International Journal of Gender & Women's Studies

Communicating as a Woman in the Information Technology (IT) World
Omar Wee-Ellis, Angelique Dorsett, Crystal Montfort, Nereida Valdes, Bahaudin G. Mujtaba

Abstract
Effective communication can be a challenge for any individual in a homogenous workplace, and it is especially more difficult when there is diversity of gender, age, ethnicity, language, culture, and other such dimensions. With increased diversity of gender in the modern workplace, communication lines may get crossed causing miscommunications between the two sexes. These differences create biases that affect the way women are seen and perceived in the industry. As such, this paper focuses on the status of women in the information technology (IT) industry in the United States by providing the latest statistics, discussing some of the existing challenges, and offering recommendations for professionals in this industry. Having a diverse workforce can provide a competitive advantage for firms, and having women at all levels of the hierarchy in the workplace can attract more diverse professionals. Suggestions and recommendations for the creation of a fair and diverse workplace for IT firms are provided.

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