Lack of IT role models for girls

 

Girls see technology as cool but too geeky for a career.

A survey conducted by Blackberry maker, Research in Motion, has uncovered reasons as to why girls do not commonly seek careers in IT – girls do not see positive female role models in the industry.

According to the survey of 1,000 young people (aged between 11 and 16), 73 per cent of girls say that they would not choose a career in technology in the UK IT industry as it lacks female role models.

In fact, only 28 per cent of girls are considering a career in technology, in comparison to 52 per cent of boys, despite 90 per cent of girls saying technology is ‘cool.’

Research in Motion believes that these attitudes have culminated in a serious lack of women working in technology.

Great opportunities in the technology sector

Charmaine Eggberry, vice-president of Research in Motion EMEA and creator of the Blackberry Women & Technology Awards, said: "The technology industry and current employees of the sector need to work together to highlight the great opportunities that technology jobs can provide."

In total, 43 per cent of both boys and girls said a career in technology was "not exciting" and 30 per cent said it was "too geeky".

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