Article2002

Why Women Choose Information Technology Careers: Educational, Social, and Familial Influences

Sandra V. Turner · Phyllis W. Bernt · Norma Pecora

53 citations0/0 files storedAmerican Educational Research Association Annual Meeting

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Gender and Technology in Education Career Development and Diversity Information Systems Education and Curriculum Development

Abstract

The educational, social, and familial influences that lead women to choose information technology (IT) careers were examined in an online survey. Of the 2,500 women who were employed in careers in 38 countries and who belonged to the professional organization, Systers, 275 responded to the online survey (11% response rate). The respondents ranged in age from 22 to 64 years (38 years mean age) and they had spent a mean of 10.5 years in the field. School experiences were an important influence on the respondents. Many respondents were first introduced to computers in school, and they took seriously the encouragement or discouragement of their teachers in high school and college. A significant number of respondents cited male friends and colleagues as powerful influences in their career decisions. Only half the successful women had majored in traditional technical fields as undergraduates. Nearly one-third of the women entered the IT pipeline directly by majoring in computer science or information systems as an undergraduate; however, nearly one-third had majored in the arts, social sciences, or humanities and entered the field in little increments through on-the-job experiences and encouragement from mentors or close male friends. Others switched to computer science at the graduate level. (Contains 26 references.) (MN) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY

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2002Unlocking the clubhouse: women in computing 1986The Second Self: Computers and the Human Spirit 1997The incredible shrinking pipeline 1993Women in Engineering: Gender, Power, and Work Place Culture.1994An Examination of Gender Effects on Career Success of Information Systems Employees 1998The role of psychological gender in the computer-related attitudes and attainments of primary school children (aged 6–11)

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2015COMPUGIRLS 2012Gender and ICT: around the gender digital divide 2011Gender within the IT major – a retrospective study of factors that lead students to select an IT major 2016Curricular Influences on Female Afterschool Facilitators’ Computer Science Interests and Career Choices

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