The Proceedings of the Information Systems Education Conference 2001: §26a Home Papers/Indices prev (§25c) Next (§27a)

Panel Discussion Student-Faculty Papers

Recommended Citation: Slauson, G J, D R McGinnis, S Fedorovich, J Meyer, and C E Wells. Encouraging Girls to Consider Computing Careers. In The Proceedings of the Information Systems Education Conference 2001, v 18 (Cincinnati): §26a.

Encouraging Girls to Consider Computing Careers

Handout

Gayla Jo Slauson    [a1] [a2]
Accounting and IT Dept
Mesa State College    [u1] [u2]
Grand Junction, Colorado, USA    [c1] [c2]

Denise R. McGinnis    [a1] [a2]
Information Technology
Mesa State College    [u1] [u2]
Grand Junction, Colorado, USA    [c1] [c2]

Shirley Fedorovich    [a1] [a2]
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University    [u1] [u2]
Daytona Beach, Florida, USA    [c1] [c2]

Jeanine Meyer    [a1] [a2]
Information Systems
Pace University    [u1] [u2]
New York, New York, USA    [c1] [c2]

Connie E. Wells    [a1] [a2]
College of Business
Roosevelt University    [u1] [u2]
Schaumburg, Illinois, USA    [c1] [c2]

This panel discussion will concentrate on ways to encourage girls to consider careers in computing and information technology (IT). The following topics will be discussed: How can we encourage girls to pursue IT careers? How important is it that women in IT serve as role models for girls? As faculty, what can we do to encourage young women to pursue these careers? Where do girls learn about the stereotypes and barriers that prevent them from aiming for non-traditional careers? How can we influence girls and young women to give them the confidence they need to follow successful role models and to break through the "glass ceilings"? How do we influence boys and young men, so they don't continue to learn or teach the stereotypes? Panelists will respond to these questions from a variety of backgrounds and positions. The topic remains an important one. Only twenty-five percent of the Canadian IT workers are female. Other indications appear to show this percentage, and the percentages of female IT workers in the United States and other parts of the world are shrinking. With high salaries, the IT field should attract females. Various studies over the years have emphasized that women are making up a smaller percentage of computer science graduates. "Women are mysteriously absenting themselves from computer science courses in high school and college."

Keywords: girls in computing, computing career, information technology careers, women in computing, women in IT

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