The Social Construction of Australian Women in IT

2011 ◽  
pp. 1105-1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Nielsen ◽  
Liisa von Hellens
Keyword(s):  
Research Area ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
It Industry ◽  
Participation Of Women ◽  
Women In It ◽  
It Workforce ◽  
The Social ◽  
It Education ◽  
Workforce Needs

The declining participation of women in IT education and professional work is now a well-documented research area (Adam, Howcroft, & Richardson, 2004), but the causes and remedies remain puzzling and complex. Studies have indicated that there are signs of the “shrinking pipeline” (Camp, 1997) even in the years between junior and senior high school (i.e., Meredyth, Russell, Blackwood, & Thomas, 1999) when girls’ interest and confidence in the use of computers declines markedly. A lack of clarity as to what constitutes the IT industry and the rapid rate of change complicate attempts to understand the reasons for the declining participation of women in the IT industry, as well as the declining interest in IT degrees. This is despite the fact that IT salaries compare well with other professional salaries and are superior to most traditional female occupations (Megalogenis, 2003). Our research also demonstrates that many people—especially women—enter the IT workforce via other qualifications indicating that traditional IT education is not very successful in attracting either the quantity or quality of students required to meet workforce needs. Furthermore, IT has not matched the rise in female participation in the traditionally male-dominated professions of science, engineering, and medicine.

scholarly journals Challenge or Chaos: A Discourse Analysis of W omen’s Perceptions of the Culture of Change in the IT Industry

10.28945/2760 ◽  
2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Nielsen ◽  
Liisa von Hellens ◽  
Jenine Beekhuyzen
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Rapid Change ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Continuous Change ◽  
It Industry ◽  
Participation Of Women ◽  
Women In It ◽  
Women’S Perceptions ◽  
It Education

An ongoing investigation into the declining participation of women in IT education and professional level work has recently focused on professional women’s perceptions of the IT industry. This paper presents some of the findings from a discourse analysis of interviews with thirty-two female and two male IT professionals. The analysis identified a distinctive characteristic of the women’s discourse in the representation of mutually exclusive attributes, skills and attitudes as closely identified with gender. This paper explores two of these dualisms - women’s perceptions of the rapid and continuous change characteristic of the IT industry and the dualism of the public (work) and private (domestic) spheres. The implications of rapid change and the concomitant long working hours characteristic of the IT industry, are discussed in relation to women’s continued responsibility for social and domestic life. Discourse analysis is used to identify contradictions in the women’s talk and to relate this to tensions in the IT industry and the wider social context. Although these women characterise themselves as ‘different’ from most women, in their skills, aptitudes and attitudes towards IT, this characterisation shows tensions and contradictions. The authors use Giddens’ perspective on identity formation and the structuration of institutions (Giddens, 1984; 1991) to identify factors, which may further discourage women from participating in IT education and work.

Use of a Social Networking Recommendation Engine in Science and Engineering Education for Accessible Discovery, Organization and Collaboration of Research Knowledge

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Azimi ◽  
Mohammad R. K. Mofrad
Keyword(s):  
Research Area ◽  
Research Topic ◽  
Primary Language ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Research Knowledge ◽  
Science And Engineering ◽  
Engineering Knowledge ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
The Social

The World Wide Web is the primary tool used by researchers in the field of science and engineering to share knowledge. Whether students or researchers are trying to share their own discoveries or learn from the discoveries of others, they rely on the Internet as a resource where this information is gathered. The use of the Web for the exchange of scientific knowledge has to date remained very static. Websites such as Google Scholar [1] and PubMed [2] help students and researchers by indexing published journal articles based on research topic, content and keywords but are limited in that they lack the capability to suggest and rank articles in a useful manner to those new to the field. Simply put, there is no shortage of efficient search algorithms to find specific articles but these algorithms cannot help a student or new researcher that is not familiar with the research area or the search terms that should be used. Furthermore, when the student or researcher’s primary language is not English, the task of finding appropriate articles becomes significantly more challenging. Our objective is to create a recommendation engine to assist students and researchers with the discovery and organization of scientific and engineering knowledge and to present it in a manner that allows effective discussion to take place. In addition, such a recommendation engine should be capable of providing the user with an assessment of their contribution to the social network not only based on the number and quality of articles submitted but also the discussions that the user contributed to.

