The Invisible Society of Women in Technology: Young Women

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The Invisible Society of Women in Technology
Young Womens Reluctance to Enter the Technology
Field

• Professor Barbara Nicolai
• Information Systems Computer Programming
• Purdue University Calumet

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Todays Situation

• In April, 2000 the American Association of
  University Women (AAUW) published a startling
  report about how our young women are not only
  falling through the cracks of the information
  superhighway, but are not even interested in the
  science and technology fields.

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Why are fewer females entering the technology
fields?

• Statistics 47 of women are in the workplace
  only 29 of women are in IT.

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Why are fewer females entering the technology
fields?

• What factors contribute to this phenomenon?
• Lack of mentorship at the high school level
• Girls want careers in which they can make a
  difference.

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Why are fewer females entering the technology
fields?

• What factors contribute to this phenomenon?
• Girls have little or no knowledge about IT
  careers
• Computer Games are male oriented
• Lack of positive role models (Ordidge, 1997)

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How Did We Get Here?

• Computers are no longer an isolated part of our
  curriculum
• Information technology touches every aspect of
  our society
• Are we using them to promote involvement by girls
  and minorities?

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What Can we do?

• Provide technology training and education for our
  teachers in grades K-12
• Establish mentorship programs between high school
  women and university women
• Promote female and minority participation in
  technology projects

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Recommendation

• Integrate computer education across disciplines
• Eradicate gender and minority bias
• Introduce role models to high school females
  and minorities
• Provide technology knowledgeable teachers

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TEAMS Leadership Institute
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Vision Statement

• The Teams Leadership Institute
• Our Mission is to aid current and future leaders
  in the fields of technology, engineering,
  architecture/construction, mathematics and
  sciences in overcoming gender-related issues
  common in business environments by providing
  pertinent education and information, appropriate

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Vision Statement

• The Teams Leadership Institute
• Networking opportunities and experiences, and
  general support in aiding leaders as they develop
  essential skills to support lifelong success.

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Goal and Objective

• Goal To increase the percentages of women and
  minorities in the science and technology fields
• Objective Introducing mentoring programs at the
  middle school, high school and university levels

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References

• AAUW Education Foundation Commission on
  Technology, Gender and Teacher Education, (2000),
  Library of Congress Card Number 00-100922.
• Bensten, Cheryl, (2000, September 1), Why women
  hate IT, . CIO. 81-92.
• Ordidge, Irene. (1997). Education Training,
  39(1).