Gendering and Segregation in Girls’ Perceptions of IT as a Career Choice – A Nexus Analytic Inquiry

Abstract

It is an enduring problem that girls are not interested in careers in Information Technology (IT). Our aim is to understand girls’ perceptions and understanding of the IT field as well as factors shaping them, to find ways to get more girls interested in IT/Information Systems careers. As senior high school is the last opportunity to influence girls’ major and career choice we inquired Finnish senior high school students about their future plans and factors affecting their choice. Using nexus analysis as a sensitizing device, we focused on various discourses circulating around, different actors and their relations, as well as experience and background related matters that affect girls’ career choice. Surprisingly gendered understandings of the IT field and career choices were still prevalent among the studied young people, and this supports educational and occupational segregation.

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