic training. This aligns with theoretical frameworks that highlight the role of support
networks in advancing women’s participation in male-dominated fields. Our findings suggest that
volunteer communities can function as early talent incubators, giving students visibility and
helping them build professional connections that may improve future employability. This is
consistent with external evidence showing that volunteer work increases job prospects [12].
Encouraging students—especially women—to engage in community-based technological projects
may therefore have tangible benefits for their career development.</p>
      <p>In terms of skills development, the results show that WordPress volunteering enabled holistic
learning: students strengthened both technical and socio-emotional competencies. This dual
growth addresses two well-documented gaps in the literature: the technical skills gap, which
contributes to women’s underrepresentation in programming roles, and the leadership skills gap,
which affects their access to decision-making positions. Participants not only practiced coding,
design, troubleshooting, and project management but also exercised leadership—coordinating
teams, speaking at events, and making decisions under pressure. These experiences serve as early
leadership training, which research shows can significantly increase the likelihood that women will
seek and obtain leadership roles later in their careers [18]. Many interviewees described a notable
increase in their sense of self-efficacy, a key indicator of empowerment. Seeing themselves succeed
in real tasks, receive recognition, and contribute meaningfully allowed them to challenge the
internalized doubts associated with impostor syndrome.</p>
      <p>Another significant finding is the role of community culture in promoting women’s
participation and retention. Participants valued the supportive, collaborative atmosphere of
WordPress and were particularly encouraged by the presence of other women and visible female
leaders. This confirms the importance of intentionally fostering inclusive community norms.
Previous studies highlight strategies such as peer-support groups, visible role models, mentoring,
and codes of conduct as critical to supporting women in open-source environments [17]. In this
case, WordPress provided many of these elements organically, which contributed to participants’
sense of belonging. Research shows that women who experience kinship and reciprocity within
open-source communities are more likely to remain active contributors [18]. Our study also found
that empowerment extended beyond the individual level: several participants began mentoring
newcomers, demonstrating what scholars describe as collective empowerment, where empowered
individuals then support and uplift others [28]. The local WordPress community appears to have
created conditions conducive to this collaborative cycle.</p>
      <p>Despite these strengths, the findings also reveal areas where additional support is needed.
Although participants ultimately overcame their insecurities, the prevalence of impostor syndrome
suggests that many women may hesitate to join or may withdraw early without adequate
encouragement. Formal onboarding processes, beginner-friendly pathways, or workshops
addressing impostor syndrome could help new contributors navigate these barriers. Time
constraints also emerged as a significant challenge. Volunteering requires substantial effort, which
may exclude students who lack the financial or personal flexibility to dedicate unpaid hours.
Institutions could mitigate this by recognizing open-source participation as part of academic credit,
internships, or professional practice hours—reducing the extracurricular burden and increasing
accessibility. Partnerships between universities, companies, and communities could also create
scholarships or stipends for high-impact volunteers.</p>
      <p>In summary, the discussion reinforces the idea that early involvement in open-source
technological communities can be a powerful pathway for women’s professional
empowerment—provided that supportive structures are in place. These findings align with
international policy recommendations from UNESCO, CEPAL, and other organizations, which
argue that ICT and digital collaboration offer promising avenues for reducing gender disparities by
giving women opportunities to develop skills, build networks, and gain visibility in the digital
economy [8][10]. The qualitative evidence presented here illustrates how these benefits materialize
at the individual level, shaping the real experiences of students who, through volunteering,
discovered new career possibilities, strengthened their capabilities, and now face their professional
futures with greater confidence and support.</p>
      <p>Because this study focuses exclusively on the WordPress community in Costa Rica, its
conclusions may reflect cultural and organizational particularities unique to this context. As such,
while the results offer valuable insights, they should be interpreted with attention to the local
dynamics of this specific open-source ecosystem.</p>
    </sec>
    <sec id="sec-9">
      <title>9. Conclusions</title>
      <p>This study examined how volunteering within the WordPress community contributes to the
professional empowerment of women studying computer science. The findings offer both localized
empirical evidence and broader reflections that align with existing literature on gender and
technology. Through in-depth interviews, we observed that participation in free and open-source
software initiatives can serve as a powerful catalyst for the formation of young professionals: it not
only strengthens technical skills but also enhances leadership abilities, expands professional
networks, and increases women’s confidence to navigate a field traditionally dominated by men.</p>
      <p>Specifically, the women interviewed were able to bridge theory and practice by applying
academic knowledge to real-world situations, accelerating their learning curves. Just as important,
they found within the community a space of validation and support that counteracted many of the
discouraging messages women often receive in technology—such as questioning their abilities or
lacking relatable role models. These combined effects contributed to a marked increase in their
sense of professional capability. Several participants reported shifting from seeing themselves
merely as students to recognizing themselves as valuable members of a global technological
community—and even as sources of inspiration for other women. This internal transformation
reflects empowerment in action.</p>
      <p>These findings resonate with regional digital-inclusion policies promoted by organizations like
CEPAL and UNESCO, which emphasize the importance of combining technical training, support
networks, and the visibility of female leadership as key strategies for reducing gender gaps in ICT
participation across Latin America.</p>
      <p>Based on the study’s results, several practical recommendations emerge. For universities and
computer science programs, fostering student involvement in open-source communities or other
extracurricular tech spaces can be highly beneficial. This could take the form of institutional
partnerships, active promotion of community events, or even the formal recognition of volunteer
work as part of academic requirements. Such experiences enrich formal education and can help
improve retention rates of women in ICT programs by offering them a stronger sense of belonging
and purpose.</p>
      <p>For technological communities, the findings reinforce the importance of maintaining and
expanding inclusive practices. Mentorship programs, visible female leadership, clear codes of
conduct that ensure respectful interactions, and flexibility for contributors who study, or work are
all strategies that make a meaningful difference in attracting and retaining diverse talent [7][6].
Notably, initiatives like Women WordPress Day have proven effective at helping newcomers
overcome initial hesitations and encouraging more women to participate actively; expanding these
initiatives to additional regions and local contexts would likely amplify their impact.
Acknowledgements
The authors extend their sincere gratitude to the WordPress Costa Rica Community for providing
the space and support that made this study possible. We are especially grateful to the student
volunteers who participated in the interviews and generously shared their time and experiences.
This research was supported by the Research Program of the Faculty of Computer Science at
Universidad Fidélitas, which has encouraged the integration of a gender perspective into
student-led projects.</p>
      <p>Declaration on Generative AI
In line with academic transparency policies, we declare that generative artificial intelligence (AI)
tools were used during the preparation of this article to assist with writing and editing tasks. These
tools served as complementary aids and were employed under the authors’ supervision and
judgment. All content was carefully reviewed and validated by the authors to ensure accuracy,
coherence, and adherence to ethical standards. The use of AI was limited strictly to streamlining
the editorial process; at no point did it replace or diminish the authors’ intellectual or analytical
responsibility for the research, which remains entirely their own.
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