The lack of women in the IT industry: the cyber security case. Another aspect regarding access to ICTs

In Argentina, during the 1970s, women amounted to 75% of the student body in university degree programs in Informatics. However, the percentage has dropped to a low of 18%. This tendency raises several questions that need to be addressed in order to stimulate discussions on access to ICTs. After all, this situation has an impact on job market opportunities in general and management positions in particular in the IT sector.

To begin with, the industry is not accustomed to a high level of female participation. Even worse, people with university careers in Informatics regard the low numbers of women in said field as normal. What is more, the cyber security industry has special characteristics that hamper the permanence of female professionals.

So, what happens with women who are working in the IT industry and, specially, with those who work in areas such as cyber security? How can we ensure that women currently working in the field of technology remain in the industry? What is the situation like for those women professionals who had to overcome several obstacles throughout their academic years as a result of their gender and now have to face a work environment that treats them differently? These aspects shed light on the debate regarding access to ICTs.