Training Toolkit

In association with Network Liberation Movement

Story: IT industry's 'macho culture' drives women away

Posted by: Doug (Monday 12 September 2005, 12:59 PM)

Strange headline, as my experience has shown that IT has the least 'macho' people of any business I've worked in. What about sales or procurement, where the 'old boys' approach seems to be far more rife?

Perhaps we should focus in the bigger picture, especially when this story links to one of overall shortages due to the unappealing nature of IT to many people these days (http://news.zdnet.co.uk/business/management/0,39020654,39186953,00.htm)?

To shine in this industry takes a real investment in personal time, especially at the lower levels where excelling at your job means living, eating and breathing the code you're developing or the technology you're supporting.

How many IT people have been in the office late at night, or over the weekend (while the 'normal' staff are safely at home), to do system upgrades or new software installations? How many are then expected to be contactable at home in case of problems?

This seems to be the norm, which means it's definitely not a 9-5 job, so maybe that's why so many people, including women, are leaving or are reluctant to start in the first place.