The Shortage of Women In IT 697
CIStud writes "The IT industry is hurting for women. Currently only 11% of IT companies are owned by women. The Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract program requires 5% of all IT jobs to go to female-owned integration companies, but there must be at least 2 female bidders. There are so few female bidders that women-owned IT firms are ineligible for the contracts. From the article: 'Wendy Frank, founder of Accell Security Inc. in Birdsboro, Pa., wishes she had more competitors.
It's not often you hear any integrator say that, but in Frank's case, she has good reason.
The current Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract program authorizes five percent of Federal prime and subcontracts to be set aside for WOSBs. While that might sound fair on the surface, in order to invoke the money set aside for this program, the contracting officer at an agency has to have a reasonable expectation that two or more WOSBs will submit offers for the job.
“We could not participate in the government’s Women-Owned Small Business program unless there was another female competitor,” says Frank. “Procurement officers required that at least two women-owned small businesses compete for the contracts, even in the IT field, where women-owned businesses are underrepresented.”'"
Damn it.. (Score:4, Funny)
They shouldn't have made the glass ceiling out of that stuff they use for ipad screens..
eh? (Score:4, Funny)
"The Shortage of Women In IT"
How tall do they need to be?
Re:Oh come on... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:That's nothing (Score:4, Funny)
Shhh - The Gov't will force them to include men in 5% of the lesbian scenes...
Maybe its because (Score:2, Funny)
Maybe there aren't more women in IT because women are too smart to work crappy hours for crappy pay, crappy job security and crappy benefits.
Re:Total sausage party (Score:2, Funny)
Technically, the GP is correct. Just like every other field for which this comes up -- if men didn't exist, IT would totally be dominated by women. Or possibly cats. My cat is certainly more interested in what I'm typing than my wife is but my experience is strictly anecdotal.
Just sayin'--
Re:Damn it.. (Score:5, Funny)
Manipulating the glass ceiling involves multiple touches, gestures, and the occasional pinch.
Re:Oh come on... (Score:5, Funny)
IT Manager "yes sir as you can see 80% of our staff are female"
Govt official "are you sure, to be honest they just look like a bunch of men in skirts"
IT Manager "no I can asure you our IT staff are 80% female, just ask eeer John eerr itta any question you like"
Re:That's nothing (Score:3, Funny)
I am intrigued by your idea, and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
Re:Oh come on... (Score:5, Funny)
Yeah, but without more women in IT, miss Wendy Frank has to compete with other companies based on quality and price.
That is somehow totally unfair to women!