Out from the Shadows: Encouraging Girls in New Zealand into IT Careers

Abstract

Shadow IT is a New Zealand intervention in which high school girls observe a day in the life of a woman working in IT. The effectiveness of Shadow IT in influencing girls to consider a career in IT was the subject of this research. Surveys conducted before and soon after Shadow IT showed that the girls participated in the event with an open mind and a positive attitude, and that the girls' levels of interest in an IT career had increased. In addition, the girls' perceptions of an IT workplace had become more realistic, with positive aspects better understood and earlier concerns allayed. However another survey one year later indicated that the influence of the event had not persisted for some of the girls. Girls intent on an IT career were studying IT subjects and had specific IT roles in mind, whereas girls who were now planning careers in other fields were not studying IT subjects. All the girls stated that Shadow IT had influenced their subject and career choices.