By Jo Best, 4 June 2004 17:20
NEWS The well-known lack of women in IT could all be down to one factor – it's far too geeky for the ladies.
That's the verdict of a report, Strategies of Inclusion: Gender and the Information Society, which researched attitudes towards the profession in five countries – Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK – to try and find ways to bridge the digital divide between the sexes.
The government-funded report unsurprisingly found that women feel IT design and development is dominated by men and that they are unwelcome.
It seems the IT industry is viewed as populated by nerds and hackers and only of interest to antisocial young men who've spent far too much time in their bedrooms tinkering with code and playing online games.
That doesn't mean that IT in general is boring - surfing the web and using email is seen as fun - but the peripheral technology itself has yet to find a place in women's hearts.
In order to bridge the gap between the sexes in IT, the report recommends educational establishments put in place strategies to encourage women and girls to feel included in IT.
There's also good news on the home front – as devices such as mobiles and PCs become increasingly 'techie' and find their way into people's work and homes, technology is becoming more and more accepted.
Comments
There are 5 comments. Join the discussion
1. Robert Young
Not an analysis that promotes the idea there is positive interest in an intelligent answer. Geeks, nerds and anoraks vs women. Perjorative language, answers not really wanted.
2. Robin Houghton
Unfortunately one of the problems is the definition of IT. The internet is an essential factor in my work and I too 'love' email, the web etc. I'm even moderately interested in computers, as far as what they can do and what they look like (!). But I've no interest in knowing how to install a motherboard and I don't get excited about networks, wi-fi or what the next big thing from Apple is going to be.
Women are probably more interested in technology as means of communication rather than technology per se. Once new technology settles down and we get away from this obsession with the machinery and start focusing on what it can be used for, the more women will be drawn to it.
3. Olly
The fact that many women are treated like idiots when they use technical helplines may also contribute to this. I have noticed lots of friends' of my being treated like they are stupid when they are actually asking sensible logical questions, and this is because the person at the other end (usually male) cannot answer the question. It's only when I intervene and point out I work in IT on the programming end do we get somewhere.
4. James Fielden
I'm sick of hearing about the lack of women in I.T.
Why should more be done to promote it to women?
I don't think I've ever come across a male "Dinner Lady" in a school, but there doesn't seem to be a campaign to promote it to men.
Ridiculous example I admit, but the reason there aren't as many women in I.T is bcause it doesn't appeal to them.
Why push it? The people that are attracted to it as a job are the best people for it, so don't try and advertise it as something it isn't. It is "geeky", but that isn't a bad thing. It's "geeky" because most of the subject matter is somewhat boring as a whole, but as with everything in life, exciting and enjoyable to those that are interested in it.
Is this too hard to realise?
5. John Maguire
Yes, IT is "geeky" just as anything that's vaguely cerebral is. Yes, I am proud to call myself a nerd and yes, IT by its nature discriminates against both men and women who don't or won't understand how to code / attach network cables or read a help file. Deal with it and if you're not happy, put your sunglasses on top of your head and move into PR.