First aid for female casualties of the information highway

Abstract

Females are under-represented in education, training and employment in the area of Information Communication Technology (ICT). Research shows that girls are tuning out to ICTs in school and they have a low participation rate in ICT related tertiary study and employment. The Tech Savvy report by the American Association of University Women (2000) suggests “they are not so much phobic but are disenchanted”. This paper discusses a case study which is attempting to increase ICT skills and self confidence in a small group of female students through mentoring and increased access to ICT tools. It also considers whether isolated projects such as this one are attempts in first aide rather than radical surgery to ensure that females are not left behind in the digital revolution (Green, 2003).