Communications of the ACM
Sandberg's Book Prompts Discussion on Dearth of Women in IT
Industry executives don't all share Sandberg's view that women's progress has stalled.
Credit: Wired
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg's controversial new book, Lean In, has reinvigorated the conversation about the role of women in the IT industry. According to Sandberg, the women's revolution has stalled and men still play a dominant role within the IT industry. For example, in the early 1980s, women accounted for just over 37% of all U.S. college students earning bachelor's degrees in computer science. By 2010, that percentage had fallen to a little more than 17%. As a result, Sandberg is calling on women to be more assertive, or to "lean in," as she describes in her book.
While Sandberg's book has been criticized for its focus on changing women rather than changing the system, it has opened up debate about what companies can do to empower women in the workplace. Companies that have seen success in attracting women in the workforce point to initiatives such as mentoring programs and opportunities for network-building for women — activities that Sandberg champions. Yet, despite these best efforts, the overall number of female IT professionals has declined steadily since 2000, when women's share of the computer-related jobs pool hit a peak of nearly 30%.
Not everyone shares Sandberg's view that progress for women has stalled, though they agree that more can be done. Some suggest that women in IT create professional support networks. In addition, women may be able to do more to combat unflattering stereotypes that discourage young girls from thinking about IT careers. The good news is that recent moves by companies to create products aimed at exposing young girls to engineering could begin to change the cultural message. Also, there can be more done to emphasize the advantages that can make tech work attractive to more women. IT jobs are not only well paid, sources say, but also highly flexible, and therefore, it's a good profession for women who want to work throughout their children's formative years.
From CIO
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