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I.T. Needs You!

Does this fit?

You're an enterprising woman.
You're returning to school to ensure your future.
You're ready for a good salary.
You'd like to make your mark.
You want to make a difference.

If so, there's plenty of opportunity in Information Technology. Although the number of women in I.T. is growing, the field remains dominated by men.

According to a recent Council of Economic Advisors report, only 29% of I.T. occupations are pursued by women. Compare that to women's representation in the total U.S. workforce at 47%.

Not that there's no room for women. Computer science, computer engineering and systems analysis are the three fastest-growing occupations identified by the Department of Labor Occupational Handbook.

The field is growing so fast that demand for skilled workers far outstrips supply. Out of 1.6 million jobs this year only half are expected to be filled.

What are these jobs? I.T. includes computer programming, but it's also systems analysis, systems integration, networking, database development, database management, web development, tech support, and more.

And besides technology, the one thing these jobs all have in common is: an excellent salary. According to the CEA, media annual income in I.T. is $38,000, versus $23,900 outside of the field. This figure rises to about $50,000 for more skilled jobs.

So if I.T. is such a good deal, why aren't more women filling these jobs? Here are a few of the reasons I've run across:

Lack of exposure, encouragement, support. This is an issue especially for those of us old enough to have missed using computers in elementary through high school. Even computer-literate younger women may not have been encouraged to explore I.T. as a career option while still in high school.

The I.T. image. There is still an aura of "geekiness" about computer science. Many women think computer science is a solitary occupation with few redeeming social benefits. They are much more likely to seek careers where they feel they can make a difference.

Disillusionment. Even among those women who earn computer science degrees and launch careers in I.T., many drop out. There's a high "exit" rate among both men and women but it's twice as high among women. Some of the reasons:

Long hours incompatible with raising families
Lack of respect or worse from predominantly male colleagues
Discomfort in the "boy's club" environment
Being overlooked for promotion

Fewer women leave IT jobs because they don't like the work. In fact, many say they love it.

Most young girls in a recent American Association of University Women study admit - with some distaste - that computers are here to stay, and that computer fluency is a vital skill. What's still not apparent is how computer technology can be used to improve the quality of their lives.

But, especially today in the age of the Internet, computers are much more than efficient tools used to streamline business processes. Their greater promise now is in the power of communication. What's needed to fulfill this promise is the woman's perspective - a shift in focus from technology for technology's sake to technology for people's sake.

Dropping out won't help. Dedicated, visionary women are needed to humanize the technology and the profession, to restore the balance in our technology-driven society. And as these women achieve more prominent positions in I.T., they will also turn the I.T. workplace into a more inviting environment for both men and women. Then maybe these 800,000+ jobs will no longer go begging.

For an in-depth treatment of many of these issues, see CIO Magazine, September 1, 2000, Why Women Hate I.T. The story, plus much interesting feedback on the issue from both men and women, is available online.

Coming: Part II: I.T. Education

Sources:
- Opportunities and Gender Pay Equity in New Economy Occupations, White House Council of Economic Advisors, May 2000
- Tech-Savvy, AAUW Educational Foundation, April 2000
- Bridging the Gap: Information Technology Skills for a New Millennium, ITAA

9/21/00

Student View
Comments from an Adult Student Center member, 40 years old with 2 teenagers, and a second year I.T. student: "I would like to see more women in this particular field. We have approx. a 3-1 ratio of guys versus girls in my class, and it makes it hard for some girls to make new friends. I love what I do, and if you really want this, and put your mind to it, you can do it too!"