Women Dropping Out of IT

Women's eNews has an interesting look at women in tech, with numbers showing that women are bailing out of the IT field at a rapid pace. "Technology jobs are predicted to grow at a faster rate than all other jobs in the professional sector, up to 22% over the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Compensation is also good. In 2008, women in tech made an average salary of $70,370. ... But women's stake in that rosy outlook is questionable. For starters, men's pay during the same time period was $80,357. A study by the National Center for Women and Information Technology ... also finds that women are leaving computer careers in staggering numbers. 'Fifty-six percent of women in technology companies leave their organizations at the mid-level point, 10-20 years in their careers,' said Catherine Ashcraft, the senior research scientist who authored the report. In 2008, women held only 25% of all professional IT-related jobs, down from 36% in 1991, according to the group's report, 'Women in IT: The Facts.'"

Comments

Sexist

[Das Auge]

Since the women leaving the IT field are bringing down the percentage of women in the IT field, of which there have been many stories on about on Slashdot saying this must increase, they're working against the raising of women in the IT field. Therefore, they must be sexist.

Re:This just proves

[Hognoxious]

Most intelligent women take a close look at the unrepentantly fucked-up culture that surrounds computing careers, and run like hell.

They try, but they can't, because they wear shoes precisely designed to prevent any form of rapid ambulation.

Re:This just proves

[bsDaemon]

Yet, they still tend to stay far enough away from people who say things like "rapid ambulation" in casual conversation to make it irrelevant.

Re:why? because..

[Bieeanda]

That's nice, dear.

Re:Not just women

[Sam36]

I hate women in the workplace >_>

Too much drama, too many workplace affairs, then they try to file suit against me for staring at the cleavage through their low cut tops. Freaking trolls.

Re:That explains the pay difference...

[roman_mir]

Hold on, hold on, I am writing this down, this is good shit, you have all the steps.

Now, how do you 'Have kids' exactly?

Re:This just proves

[kheldan]

Hell must be freezing over, because I'm agreeing with the ACs.

what does that mean?

[roman_mir]

What are women?

Re:what does that mean?

[PPH]

What are women?

People with names that end in .JPG.

Re:This just proves

[B3ryllium]

But it could make a great 80s synth pop song.

~/ Rapid ambulation / is sweeping through the nation /~

Re:This just proves

[Anonymous Coward]

THE SHOESAH!

Re:This just proves

[pogson]

One of the differences between working in a GNU/Linux shop and that other OS is stress. Last year, I worked in a shop using that other OS. It was always frightening on zero-day-malware-day because I always had to work late making sure updates were done in spite of having automatic updates enabled. With GNU/Linux, I type a few commands and it gets done for the whole system in a few minutes and I can go home to sleep. Last year I had trouble sleeping more than four hours. This year, I sleep as long as I want knowing things are safe. Next year, we will be 95% M$-free. I look forward to that.

Re:Dilbert?

[tomhudson]

1. I haven't met any programmers suffering from Asperger's Syndrom (I assume this is what "aspy" means, correct me if I'm wrong)

Some of them sure are suffering from something. From obsessive hand-washing (they won't even touch their mouse without 3 kleenex in between), to raging paranoia ...

2. I haven't known any "sneering arrogant IT guys". The IT guys I've met have been normal, helpful human beings.

Get into a code meeting and watch the pissing contests begin.

3. I have seen some harsh emails, but not often and nothing like the venom you describe

I've seen emails from guys to their girlfriends - while they're married, living with their wife and kids. I've seen worse than emails - like guys coming in and sleeping because they spent the night cheating on their pregnant wife. That's pretty harsh.

4. I can't recall any "phallic compensation gadget consumerists", but perhaps I'm not looking hard enough...

Studies show that men try to use their cell phones to impress women. Women look at that and go "You are SO lame!"

5. I haven't met any "constantly helpful types who insult while trying to rescue"

Men who assume that women are too stupid or helpless to have tried the obvious? Or refusing a woman's help because "what could she know?"

6. I have seen some teenage male type usage of naked women pictures, but that's been quite rare. Do you think that teenage male types only exist in the tech industry?

I have *never* seen a guy that doesn't have p0rn on his computer, with one exception. a 30-something virgin who thought that the boss was spying on *everything* he did (I ended up having to write his on-line dating ads to TRY to get him a social life). No telling what he had on his home machine.

I'm not saying it's limited to one sex - just that from what I've seen, there's plenty of sexist behavior.

Re:This just proves

[Zarf]

It's not necessary to use herbs, spices or condiments with food either. Have fun with your plain potato language.

that's a very anti-tuber attitude. You must be a closet tuberist.