The Influences and Responses of Women in IT Education

2011 ◽  
pp. 3293-3298
Author(s):  
K. J. Maser
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Sociocultural Factors ◽  
American University ◽  
Women In It ◽  
The Social ◽  
It Department ◽  
It Education ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Female Responses ◽  
Gender And It

This article highlights findings from an empirical study that explores the nature of female underrepresentation in information technology. Specifically, this research focuses on (a) identifying key sociocultural factors that can facilitate the pursuit of IT at the undergraduate level, and (b) testing Trauth’s (2002) Individual Differences Theory of Gender and IT through a comparison of female responses to the social construction of IT. To answer the author’s research questions, interviews were conducted with 10 female seniors in an IT department at an American university in the mid-Atlantic region (MAU).1 Although experiences with social factors vary, comparing the stories of women who have successfully navigated their way into and through an IT undergraduate degree program reveals common influences and motivations. In addition, though some common factors may facilitate female entry into the field, the Individual Differences Theory of Gender and IT explains that women will react differently to the social constructions of gender and IT. By gaining a better understanding of the gender imbalance, applying appropriate theories to explain the problem, and uncovering the challenges that women of our society face in their entry to the field of IT, collegiate programs can more effectively implement strategies that will improve the recruitment and retention of female students.

Women, Men and Programming

2010 ◽  
pp. 1-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inger Boivie
Keyword(s):  
Computer Science ◽  
Complex Analysis ◽  
Feminist Research ◽  
It Industry ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Representation Of Women ◽  
Women In It ◽  
It Education ◽  
Gender And It

This chapter explores aspects of the gendering of computer science and IT, related to epistemological issues of what computing is and what type of knowledge counts. The c is based upon an interview study of how students and professionals in the field of computer science, perceive programming in a broad sense. Much of the earlier research on the under-representation of women in IT education and the IT industry has tended to focus on factors and aspects where women and men differ in their relation to IT and computers. Inspired by feminist research, it is suggested that developing an understanding of the problem of gender and IT requires a more complex analysis than a dualistic focus on differences between men and women. This chapter analyzes interviews with a range of Swedish male and female students and professionals from the field, in relation to gender with respect to metaphors of programming, inclusion and exclusion, the notion of beautiful code, understandings of masculinity and programming, and the idea of dedication.

scholarly journals УПРАВЛІННЯ ПРОФЕСІЙНИМИ КОМПЕТЕНТНОСТЯМИ ІТ ФАХІВЦІВ ВІДПОВІДНО ДО ВИМОГ ІНДУСТРІЇ НА ОСНОВІ КОГНІТИВНИХ КАРТ

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 253
Author(s):  
Tetiana V. Kovaliuk ◽  
Volodymyr V. Pasichnyk ◽  
Nataliia E. Kunanets ◽  
Nataliia V. Veretennikova
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Modeling ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
International Standards ◽  
It Industry ◽  
Education Standards ◽  
Modeling Methodology ◽  
It Education ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Competence Framework

The article analyzes and summarizes competences of the IT professions defined by the European Competence Framework and competencies declared by higher IT education standards. The authors carried out a comparative analysis of competencies identified by modern educational IT standards in order to determine the commonalities and differences in the content of IT specialists training in Ukraine with international standards. With the help of cognitive cards, a simulation of the development of professional IT competencies was carried out within the framework of the cognitive modeling methodology. As designations of concepts at the vertices of the cognitive graph, the notions of competences defined in the notation of the European competence framework are taken. Building cognitive cards to manage the competencies of IT professionals and imitation on their basis of managerial influences allow exploring the subject area and developing strategies close to optimal for organizing the learning process in order to improve the quality of training specialists for the IT industry.

