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by Anna Rusch
Today only twenty percent of the undergraduates in the Institute of Technology are women, and the percentage is similar for professionals in technology related careers. As the demand for employees with technology skills continues to rise, the failure to attract women to such careers presents considerable obstacles for the future of these fields. It is therefore necessary to examine the barriers that dissuade women from IT majors and careers and encourage male dominance in the field.
Sex-role stereotypes present significant barriers for female involvement in IT careers. Particularly common in the United States, careers in scientific fields are dominated by males. Studies reveal that the standing predominance of men in such fields discourages women at a young age from pursuing IT careers. At the grade school level, boys are encouraged to study math and science while girls, though not directly discouraged from the study of the sciences, are often guided to subjects such as English and Linguistics.
National studies have noted that computer games, by which many children familiarize themselves with computers, emphasize themes such as combat, war, and male oriented sports. Research proves that such games appeal to young boys in far greater numbers than girls. As a result, boys are often better acquainted with computers than girls, and thus more likely to display interest in careers in a related field.
The lack of female role models is also a contributing factor to male dominance in IT. Female faculty members comprise only ten percent of the faculty in the Institute of Technology. Therefore, not only are the majority of students within IT male, but the professors themselves are also predominantly male.
Victoria Interrante, an assistant professor of computer science, has been involved with the ongoing recruitment of IT faculty. During her four years at the University, she recalls that there have simply not been any female applicants for employment positions at the collegiate level. She describes the need for "an emphasis on getting more female role models out there," suggesting that "more female professors will lead to more female students." It is her hope that by giving young women female role models, more women will then seek higher education in IT, and subsequently more women will fill instruction and research positions at colleges and universities.
Female role models are necessary not only to encourage female participation in IT, but also to communicate to young women the reality of IT careers. Third year IT student Abbey Sullivan notes that she was initially unsure about what a career in IT would actually involve: "I envisioned myself alone in a cubical at a computer--very little human contact." According to numerous studies, solitary confinement seems to accurately describe the perceptions most females have of these careers. Female IT professionals suggest that the widespread misconceptions of IT careers are partially responsible for the under-representation of women in IT.
Stereotypes have cast the IT student and professional as a "nerd," lacking in communication and social skills. Megan Carney, a senior in IT, asserts that the portrayal of students and careers in IT is simply "not attractive." The "nerd" icon, supported by the mass media and popular culture, has created a perceived negative image of IT careers. Sullivan argues that while the stereotypes do indeed exist, "they disappear once you get into IT." This implies that if young women are able to see past the stereotypes surrounding IT careers, they may discover that there is not a sizable amount of truth behind them.
Today careers in IT require not only an understanding of the field, but also business knowledge and the communication skills necessary to promote teamwork. Interrante states that teamwork is particularly important in IT careers because, "the group is there as a resource. As a team, other people can help you with your own work. In the industry, teamwork is invaluable." Young women would most likely be surprised to learn that the group interaction they thought was only available through careers in other fields is actually a cornerstone of IT professions.
As noted by several studies, many of the women that enroll in IT courses focus their interests in fields related to biology. Carney believes a possible explanation for the increased female interest in fields such as biomedical engineering is that they are relatively new and "the old boys club is not in place." Female IT students suggest that there is an emotional connection or human aspect involved with biological fields that is not present in other areas, which could explain why more women seem attracted to careers in these fields.
Interrante suggests biological fields offer students the opportunity to impose an "immediate influence upon society," which particularly appeals to women. She explains that a biomedical engineer can have a direct influence on human life through advances in medical technology. A computer scientist, however, "creates technology that will benefit society indirectly." According to Interrante the inability to directly impact society may render careers in fields like computer science less appealing to women.
Concerning her own experience as a computer scientist, Interrante comments, "I wanted to do something with my career to help people. I thought, 'What am I doing with computer science that's helping people?' My research is helping society, but it is an indirect influence." Interrante's current research involves a project titled, "Radiation Treatment Therapy Planning." The project works to develop new techniques for making three-dimensional transparent surfaces and shapes appear accurately defined in computer programs. Her efforts will eventually be applied to computer diagrams that provide images of human body organs. By examining the diagrams, medical specialists will be able to determine the specific areas of the body in which radiation needs to be either maximized or minimized, and will thus be able to offer better treatment to cancer patients.
The future job market is rich with employment in technological fields and, according to Interrante, the presence of women in these fields is critical: "Women can add a different perspective [to IT fields]; they pay attention to different sorts of things." Since technology affects the daily lives of both men and women, it is imperative that women are involved with the creation of this technology to ensure that it meets the needs and expectations of women today. Thus, it is obvious that more must be done to remove the barriers that currently deter women from pursuing such careers.
Rhonda Franklin Drayton, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, asserts that there is "a mixture of things going on right now" that hinders female participation in IT. Specifically, Drayton explains women are not receiving the support necessary to generate long-term interests in IT careers. In a male dominated field, women are challenged to prove their capabilities. As an African American woman in IT, Drayton notes, "Because you're different, people are not sure of the level of commitment they want to make to ensure your success." She resolves that female students may have both interest and talent in an IT field, but do not receive the encouragement that is so crucial to retaining that interest.
The recent publicity that technology related fields have received from the media has generated a "storm" of interest in IT careers. "Women were excited to get involved [in IT fields], but now we need to listen to their concerns because they are pulling out after rushing in. We need to develop solutions that accommodate their concerns." According to Drayton, such concerns include marriage, children, and the seeming inability to find a balance between a career and a family: "Women think, 'How can I do this and still have time for family?'" Substantial numbers of women educated in IT fields never utilize their skills in a career setting because there does not yet seem to be a satisfactory answer to this question.
One of the most basic ways to identify and address female concerns, as well as to generate sustained interest in IT fields, is through outreach programs that target young women and girls. National studies recommend implementing targeted programs in elementary schools across the nation in an effort to increase female participation in IT. The programs would work to expose women to fields such as computer science and to inform them of the opportunities that a career in an IT field can offer. Professionals suggest that instructors at the grade school, high school, and collegiate level question their teaching methods to determine whether or not they are catering to the interests and concerns of female students. By communicating the reality of IT careers as well as incorporating teamwork into IT courses at every level of education, researchers hope to convince more women to pursue careers in IT.
Young women must be encouraged to look beyond the stereotyped image of IT fields and to discover the realities of a career in engineering and technology fields. Such careers will provide women the opportunity to engineer the 21st century as well as engineering a new paradigm for a job market historically dominated by men.
INSIDE STORIES:
Keep Classes Co-Ed
Seperate The Sexes
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
www.it.umn.edu/women
www-users.cs.umn.edu/~interran/
www.ece.umn.edu/users/drayton
