The issue of gender within computing: reflections from the UK and Scandinavia

Abstract

Abstract. Thispaper explores some of the reasons that may underlie the gender segregation and declining levels of female participation within the field of computing in Europe during the 1990s in both the professional (industrial) and academic spheres. The interrelationships between three areas – communicative processes, social networks and legitimizing claims to knowledge overlaid by gendered‐power relations – are used to analyse and explain the existing situation. The paper draws upon statistical data to explore the extent of gender segregation and then focuses on the authors' own experiences within the UK and Scandinavia in order to explore some of the underlying causes. While direct discrimination does still occur, the paper suggests that indirect, deep‐rooted discrimination is the major reason for the situation that currently exists. Drawing upon our own experiences in academia and business and acknowledging the importance of the institutional context, the paper offers a number of recommendations as to how the current situation may be improved. We suggest first that consideration is given to the pedagogical design and marketing of computing courses so that individuals are initially attracted to computing from far more diverse backgrounds, approaches and interests than at present. Second, we suggest that those with influence in the field reflect upon the constitution and behaviours of the informal networks in which they are involved and seek to include female researchers more actively here. Finally we suggest that consideration is given in more general terms to how the field may become more gender neutral and, thus, more inclusive in the future. Masculine discourses and ‘hard’ skills have dominated within computing for too long and contribute significantly to the declining participation of women within computing.

The moderating role of technology readiness, gender, and sex in consumer acceptance and actual use of Technology-based services

“…Men and women behave differently in the technology-mediated economy (Taylor, 2004;Wilson, 2004;Borrero et al, 2014) and participate in its development (Robertson et al, 2001;Borrero et al, 2014). During the last decade, gender is treated by many researchers as a moderator in the technology belief-use-intention relationship and actual use of technology and the web ( It will be investigated whether gender is a key moderator in the relationship between UTAUT variables and behavioral intention.…”

Advancement, voluntary turnover and women in IT: A cognitive study of work–family conflict

“…(b) Career orientations and voluntary turnover intentions [37] and strategies employed by successful female IT professionals [58]. (c) Comparative studies that offer insights into cultural or workplace differences of status, stress, voluntary turnover intentions and salary in Australia and New Zealand [70,74], the United Kingdom [61], Singapore [69], Germany [56], and Finland [72]. (d) Workplace conditions of women in IT, including discriminatory practices that reinforce work practices and job segregation [77].…”

Gender and Web Design: The Implications of the Mirroring Principle for the Services Branding Model

“…This is a question with a considerably larger literature. IT and computing is a profession in which participation rates for women, across the board, have fluctuated during the 1990s somewhere between 19% and 22% (Robertson et al, 2001) but in which there is a dominance of men at all levels and across the three fields of information systems, information technology and computer science (Robertson et al, 2001). The position varies only in different parts of the world and different IT specialisms.…”

“…Recent years have seen a sharp decline in the number of women pursuing degrees in computer-related fields, together with a reduction in the numbers of women taking advanced-degree programmes (Igbaria and Parasuraman, 1997). In 2002, the following per cent of male and female employees were reported for the IT profession (Facts about men and women, 2002), showing the horizontal and vertical segregation discussed by Robertson et al (2001) as applying in academia and business (see Table 5)…”