CSI Career & Counseling Services

Girls in Technology
Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Helping to Prepare Girls for Careers in Technology

The Center for New Directions at College of Southern Idaho is hosting the 9th Annual Girls In Technology Conference—“Technology: Pathway to a Greener Future”.  A GIT Task Force Committee of interested persons in promoting technology careers for women has developed a conference for girls in grades 8-11.  The conference date is Tuesday, March 2, 2010.  Our aim is to promote interest in careers focusing on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) for young women as they are in the midst of developing their 4-year high school plan.  It is our hope that engaging these students in activities related to careers in technology will peak their interest and encourage them to pursue an educational plan that includes preparation with technology, math and science courses.

Too many girls get the message that math and science aren’t for them. Research shows that parents, teachers, and other adults typically expect girls not to perform as well as boys in science, math, and technology, regardless of their true potential. The Girls in Technology Conference is an effort to provide an event for girls in Magic Valley Schools in Grades 8-11 to introduce them to career possibilities that include math, science, and technology. 

By providing female role models who are engineers, chemists, mathematicians, pilots, web designers, computer technicians, veterinarians, and more, students see that women can be successful in careers where they have the potential to earn a good income and apply their interests and abilities in occupations that are often male dominated.

Good News for Women in Technology.  Women and Men in technology earn the same amount of money in their first five years of work.  (Survey of 100,000 employees in technology.)  Professionals in technical hands-on jobs experience the smallest salary gap.  Overall, women in tech jobs earn 92 cents for every dollar a man earns.

Economics
Women’s weekly earnings are just 75.4% of men’s earnings. About 33% of all businesses are owned by women and they employ nearly 20 million people and generate $2.3 trillion in sales.

Math/Science and Technology

  • In the early grades, girls consistently match or surpass boys’ achievement in science and math. 
  • 34% of high school aged girls report being advised by a faculty member not to take senior math.
  • 16% fewer girls than boys report ever talking to their parents about science and technology issues.

Reasons for Attending

If you are a girl interested in…

  • Math & science, but do not know what careers they lead to.
  • Careers that have high potential for employment in the next decade.
  • Creative and original ideas that will benefit people
  • High potential earnings.