Switching gears from the typical rants and raves of politics, I recently was talking to someone about women in IT. Before everyone gets in a tizzy about it, or think that I will dive into a severely chauvinistic rant, I would really like to see more women in the IT field. Here's why.
Forbes wrote an article about the lack of women in the STEM fields (Science, Tech, Engineering and Math), in which women on average only represent 27% of. There has been almost no growth either for women in that field in the last decade. Given that women hold, on average, more college degrees than men, you'd expect more or at least some growth over time.
I think the problem is primarily a social one. I think guys do play a part in keeping them away, but that isn't the sole reason. I don't think women are taught really that's something they can do. Women aren't engaged in at youth to explore their pursuits in those fields, and this is from both men and women. I think society, as a whole, doesn't think to teach their daughters about the field. Could this be the remainder of an era long forgotten? Maybe. I just think it's a big oversight, and requires a shift in focus. We need to make it desirable for them.
I think men are guarded in that field because they don't have enough experience working with women. More experience with them would ease that, and I think overall that would lead to more adoption by women in the end. What we need is the initial push, or break of the cycle, to do it. Sure, it will ruffle a few feathers, but change does that to everyone. This can start by adopting STEM programs for girls in school, or even just by having the parents play a part in making that available. I plan on building computers with my daughter, hopefully you do too!
Women would have opportunities in the STEM world that exceed others, mainly the ability to earn more on average. This would definitely help ease the disparity between pay of men and women, along with getting a more balanced and robust outlook in the IT world. My $.02, that's all ....
STEM Fields and the gender gap - Forbes
