New Survey Tries to Sell Reasons Why Female IT Workers Are Unhappy, But I'm Not Buying

Lisa Hoover Lisa Hoover is offline Offline | Oct 17th, 2008, 8:56 pm |
0
I'm probably a disgrace to my gender for saying this but I think the new study showing women in IT face "significant barriers to advancement" is a bit overblown. According to research conducted by the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology, the situation is so bad that nearly 30% of women are planning to leave their mid-level tech positions within the next year to "pursue alternative options."

The study makes a number of assertions that seem to lay the blame for unhappy female tech workers at the feet of businesses without looking at all possible factors. For instance:
  • Researchers say women are more likely than men to view the workplace as a competitive environment. News flash: women are competitive, period. Ever been to a class reunion or cocktail party with one?
  • The study claims technical women who hold management positions are perceived as less competent than their male colleagues. What the researchers gloss over, however, it that fewer women in IT have advanced technical degrees. In fact, the study says outright, "although the majority of women come to a technical career through studies in computer science and engineering (63.2%), a significant proportion of women come to a technical career from other fields of study." Therefore it's pretty likely that if women are perceived as "less" anything, it's that they lack education (which, comparatively speaking, they do), not competence.
  • Mid-level female managers say they believe long hours are a requirement for success (Last time I checked, long hours for IT workers are par for the course in this field, no matter what your gender.
  • Researchers claim a female tech worker's health is affected by job stress to a greater degree than her male counterpart. While it's true women suffer stress related illness, it's is based on a number of physiological factors and environmental factors and it's not unique to IT.

While I don't agree with the study's conclusions, the researchers do make a couple of good points. The say, for example, "One way companies can demonstrate their commitment to diversity is to increase the female representation on their board of directors and other leadership entities." Researchers also suggest businesses offer greater options for professional development and consider more flexible work schedules to accommodate working parents.

I've worked in male dominated fields and I know it's not easy. I know there are many obstacles to overcome and I'm also aware that plenty of women find themselves in untenable situations. It might help to remember, though, that these kids of work situations are just as tough for men to adapt to so a little understanding all the way around is usually called for.

I had hoped for a better study from an organization who's mission is to "help industry, academia, and government recruit, retain, and develop women leaders in high-tech fields, resulting in higher levels of technological innovation." I was disappointed.
Quick reply to this message  
0
mobile2worldltd mobile2worldltd is offline Offline | Oct 18th, 2008
MOBILE2WORLDLTD We sell all kind of unlock phones, laptops, games
plasma tv and all electronics device at affordable prices.We want you to know that we are in promotional sales Buy 3unit Get 1Free Buy 12unit Get 3Free


phones

Apple iphone 16GB 3G £150

Apple Iphone 16GB £180
Apple Iphone 8GB £130
Apple iphone 4GB £100
Nokia N96 16GB £170
Apple iPod touch 32 GB £150
Apple itouch 16GB £110
Nokia N95 8GB £110
Nokia 8800 saphaire £110
Nokia N98 £1250
Nokia E90 £105
Nokia N95 £105
Nokia E70 £100
Nokia N92 £126
Nokia N91 £135


mobile2worldltd@graffiti.net
mobile2worldltd@hotmail.com
mobile2worldltd_2009@fastermail.com

+447031842031


DGITAL CaMERALS
::::::::::::::::::::::

Canon PowerShot G7 Digital Camera £150

Canon EOS 40D SLR Digital Camera with Canon 28-135mm Lens £400
Canon PowerShot G7 10MP Digital Camera £250
Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras £150
Canon EOS 40D SLR Digital Camera with Canon EF-S 17-85mm IS USM AF £300
Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera Body Only £250
CANON EOS-1D Mark II-N 8 Megapixel Digital....£360
Canon XH A1 1.67MP 3CCD Camcorder with 20x Optical Zoom...£220
Canon XL2 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom...£400
Canon XL1 Digital Camcorder Kit...£500
Canon EOS 1D Mark II N 8.2MP Digital SLR Camera....£425
canon_xl1_digital_video_camcorder_3_ccd_camera_pal...£500
Canon EOS 30D Digital SLR Camera & Canon....£260

