#WIT = Twitter hashtag for Women in Technology.
I’m not sure where the numbers come from, but everyone in my local SQL Saturday community seems to agree that the number of women in technology (all over the U.S.) has been steadily dwindling over the past decade. No one is quite sure why this is happening. They just know it is.
Andy Warren, Karla Landrum, and several other SQL notables have raised the issue with a great deal of concern. If women in the workforce outnumber men in the workforce, then what jobs are all the women taking that leaves men in the traditional Old Boys’ Club of Information Technology? And why is it that women avoid IT careers and degrees?
At the last Orlando SQL Saturday, Karla and I were invited to be speakers at a WIT panel. The idea was to open a dialogue with both men and women about how to get girls to grow up with the idea that it is okay to get into technology as a career. A side conversation arose about how few women are in the math and science fields as a result.
When I came across this CNN-linked article, Female Scientists Face Catch-22, it reminded me of the WIT debate. The article says interesting things about our society. It seems even in these "evolved" and modern times, women can’t get science grant money if the grant committee is all male. (Don’t beat me up. I know this is a generalization.) What really got my attention, though, was the article’s commentary about the language difference between men and women, and how that affects what professional resources women can access.
The thing is, I believe the technology community can discuss the dearth of women in the field all we want, but it won’t resolve anything. Why? Because we’re discussing the issue amongst ourselves, amongst the men and women who are ALREADY in technology careers. Until we find a way to take this conversation public, to other fields, and find a way to involve mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, sisters, and brothers in the discussion, we will fail to make any significant changes in the IT career demographic.
So, does anyone have any suggestions?
4 Responses
Women in Technology
It’s been getting worse for more than a decade on this side of the pond.
A partial solution might be to make it illegal for anyone who is innumerate to teach children. Also anyone who believes in all the bad science that newspapers publish. And anyone who is unable to reason. And anyone who doesn’t read books (other than comic books) for pleasure. And anyone who would rather shout people down than explain reasons for his views.
If all teachers were absent those dismal characteristics a lot of the prejudice against maths, science, and engineering that is passed on to girls (and to many boys too) of school age would cease to be inculcated into them. A great benefit to all children.
But it would never work, because it wouldn’t leave enough teachers, unfortunately.
Tom Thomson
More education, better education, more outreach programs, more exposure (in the form of news, etc).
BUT, don’t discount talking about this amongst ourselves. Each of us has children, family, friends, coworkers – the people that I call “tech-adjacent”. The more enlightened the tech community is about the numbers, causes, and effects of the low women-to-men ratio, the more that spills over into conversations and actions with the tech-adjacent.
Absolutely, we do need more. But what we are doing is a start.
-Jen McCown, MidnightDBA.com
One of the most difficult issues that Women in “traditional” careers (think Secretary, administration, reception, etc..) face is making the leap into a career in the IT field. I use myself as an example. I have a Batchenlors of communication, Business Analysis diploma from the local Technical College. I am a WIT and IIBA member. I am also a Technical Writer and I am BABOK certified … yet, I have 15 years plus of Administrative experience. So when I go looking for a position as an analyst with my large IT focussed Company (who paid for me to get my education) they tell me that my administrative skills are what are requied, then they hire outside of the office to a student who was in my class with no work experience as a BA. I have looke doutside of my IT employer at other IT employers and it is the same story – Years of Admin trumps the education and training as a Business Analyst.
Recruiters for IT jobs tell me the same thing – we can’t use you becuase of all of yoru Administrative expereince.. but they have 20 year olds with no degree just a diploma and they are immediately placed in and IT career. (they are mostly male).
Aside from myself I have met several women who are trying to make the leap.. with no support or assistance and finding it very discouraging. Yet the younger men are easly taking on IT positons.
What we need is a way to bridge that gap for women who want to make that career move. They should be afforded the same considerations as the younger men are.
Sincerely,
Frustrated Administrator with double degrees trapped behind a desk working for a 22 year old IT guy with no credentials.
Women in Technology (#WIT)
I understand your frustration. It does seem that we have to work twice as hard to get into IT. I came from a customer service background and had a difficult time getting into IT because I had no IT experience to put on my resume.
Maybe this article on “Changing Career Gears” will help you out. Fair warning, I wrote this also. http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Career/61543/