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Women problem?

Women are conquering universities and already work side by side with their male colleagues in many professions - but in IT they are still considered exotic even today. Just 15 percent of employees in German IT departments are female.
E-3 Magazine
12 February 2018
Women problem?
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This text has been automatically translated from German to English.

The IT sector is constantly on the lookout for new talent. However, despite the increasing number of jobs, there is no rush of new specialists on the market. Companies benefit from a higher proportion of women in IT departments - because with each person in the team, the number of different perspectives in the creation of solution strategies increases.

As in any other industry, the same applies in IT: the greater the diversity in the team, the more constructive the exchange and the better the results. However, only a few female employees make it in IT in the long term.

"Only a balanced gender ratio brings maximum diversity in the development of ideas and solutions to problems, and therefore more innovation to companies"

says Consuela Utsch, Managing Director of Acuroc and expert in human resource management.

"However, many management levels need to adapt their framework conditions if they want to attract more women to IT. Equal pay, gender equality and work-life balance are becoming increasingly important for employees."

Digital solutions such as comprehensive program and project management ensure efficient workloads for every employee and at the same time reduce stress for the workforce.

Consuela Utsch, women, women's quota

Cliché: outsider with horn-rimmed glasses

The stereotype of the computer scientist as a "social outsider" with horn-rimmed glasses and a knitted sweater persists to this day. However, this role stereotype can already be counteracted in secondary schools.

Girls' interest in the STEM subjects of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology exists and is even greatest between the ages of 11 and 16. After this age, however, it declines rapidly.

"Schools need to start here and maintain the interest of young female employees"

says Utsch, herself a computer scientist, mathematician and physicist.

One way would be to offer STEM subjects such as computer science as more than just an optional subject. After all, computer science is particularly important, as digitalization has long since permeated all areas of life and work.

"Increasing communication requirements and the need to develop flexible and fast needs-based solution strategies can be met with new digital possibilities. This makes IT one of the most creative sectors of all"

says Utsch.

Lack of role models

At the moment, only 0.3 percent of students in the upper secondary school choose computer science as an advanced course, of which only around 20 percent are female. The decision for the respective advanced courses is considered an important indicator for later career choices.

One reason why young women tend to opt for a subject such as teaching or education is the lack of female role models in IT. This is because many successful women in the industry remain unknown quantities.

For example, Grace Murray Hopper developed the Cobol programming language, mathematician Ada Lovelace is considered the founder of programming, Virginia Rometty has been President of the US IT giant IBM since 2012 and Gabriele Ruf is currently responsible for Daimler's global IT operations.

These examples show how important women have already become in IT.

"The more women choose this field now, the easier it will be for women to gain a foothold in the supposedly 'male domain of IT' in the future"

says Utsch.

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