APPLE LAPTOP

Apple MacBook (MA700LL/A) Mac Notebook ............................£400
Apple MacBook Pro Notebook [ MA611LL/A ] 17inch....................£400
Apple MacBook (MA254LL/A) Mac Notebook ............................£350
Apple iBook G3 (M7698LL/A) Mac Notebook ...........................£300
Apple MacBook Pro (MA609LL/A) Notebook ............................£350
Apple MacBook Pro (MA600LLA) Notebook .............................£350
Apple MacBook Pro (MA610LL/A) Notebook ............................£380
Apple Macbook Pro (885909119400) Notebook..........................£320
Apple MacBook Air - Core 2 Duo 1.6 GHz - GMA X3100.................£600
Apple Customized 15" MacBook Pro Laptop Computer(APMBP24S15Y.......£350
Apple Mac Pro 8-Core (2 Quad-Core 3GHz Intel Xeon Processors)......£350
Apple MacBook Pro 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Silver Notebook Computer £500



PLAYSTATION JUEGOS

Play Station 3 (40GB)....£110
Play Station 3 (60GB)....£110
Play Station 3 (80 GB)....£110
Play Station 2............£100
Play Station 1............£100
Nintendo Wii por..........£100




SONY PSP JUEGOS

Sony PSP Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix ValuePack...........£100
Sony PSP Edición Limitada (Blanco) 20 Juegos + Car Kit Etc...£100
Sony PSP Super Pack "- 5 juegos con ExtraAccessories........£100
Sony PSP Value Pack-juego de baloncesto de la NBA...........£100

Sony PSP Metal Gear

Value Pack - 2 Game...........................£100
Spider Man la película, UMD Sampler $ 160usd..£100
Sony PSP Edición Limitada de cerámica blanca..£100
Sony PSP - 3 juegos, la película de Spider Man£100
Super Sony PSP Value Pack w / 2 Game..........£100
Sony PSP Value Pack-1 Racing Game.............£100
Sony PSP Value Pack Deportes-2 Game...........£100
Super Sony PSP Value Pack-3 Game..............£100
Spider Man la película, UMD Sampler $ 160usd..£100
Sony PSP Edición Limitada de cerámica blanca..£100
Sony PSP - 3 juegos, la película de Spider Man£100
Super Sony PSP Value Pack w / 2 Game..........£100
Sony PSP Value Pack-1 Racing Game.............£100
Sony PSP Value Pack Deportes-2 Game...........£100
Super Sony PSP Value Pack-3 Game..............£100

DJ MIXER

Pioneer CDJ-MK3 1000-----------------------------£220.00
Pioneer DJ Effector - Red------------------------£120.00
Pioneer Pro DJ Mixer-----------------------------£120.00
Pioneer System Case (CA-CMX5)....................£150.00
Pioneer CDJ-800MK2 Digital Vinyl Turntable=------£200.00
Pioneer Dual Rackmount CD Player-----------------£220.00
Pioneer Pro DJ Mixer (Black)---------------------£210.00
Pioneer Rack mount pro DJ mixer------------------£250.00
Pioneer Pro DJ Mixer (Silver)--------------------£280.00
Pioneer Pro DJ Mixer (Silver)....................£200.00
Pioneer Super DJ mixer - Pioneer DJM909----------£280.00
Pioneer DJM-600----------------------------------£230.00
Pioneer CDJ 800 MK II / DJM 600 CD DJ Package----£580.00
Pioneer DJM-1000 Mixer--------------£540.00
Pioneer Model: DJM-600K-----------------------------£300


mobile2worldltd@graffiti.net
mobile2worldltd@hotmail.com
mobile2worldltd_2009@fastermail.com
+447031842031
 
0
khess khess is offline Offline | Oct 19th, 2008
I think it's funny that the name of the person who conducted the study is Anita Borg. Maybe it's just me.
If it's any consolation, where I work, and you know where that is--there are so many women in power positions that some refer to it as the "vaginocracy." So it may be just where some women find themselves and not the whole industry.
 
 


Message:


Thread Tools Search this Thread



About Us | Contact Us | Advertise | DaniWeb | Acceptable Use Policy | RSS Feed

©2003 - 2009 DaniWeb® LLC