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Women are leaving information technology jobs for a variety of reasons, including many that are rooted in historical patterns of workforce demographics. In addition, the lack of female mentors and networks discourage many women from seeking out new opportunities in the IT workplace. In 2000, women accounted for 28.9% of all employed IT workers, but that figure fell to 26.2% by 2006. In addition, the number of women in IT leadership roles has declined to a five-year low. Amidst this backdrop, the article looks for possible clues to the female brain drain from the IT field. A number of workforce experts weigh in, explaining how business cycles, lifestyle choices, culture, and labor relations all play a role.
In trying to understand the gender imbalance in IT, many labor experts point to the very nature of economic cycles. They suggest that the high employment figures for women in IT at the end of the Internet boom were simply unsustainable. Then, during the downturn, the limiting factors on women in IT became self-perpetuating and reinforcing mechanisms. For example, the lack of female mentors and networks made it more difficult for women to find new jobs in a tough market. Moreover, during boom years, employers are much more open in terms of who they are interested in hiring. They may be more wiling to make jobs more attractive to people, in terms of accommodating lifestyle demands and offering greater flexibility in job scheduling. As soon as a downturn occurs, this willingness largely disappears.
Even a small differential per year in the gender turnover can result in an outsized effect within three to five years. Issues related to culture, mentoring and networking contribute to this differential. For example, women have limited access to informal networks in technology jobs and face gender-based stereotypes and a lack of role models. In addition, diversity programs that might help women in IT are often reduced or eliminated in tough economic times. In a worst case scenario, if companies refuse to recognize the demands of families and personal responsibilities, it may become the case that women opt out and never return to IT. This is especially true since returning to IT after being out of work or taking time off to have a baby can be tougher than coming back to other fields because the pace of change in technology makes it harder to stay current.
I had a great female professor though..
but for some reason, all my my girl friends are saying that they're always not as capable as guys.. for some weird reasons... why? XD
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Last edited by HelloWorld : 07-10-2007 at 01:01 PM.
I am not being sexist or anything but i think stereotypically men are more technological than women, i don't know why, i think guys just are more interested in technology which then normally makes them progress better with that they do, if you get what i say?
I am not being sexist or anything but i think stereotypically men are more technological than women, i don't know why, i think guys just are more interested in technology which then normally makes them progress better with that they do, if you get what i say?
hmm.. in some sense probably true, but my professor is just so damn nerd, that's why... she throws Exception e XD
07-10-2007, 12:15 PM
Why Do Women Leave IT? 
she throws Exception e XD
Linear Mode
