Women's ICT career choices: four cross‐cultural case studies
Multicultural Education & Technology Journal
ISSN: 1750-497X
Article publication date: 13 November 2009
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to consider the under‐representation of women in computing, information technology (IT) and information systems in most Western countries. This under‐representation can only be detrimental to society.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors discuss recently published studies on the under‐representation of women in this field, and the lack of career progression for women, particularly in positions of senior responsibility. The results of a survey conducted in the UK, Greece, Malaysia and China are presented, and similarities as well as differences are identified. Malaysia and China are included as the under‐representation is much less in the Asian countries.
Findings
The authors identify the main reasons for the under‐representation and lack of career progression, and study the effect of national culture on the formation of strategy and of practice in the four countries.
Research limitations/implications
The survey respondents are mainly female students studying computing/IT at degree level. In the next phase of the research, the survey will include both male and female students, lecturers and employees within the IT sector. The research will be extended into a longitudinal study, in order to monitor trends.
Originality/value
The UK Government is currently undertaking a number of initiatives to improve the representation of women in information and communication technologies. For those initiatives to be successful, the cultural issues identified in the paper need to be considered.
Keywords
Citation
Georgiadou, E., Abu‐Hassan, N., Viola Siakas, K., Wang, X., Ross, M. and Anand Anandan, P. (2009), "Women's ICT career choices: four cross‐cultural case studies", Multicultural Education & Technology Journal, Vol. 3 No. 4, pp. 279-289. https://doi.org/10.1108/17504970911004282
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited