Women In Information Technology

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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 care...

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...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.

Winter, J.K., Neal, J.C., & Waner, K.K. (2001). How male, female, and mixed-gender groups regard interaction and leadership differences in the business communication course. Business Communication Quarterly, 64(3), 43-58. Retrieved February 1, 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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