Women and Information Technology: Research on Underrepresentation [Hardcover]

Joanne Cohoon (Editor), William Aspray (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0262033453 | ISBN-13: 978-0262033459

Computing remains a heavily male-dominated field even after twenty-five years of extensive efforts to promote female participation. The contributors to Women and Information Technology look at reasons for the persistent gender imbalance in computing and explore some strategies intended to reverse the downward trend. The studies included are rigorous social science investigations; they rely on empirical evidence--not rhetoric, hunches, folk wisdom, or off-the-cuff speculation about supposed innate differences between men and women.Taking advantage of the recent surge in research in this area, the editors present the latest findings of both qualitative and quantitative studies. Each section begins with an overview of the literature on current research in the field, followed by individual studies. The first section investigates the relationship between gender and information technology among preteens and adolescents, with each study considering what could lead girls' interest in computing to diverge from boys'; the second section, on higher education, includes a nationwide study of computing programs and a cross-national comparison of computing education; the final section, on pathways into the IT workforce, considers both traditional and nontraditional paths to computing careers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A very interesting and insightful book whose survey of contemporary studies makes it essential for anyone interested in understanding the issues affecting gender imbalance in information technology."--Maria Klawe, Dean of Engineering and Applied Science, Princeton University

"This work provides valuable insight into why women are not choosing to pursue education and careers in information technology." K. J. Whitehair Choice

About the Author

J. McGrath Cohoon is Assistant Professor in the Department of Science, Technology, and Society in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia. She is also a Senior Research Scientist at the National Center for Women and Information Technology.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 520 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press (February 24, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262033453
• ISBN-13: 978-0262033459
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,988,244 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)