Women and Social Capital Networks in the IT Workforce

2011 ◽  
pp. 1245-1251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison J. Morgan ◽  
Eileen M. Trauth
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Information Resources ◽  
It Industry ◽  
Representation Of Women ◽  
Women's Participation ◽  
Women In It ◽  
It Workforce ◽  
Organizational Chart ◽  
Experiences Of Women

Currently, the IT industry is experiencing explosive growth. As the need for more skilled IT workers increases, the focus on the diversity of individuals participating in IT jobs is highlighted. The under represented populations of women and minorities are being evaluated to determine ways to increase their lasting participation in the technology workforce. Although initiatives and programs have been established to recruit a more diverse labor force, the under representation persists. In an effort to address the problem of under represented populations in the IT workforce, it is necessary to evaluate the situation from a variety of angles and views. Specifically, we seek to better understand the “gender gap” in the IT workforce and the effect of social capital networks in the organization on women. Social capital can be defined as “an instantiated informal norm that promotes cooperation between two or more individuals” (Fukuyama, 1999, p. 1). Social capital among workers in the organization has been attributed to career success due to increased access to information, resources, and sponsorship (Seibert, Kraimer, & Liden, 2001). One of the ways that social capital can be gained is through participation in networks. Overall, the benefits or advantages gained through the networking process are attributed to an increase in access to and sharing of information. In this article, we consider social capital networks in the IT workforce and whether the existence of these networks assists in explaining the under representation of women in IT. Our research highlights the experiences of women practitioners and academics currently working in the IT field. Our aim is to uncover the story behind the organizational chart. In doing so, we summarize a study on women’s participation with social networks in the IT workforce presented in Morgan, Quesenberry, and Trauth (2004).

The Influences and Responses of Women in IT Education

2011 ◽  
pp. 808-812
Author(s):  
Kathryn J. Maser
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Sociocultural Factors ◽  
American University ◽  
Women In It ◽  
The Social ◽  
It Department ◽  
It Education ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Female Responses ◽  
Gender And It

This article highlights findings from an empirical study that explores the nature of female underrepresentation in information technology. Specifically, this research focuses on (a) identifying key sociocultural factors that can facilitate the pursuit of IT at the undergraduate level, and (b) testing Trauth’s (2002) Individual Differences Theory of Gender and IT through a comparison of female responses to the social construction of IT. To answer the author’s research questions, interviews were conducted with 10 female seniors in an IT department at an American university in the mid-Atlantic region (MAU).1 Although experiences with social factors vary, comparing the stories of women who have successfully navigated their way into and through an IT undergraduate degree program reveals common influences and motivations. In addition, though some common factors may facilitate female entry into the field, the Individual Differences Theory of Gender and IT explains that women will react differently to the social constructions of gender and IT. By gaining a better understanding of the gender imbalance, applying appropriate theories to explain the problem, and uncovering the challenges that women of our society face in their entry to the field of IT, collegiate programs can more effectively implement strategies that will improve the recruitment and retention of female students.

scholarly journals Participação, inserção e expressividades de lideranças científicas assumidas por mulheres na produção da ciência e tecnologia

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 152
Author(s):  
Sebastião Rodrigues-Moura ◽  
Rafael Cordeiro-Rodrigues ◽  
Alexandre Guimarães Rodrigues ◽  
Licurgo Peixoto de Brito
Keyword(s):  
Science And Technology ◽  
Dialectical Materialism ◽  
Women In Science ◽  
Male Dominance ◽  
Science Careers ◽  
Social Relevance ◽  
Participation Of Women ◽  
The Social ◽  
Methodological Tool

