Changing the Public
Face of Women in Information and Communications
Technology
Advancing the
status of women in ICT,
begins with girls who are beginning to think about
career choices. It is necessary to change the public
face of ICT for these young women to take interest.
“Instead of trying to make girls fit into the existing
computer culture, the computer culture must become
more inviting for girls.”
said Sherry Turkle, Professor
of Sociology at MIT.
Supporting Young
Women in Career Choices
The ZONTA Club
of Armidale Inc. has taken the initiative to promote
the full involvement by girls and young women currently
under-represented in many
computer-related endeavors. Through discussions
with representatives of secondary and tertiary educational
institutions, industry, and business, the ZONTA
Club of Armidale found that few local women were
engaged in the ICT industry.
School students
participate in the integrated programs in Years
7-10, however, there are very few who choose IT
programs (software development, VET CII in IT, or
Industry IPT) in Years 11 &12. (Armidale High has
none in 2004.) They do not appear to see themselves
within the industry. There are few role models and
mentors.
Why ‘ZONTA E-girls’?
ZONTA Armidale
E-girls Workshops create the opportunity for Year
10 girls in the New England region to meet and learn
from women currently working in the industry. They
experience the reality rather than the stereotype.
Girls tend to imagine that ICT professionals live
in a solitary, antisocial, and sedentary world.
This is an alienating and incorrect perception of
careers that rely heavily on computer technology
and expertise in this century.
Team-work and
communication, problem-solving and creativity are
required skills to succeed in ICT professions.
Australian Research
conducted in New England
The research study,
Women and Computers, conducted in 1998 involving
women from the New England Region, discussed issues
and physical barriers which prevent women from seeking
training and careers in ICT. A variety of recommendations
resulted from this study, among which were:
·
Training providers seek
proportionate gender representation through action
planning to address the current differences in participation.
·
Identify and implement
recruitment strategies to encourage enrolment into
training programs
·
Support groups for female
students in ICT be organised with a nominated coordinator,
administrative support and use of local facilities,
including the construction and publication of a
dedicated website for and by female students.
·
Develop career information
sessions to provide more information about career
opportunities both before and after enrolments.
·
Develop and implement
strategies to address the negative perception women
(girls) have of ITC jobs.
In 2003, The Armidale
Zonta Club raised funds to facilitate and support
young women who are interested in ICT and Engineering.
These funds are to be allocated to:
1.
informing girls of career
opportunities in Engineering and Information and
Communications Technology; and
2.
providing
scholarships for young women studying Engineering,
Mathematics, Physical Sciences, or ICT related studies.
Why Support Engineering
and ICT Careers?
A detail research
study conducted by the AAUW Educational Foundation
Commission on Technology, Gender and Teacher Education
found that:
·
Girls represent 17%
of students taking Computer Science subjects in
Year 10, and less than 10% at higher levels.
·
Women are roughly 20
% of ICT professionals.
·
Women studying Computer
Science is declining! They receive less that 28%
of the computer science bachelor’s degrees, which
is down from a high in 1984 of 37%.
·
Women make up just 9%
of the recipients of engineering-related Bachelor
degrees.
