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Women in Information Technology: The Secret Code

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Women in Information Technology: The Secret Code
Women in Information Technology:
The Secret Code
In the past century, women have fought for such basics as the right to vote, own land, and establish credit. In recent decades, women have struggled for a seat at the tables of power and fame- from the tennis courts to corporate boardrooms to the halls of Congress to the space shuttle. Today, the women 's movement is in a new, complex phase. Women have slowly ascended to leadership roles in all sectors of the economy; however, each woman who makes it to the top of her field is usually alone once she gets there. Many of the issues for these women are the same, from questions of male domination to secret dialogue, to discrimination to pay inequalities. Because the fields and agendas are so diverse, no one simple, set of answers resonates across the board. It is clear, however, that women will be instrumental in leading corporations to new resolutions. This paper presents a range of perspectives on gender and information technology (IT). The aim is to present some of the major debates and critiques of IT to highlight some important issues of concern for women in leadership rolls.
The IT Industry
IT is a multi-billion dollar industry which is, according to the American Heritage Dictionary (2005) "the development, installation, and implementation of computer systems and applications. The U.S. Department of Commerce identifies the information technology workforce more broadly. In a report on information technology, the Department defines workers in information technology occupations as those who design, manufacture, operate, maintain, and repair information technology products and provide related services across all industries. The men and women in the IT industry have careers such as Computer engineer, computer programmer, computer scientist, computer user, database administrator, database specialist, interface designer, network specialist, software engineer, statistician, systems analyst, technical



References: Bronson, P. (2003). What should I do with my life? Fast Company 66(10859241), 68-79. Retrieved February 9, 2003, from Proquest database. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition, Computer and Information Systems Managers. Retrieved August 31, 2005, from http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos258.htm. Center for Women and Information Technology (2005). Retrieved August 29, 2005 from http://www.umbc.edu/cwit/index.html Gaudin, S information technology. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved August 30, 2005, from Answers.com Web site: http://www.answers.com/topic/information-technology information system Klenke, K. (1999). Women leaders and women managers in the global community. Career Development International, 4(3), 134-139. Retrieved February 25, 2002, from Proquest database. Lane, N., & Crane, A. (2002). Revisiting gender role stereotyping in the sales profession. Journal of Business Ethics, 40(2), 121-132. Retrieved January 26, 2003, from Proquest database. Lamsa, A.M., & Sintonen, T. (2001). A discursive approach to understanding women leaders in working life. Journal of Business Ethics, 34(3/4), 255-267. Retrieved February 9, 2003, from Proquest database. Merrick, B.G. (2002). The ethics of hiring in the new workplace: Men and women managers face changing stereotypes discover correlative patterns for success. Competitiveness Review, 12(1), 94-114. Retrieved January 26, 2003, from Proquest database. Peters, Tom (2005, February 9). Carly Fiorina Leaving Hewlett-Packard. Retrieved August 31, 2005 from the World Wide Web: http://www.tompeters.com/entries.php?note=007440.php

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