ResumoApresentamos nesta pesquisa, um debate sobre a realidade e as possibilidades da participação das mulheres em lideranças científicas, destacando sua inserção em um espaço que sempre teve predominância masculina nas diversas atribuições, mas que ao longo da história, algumas mulheres conseguiram posicionar suas expressividades e puderam representar a ciência e tecnologia em muitas atribuições. Diante dessa proposta, analisamos ao longo da história a realidade e as possibilidades de participação e inserção de expressividades femininas em diversos papéis e funções desempenhados em carreiras científicas, tecnológicas e sociais. Usamos como ferramenta metodológica, a abordagem qualitativa embasada em elementos da análise textual discursiva frente à lógica do materialismo dialético. Essa demanda culminou em dois eixos de análise, nos quais pudemos identificar a realidade e a possibilidade da participação feminina na produção científica, bem como elencamos vinte e cinco personalidades que trouxeram suas expressividades em carreiras da ciência e tecnologia. Os resultados discutidos neste estudo representam a qualidade de um material capaz de propiciar e fazer alusão da relevância social de personalidades femininas ocupando papéis na produção da ciência e tecnologia mundial.Palavras-chave: Ciência e tecnologia; Expressividades femininas; Mulheres da Ciência.AbstractWe present in this research, a debate on the reality and the possibilities of the participation of women in scientific leaders, highlighting their insertion in a space that has always had male dominance in the various assignments, but that along the history, some women have managed to position their expressiveness and have been able to represent science and technology in many assignments. Faced with this proposal, we analyze throughout history the reality and the possibilities of participation and insertion of feminine expressiveities in various roles and functions performed in scientific, technological and social careers. We use it as a methodological tool, the qualitative approach based on elements of textual analysis discursive in front of the logic of dialectical materialism. This demand culminated in two axes of analysis, in which we were able to identify the reality and the possibility of female participation in scientific production, as well as we ten personalities who brought their expressiveness into science careers and technology. The results discussed in this study represent the quality of a material capable of providing and alluding to the social relevance of female personalities occupying roles in the production of world science and technology.Keywords: Science and technology; Feminine expressiveness; Women in Science.

scholarly journals Towards Narrowing a Conceptual Gap between IT Industry and University

2010 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-16
Author(s):  
Peteris Rudzajs ◽  
Ludmila Penicina ◽  
Marite Kirikova ◽  
Renate Strazdina
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Education ◽  
Monitoring System ◽  
It Industry ◽  
Value Network ◽  
Study Programs ◽  
Knowledge Requirements ◽  
It Education ◽  
Additional Value ◽  
The University

Towards Narrowing a Conceptual Gap between IT Industry and UniversityThe situation when the number of the students and the popularity of the engineering education in general and IT education in particular is not increasing dramatically due to the fact that there exists an opinion that engineering education is complex and time-consuming from one side and that the graduates are not sufficiently prepared for the industry from another, requires the University to perform a series of actions that can improve the current situation. One of the areas for improvement is the quality of the study programs in the sense of their suitability to ‘customers’, namely Students and Industry. Previous research shows that the knowledge requirements monitoring system and the processes behind it can improve the quality of the study programs, e.g. the results of the Value Network Analysis demonstrate that the Monitoring System can give additional value to both the University and the Industry. Developing a monitoring system prototype requires narrowing the gap between industry and university and introduces new ways of industry-university cooperation.

scholarly journals Women Working in the IT Industry: Challenges for the New Millennium

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liisa Von Hellens ◽  
Sue Nielsen ◽  
Jenine Beekhuyzen
Keyword(s):  
Human Resources Management ◽  
Professional Women ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
It Industry ◽  
Work Lives ◽  
Female Participation ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
It Workforce ◽  
And Coping ◽  
It Personnel

Despite increased female participation in the workforce, including some non traditional areas such as law and medicine, female participation in the Information Technology (IT) industry is declining. A longitudinal study (WinIT) commenced in 1995 has explored Australian students and working womens perceptions and experiences, and the factors which have influenced them to enter and persist in the IT field. This paper reviews recent research and describes the latest results from the authors' study of professional women in the Australian IT industry, focusing on the contradictions in the way that women represent their experiences. These contradictions indicate that polarised views of gender in the IT workforce are being undermined, but also that IT personnel have difficulty reconciling their personal and work lives and coping with the rapid rate of change in the industry. The implications for human resources management in the volatile IT industry as well as some possible solutions to the problem are also discussed.

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