Eastern Kentucky University
Gender Disparity in the Field of Technology
Institution
Eastern Kentucky University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Vigs Chandra
Abstract
For the past three decades, the number of females involved in technology-related educational and career opportunities has steadily declined, to the point where women now represent only a small fraction of the tech industry. While this downward trend has been thoroughly researched and publicized, why the technology gender gap exists is less well-understood. In an effort to better understand why women are underrepresented in the tech field, original data was collected from nearly 150 undergraduate students at Eastern Kentucky University via an anonymous survey and the results were analyzed and discussed in this project. Also included in the project is a discussion of the facts surrounding gender disparity in the field of technology, possible reasons for the gender gap, consequences that result from a lack of gender parity in the tech industry, and actionable solutions that can be applied by educators and society to help increase female involvement in the field of technology. Relying heavily upon empirical evidence as opposed to conjecture, this study aimed to present the research conducted in an accessible and compelling manner. While the original data used for this project provides insight into students’ perceptions of gender disparity within the tech field, it is not conclusive and could be enriched through further research. This issue of gender disparity within the field of technology is of great importance, and as technology becomes increasingly prevalent in today’s world, a lack of gender parity within the tech industry affects all people whose lives are influenced by technology.
Gender Disparity in the Field of Technology
For the past three decades, the number of females involved in technology-related educational and career opportunities has steadily declined, to the point where women now represent only a small fraction of the tech industry. While this downward trend has been thoroughly researched and publicized, why the technology gender gap exists is less well-understood. In an effort to better understand why women are underrepresented in the tech field, original data was collected from nearly 150 undergraduate students at Eastern Kentucky University via an anonymous survey and the results were analyzed and discussed in this project. Also included in the project is a discussion of the facts surrounding gender disparity in the field of technology, possible reasons for the gender gap, consequences that result from a lack of gender parity in the tech industry, and actionable solutions that can be applied by educators and society to help increase female involvement in the field of technology. Relying heavily upon empirical evidence as opposed to conjecture, this study aimed to present the research conducted in an accessible and compelling manner. While the original data used for this project provides insight into students’ perceptions of gender disparity within the tech field, it is not conclusive and could be enriched through further research. This issue of gender disparity within the field of technology is of great importance, and as technology becomes increasingly prevalent in today’s world, a lack of gender parity within the tech industry affects all people whose lives are influenced by technology.