Elaine K. Yakura
Michigan State University, USA
Louise Soe
California State Polytechnic University, USA
Ruth Guthrie
California State Polytechnic University, USA
ABSTRACT
Research on the declining numbers of women in the Information Technology (IT) workforce focuses on ‘filling the pipeline ’ by attracting women into IT disciplines at colleges and universities. This research looks at the other end of the pipeline, examining both barriers and support structures that have helped women persist in their IT careers. The chapter draws from extended interviews with 38 women who have been successful in planning their careers and navigating a male-dominated industry. It focuses on what women cited as barriers and as areas of support, in response to open-ended questions about their careers and career paths. The interviewees, drawn from nine industry sectors, represented a wide breadth and depth of experience. Half were at the professional level, and half at the managerial or executive level in organizations that varied from single-person consulting firms to large institutions.
INTRODUCTION
This chapter discusses the results of open-ended interviews with women in various stages of careers in Information Technology (IT). The research focuses specifically on support structures, formal and
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60960-759-3.ch003 informal, that women identified and the perceived benefit of these support structures. The objective of this chapter is to examine the perspective and experience of women in industry. Specifically what they can teach us about what helped them in their careers, mentoring program effectiveness and work accommodations for women. Practical experiences can inform women seeking careers in IT about biases they face prior to entering the workforce. These experiences can also help industry and academia programs prepare women before they enter the IT workforce.