Making IT appeal to women - Can the IT industry’s image change to attract more women? Despite the many initiatives and great examples, women currently account for only 28% of Capgemini UK’s workforce. For two of our leading female executives, UK Chair Christine Hodgson and UK HR Director Ann Brown, this is just not good enough. Both women regularly speak and write about the opportunities IT can offer to women. Speaking at the “Computer Weekly” Women in IT event in the summer, Ann outlined some of the challenges Capgemini faces in recruiting and retaining female employees. She also considered some of the reasons why IT is such a male-dominated industry. In Ann’s view, IT has a very masculine image – or, at least, women often see it that way seen that way, even though today, more than ever, young women and men use IT, in the form of computers, tablets, smartphones and other devices all the time. IT is an enabler in their lives. So the challenge to our industry is about changing perceptions and presenting IT as an industry like any other; needing the same roles filled, and providing the same career opportunities. What need to be emphasized, again and again, is that working in IT isn’t just about technology and the industry needs women. Challenging International Women’s Day Celebrated across the world since the early 1900s, International Women’s Day takes place annually on 8 March. This year, writing in a guest blog on “Computer Weekly” and “Huffington Post”, UK Chairman Christine Hodgson asked, “do we still need International Women’s Day?” Despite great efforts on our part and the obvious fact of having a female chairman running our UK operation, Christine believes that two major obstacles need to be overcome if the present gender imbalance in the IT industry is to be corrected. She views these as perception and persistence. Far too often, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is seen as a technical, dry activity, better suited to the male psyche and male interests than to female interests and ways of thinking. Persistence concerns the willingness – and ability in terms of employer support – of women to pursue a long-term career, in addition to meeting the demands and requirements of parenthood. Christine acknowledges both of these considerations, while pointing out that, with young women (16+) consistently out-performing their male peers in ICT-related school subjects, their under-representation in the industry and at executive level is, at best, a missed opportunity. Can this imbalance be corrected? Our graduate and apprenticeship schemes are proving very successful at attracting young women to apply for positions at Capgemini. Our extensive schools programme is also encouraging young women to consider a career in IT. Through their presentations, writing and their own professional success, our female executives are making huge contributions in these areas. Gradually the inaccurate perceptions of our industry are being changed and challenged and, in coming years, the male-female balance should – hopefully – be more even. Ann’s full “Computer Weekly” presentation is available on video via the link: computerweekly/video/Women-in-IT-Ann-Brown-Capgemini Christine’s blogpost is available via the link: computerweekly/blogs/witsend/2013/03/do-we-still-need-international-womens-day.html buzz.mw/bitev_l
Posted on: Thu, 12 Sep 2013 09:38:20 +0000
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