Where are the girls? The gender digital divide and professional IT

Abstract

Girls avoid studying computer science and information technology at both secondary and tertiary levels and, as a result, women are under-represented in professional IT careers. This paper examines the complex causes of the gender digital divide and discusses its social consequences. Recognition of the phenomenon and initiatives at school library, classroom and wider school level will help to address the problem, but the way to significantly increase girls’ participation in IT professions is through a long term, systematic and coordinated approach to curriculum change across all levels of education.