Popular Technology Degrees
Technology Schools Are For Women Too!
May 8, 2007
by
Mary Hobson
Technology Schools Columnist
Many people have a very vague idea of what it takes to work in information technology. The perception is generally of an industry full of male geeks, but if you take a look at the people working in the industry and in technology schools, you will be very pleasantly surprised. Some of these geeks look very sexy and very female!
No Girls Allowed?
The idea that information technology was a boy's game--and only a certain kind of socially challenged boy at that--began in the 1980s. Personal computers entered the world of education via math and science, which was traditionally the province of male teachers. So boys began to take on the challenge. However, prior to this move, computing-related jobs were around 40% female; in the 1970s computing was a good career for women.
Unfortunately, once this kind of social movement happens, it's difficult to reverse it, and today women account for only a quarter of the people employed in technical computer-related jobs. That's up from 16% in the early 90s, but still not exactly reflective of the general population.
However, the information technology industry is aware of this shortfall, and of its consequences. In order to increase the market for Web software and video games, they must make these things more attractive to women--which is less likely to happen if the designers are male.
Top Computing Jobs for Women
Computer science degrees have become much more attractive to women as more female science graduates take teaching jobs in technology schools. As more role models are seen in the industry, this movement will increase. In fact, there are already some interesting role models out there. Some of the women who worked in computer-related jobs in the 1970s have reached senior management positions in information technology and are seen as successful--a major incentive to women wishing to choose a career that they can succeed in.
You will find
your technology school inhabited by a mix of people of all different social types and sexes. You don't have to give up a reasonable social life in order to learn this technology, and you can develop a good, fun and successful career in information technology regardless of your gender.
Sources
About the Author
Mary Hobson is the Head of IT School at a Polytechnic in New Zealand. She also works as a freelance writer.
