book

Women in Tech

by Gillian Arnold, Hannah Dee, Clem Herman, Sharon Moore, Andrea Palmer, Shilpa Shah

July 2021

Intermediate to advanced

240 pages

8h 40m

English

BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT

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The history of women in technologyThe business case for diversityThe dangers of diversity without inclusionSummaryReferences
What to teach and when: ICT, computer science and codingWhat about gender?Addressing the gender balance in computingTeacher trainingCareers educationWhat can employers do to help in schools?SummaryReferences
BackgroundWhere are we now?The student experienceEmployment in higher education computer scienceInterventions: what can be done?ReturnersInformal learningLearning from international perspectivesSummaryReferences
Unconscious bias definedOrigins of unconscious bias: The Cycle of SocialisationImpact of bias on recruitment of women into technical education and jobsEffect of bias in retaining women in the technology workforceTypes of cognitive biasSummaryReferences
Ready for change?Project sponsorshipGrassroots initiativesEstablishing a project for attracting and retaining women in technologyKey questions to askSummaryReferences
The what: The challenge and the barriersThe why: The reasons for gender inequalityThe how: Overview of how to attract female talentDebunking mythsAdvertising and job descriptionsLegal mechanismsMarketing and brandingWhere and how to find diverse candidatesThe offerCreating an inclusive interview processSummaryReferences
Inclusion and belongingHow to reduce stereotype threat and the impact of unconscious biasOrganisational culture changeEngaging men and fostering opennessEquitable practicesRole modelsSponsorshipMentorshipNetworksSummaryReferences

Overview

This guide offers expertise, initiatives and true stories to support those wishing to bring greater gender diversity into the workplace. It aims to inform regarding background, theory and policy; advise on concrete actions that can be undertaken, and to be an exemplar for the tech industry in the form of real-world case studies.