Comments on: Girls in IT

By: Madalina

Madalina — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:41:24 +0000

True :) It is that simple – all it takes is professionalism and sometimes guts.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Mon, 18 May 2009 02:35:46 +0000

I have been an IT in the Navy for 5 years now, and I was wondering how I could go about being taken more seriously? I have repeatedly been correct when I have troubleshot and fixed problems and errors within our network, but it seems as though my advice falls on deaf ears. My theory is that ifI was out of the military that I would actually be sought after for advice…please tell me in the civilian sector there is hope for those having 2 X chromosomes. I am getting out soon and I want to continue being an IT, I just would like to pursue this career with less obstacles.

By: Hamish

Hamish — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:42:22 +0000

I reckon that there is some definate wiring differences between the male and female minds’ which gets more guys interested in it – where as girls not so much so. But as with everything there are exceptions to the rule.

Highly recommend the book “Why men don’t listen and why woman can’t read maps” if you haven’t already read it – touches on I.T / Computer stuff on being one of those right brained spatial object non-people type things (that guys tend to enjoy).

Thing is, the best programmers are those who can eventually relate to customers and clients well which actually puts females at quite an advantage if they can do the tech stuff as well :)

By: Scoot

Scoot — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 20:17:23 +0000

Cool post.

By: Kyle Baley

Kyle Baley — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:23:05 +0000

I’m seeing some of this change and most of it perpetuate with my nine-year-old daughter. There is something inherent that draws girls to dolls somehow. Maybe it’s innate, maybe it’s the fact that “everyone else has one”. My daughter already tells me to “move your nerd stuff” when I forget a portable hard-drive in her room.

I see a lot more girls that age interested in technology, but as a means to an end, not as something to “tinker with” as we did with our Commodores (Compute Magazine!). We play video games together but the popular ones are ones where you don’t particularly need to win: Wii Music, My Sims (and The Sims 2), Club Penguin. Even Lego Star Wars and its offshoots reward exploration more than completing specific tasks. It seems girls like the interaction more than the actual goal.