A vicious circle A lack of advice in schools on ...leaves girls with little understanding What’s clear is that there’s a vicious circle of technology careers… of what working in technology involves perception and reality in terms of gender imbalance. Despite such exciting opportunities, girls aren’t That schools are not yet providing the guidance young And that schools, universities and industry are considering technology as a career – partly because people need is further underlined by the fact that only failing to show young people – and especially girls nobody is putting it forward as a possible option. 19% of all students say they’ve learned about career – the realities of technology jobs and careers in While 33% of male respondents say they’ve had a opportunities in technology from their school. Indeed, today’s world. Technology careers are now highly career in technology suggested to them, the figure more have learned from using technology or their own creative, particularly around understanding people’s for females is only 16% – a glaring lack of advice research. However, the lack of encouragement means behaviour, and working out how to develop digital that’s helping to reinforce the stereotype of a male- females are not sufficiently inspired or interested to user experiences. dominated industry. find out for themselves: 31% of males have learned about technology from their own research, against Examples of technology being used to understand In cases where the suggestion of a technology career only 12% of females. emerging behaviours include the innovative customer is made to either gender, a teacher is the person most journeys that have been created in the retail sector likely to do so. But our research suggests that the and the new patient experiences being developed stereotype of technology as being “for boys only” is Only in healthcare. In term of the latter, women are more prevalent amongst teachers and schools, who are involved with healthcare than men – accounting for much less likely to suggest a technology career to 19% of all students say they’ve learned 8 77% of NHS employees – and, according to research girls. Just over one fifth (21%) of female students say about career opportunities in 9 from the US females make 80% of buying decisions more information would make them more likely to technology from their school about healthcare products and services. Combined consider a career in technology. with women’s greater desire to make a positive of male respondents difference to the world, these attributes suggest While say they’ve had a females are actually better positioned than men to career in technology create technology to help meet the healthcare needs of 33% suggested to them, citizens and customers. the figure for [I didn’t choose technology] females is “because I didn’t want to be in a male only dominated environment.” 16% “I prefer creative subjects to academic Female university student “There is a stereotype that empirical studies subjects, and the jobs in the STEM industry are male subjects only, and the institution do not appeal to me.” to which I currently belong perpetuates Female pre-university student this belief obliquely. I felt discouraged from taking the sciences.” Female pre-university student 8Source: http://www.nhsemployers.org/~/media/Employers/Publications/Gender%20in%20the%20NHS.PDF 9http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-management-administration/women-make-80-percent-of-healthcare-decisions.html Women in Tech – Time to close the gender gap 8