Career Choices in Information and Communication Technology among South Western Nigerian Women

Abstract

This study is designed to discover the key factors for the under-representation and lack of career progression or otherwise of women in the ICT field, specifically in South Western Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to women (i.e., students, lecturers and other staff) studying or working in selected higher institutions. The results show that 90% of the women studied are self-motivated in their choice of the ICT career with very little external incentivizing or encouragement supporting their choice, besides the lure of high compensation and prestige associated with skilled ICT work. The slight influence on the career choice of women to pursue ICT derives from everyday use of computers and career information provided by role models and mentors, which are atypical, while, those women who did not choose a career in ICT did so because of their perception of the overabundance of required programming skills. Other barriers include environmental working conditions, infrastructure and electricity in the work area needed to support ICT related work. Although, many of the career women believe that they are competitive with their male counterparts in ICT; the fact remains in South Western Nigeria that only a few women are senior associates at organizations in the ICT field. Recommendations are offered to decrease this disparity and address enabling conditions for change.

Bi̇li̇şi̇m Teknoloji̇leri̇ Alaninda Meslek Seçi̇mi̇ni̇ Yordayan Deği̇şkenler

“…Alanyazında, mühendislik ve teknolojiyle ilişkili meslekler hakkında, bu mesleklerde çalışan uzmanların ne yaptıkları ve bilgisayar uğraşlarının gereklilikleri (Harris ve Wilkinson, 2004) ile kadınlar için uygunluğu, yalnızca programlamadan oluşan, zor bir alan olduğu (Papastergiou, 2008;Ojokoh, Adeola, Isinkaye ve Abraham, 2014) konusunda fazlaca bilgi eksikliği olduğundan bahsedilmektedir (Singh ve diğerleri, 2007;Von Hellens ve diğerleri, 2009; McLachlan ve diğerleri, 2010; Powell ve diğerleri, 2012). Bilgisayar alanında yalnızca programlamayla ilgili çalışmalar yapıldığı yönündeki algıların değişebilmesi için bilgisayar alan dersleri ve meslekleri hakkında genç yaşta bilgilendirme yapılmalıdır ve öğretim programlarının geliştirilen içeriklerle daha ilgi çekici hale getirilmesine gereksinim vardır (Von Hellens ve diğerleri, 2009).…”

A Study on the Gender Digital Divide: Overcoming the Under-Representation of South African Women in the IT Sector

“…Arekapudi, (2018) further stated that legal barriers are still widespread and in some African countries wherein husbands are legally allowed to prevent their wives from working. Ojokoh et al, (2014) postulated that women entering the IT sector in South Africa face challenges such as work-family balance issues, the undervaluing of women's contributions at work, adverse stereotypes of women and a lack of guidance on career options.…”