Abstract
In this paper, we discuss the ethical responsibility of the Information Technology (IT) industry towards its female workforce. Although the growing IT industry experiences skills shortages, there is a declining trend in the representation of women. The paper presents evidence that the IT industry is not gender-neutral and that it does little to promote or retain its female workforce. We urge that professional codes of ethics in IT should be revised to take into account the diverse needs of its staff.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct: 1993, Communication of the ACM, 36,2 (February), pp. 100–105.
Beirne, M., H. Ramsay and A. Panteli: 1998, ‘Rationalising Computing Work’, in P. Thompson and C. Warhurst (eds.), Workplaces of the Future (Macmillan, London).
Bulkeley, D.: 1995, ‘PC Makes Sense’, Computerworld (June), 38–40.
Gotterbarn, D., K. Miller and S. Rogerson: 1997, ‘Software Engineering Code of Ethics’, Communications of the ACM 40(11) (November), 110–118.
Grundy, F.: 1996, Women and Computers (Intellect Books, Exeter).
Gurer, D. W.: 1995, ‘Pioneering Women in Computing Science’, Communications of the ACM 38(1) (January), 45–49.
Financial Times: May 24, 1996 ‘U.K.: Software Shows Its Strength: The Holway Report Has Stressed the Importance of Outsourcing’.
Hacker, S.: 1989, Pleasure, Power and Technology (Unwin Hyman, London).
IDPM IT Report: 1996, ‘The End is Nigh – 1996 IT Skills Trend Report’, The Institute for the Management of Information Systems, U.K.
Igbaria, M., G. Meredith and D. K. Smith: 1995, ‘Career Orientations of Information Systems Employees in South Africa’, Journal of Strategic Information Systems 4(4), 319–340.
Independent on Sunday: January 11, 1998, ‘the Millennium Bug Brings Rich Pickings’, (by Paul Gosling), Smart Moves: p. 2.
Korac-Kakabadse, A. and N. Korac-Kakabadse: 1998, ‘Profession and Professional Ethics: An IT Perspective’, Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Ethical issues of Information Technology, ETHICOMP98, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, March 25–27, 1998.
Knights, D. and F. Murray: 1994, Managers Divided – Organizational Policies and Information Technology Management (Wiley Series in Information Systems, Wiley, London).
Kraft, P.: 1977, Programmers and Managers: The Routinization of Computer Programming in the United States (Springer-Verlag, NY).
Kunda, G.: 1992, Engineering Culture – Control and Commitment in a High-Tech Corporation (Temple University Press, Philadelphia).
Lander R. and A. Adam (eds.): 1997, Women in Computing (Intellect, Exeter, England).
National Computing Centre: 1992, Salaries and Staff Issues in Computing 1992.
National Computing Centre: 1996, Salaries and Staff Issues in Computing 1996.
National Computing Centre: 1997, Salaries and Staff Issues in Computing 1997.
Oz, E.: 1993, ‘Ethical Standards for Computer Professionals: A Comparative Analysis of Four Major Codes’, Journal of Business Ethics 12(7), 709–726.
Panteli, A., J. 0 Stack, H. Ramsay and M. Atkinson: 1998, ‘Gender and Computing Work in the Late 1990s’, in R. Baldoz, P. Godfrey, C. Jansen, C. Koeber and P. Kraft (eds.), Work, Difference and Social Change: Two Decades after Braverman' Labour and Monopoly Capital, Conference Proceedings, May 8–10, 1998, Binghamton, NY.
Ramsay, H., A. Panteli and M. Beirne: 1997, ‘Empowerment and is empowerment: Active Agency, Structural Constraint and Women Computer Users’, in R. Lander and A. Adam (eds.), Women in Computing (Intellect, Exeter).
Rogerson, S. and T. W. Bynum: 1995, ‘Cyberspace: the Ethical Frontier’, The Times Higher Education Supplement ( June 9), iv.
Siann, G.: 1997, ‘We Can, We Don't Want To: Factors Influencing Women' Participation in Computing’, in Lander and Adam, op. cit.
Social Europe: Occupational Segregation of Women and Men in the European Community – Supplement 3/93, 70–76.
Sonnentag, S.: 1994, ‘Team Leading in Software Development: A Comparison Between Women and Men’, in A. Adams, J. Emms, E. Green and J. Owen (eds.), in Women, Work and Computerisation (A-57) (Elsevier Science, b.V. (North-Holland), Amsterdam).
Strober, M. H. and C. L. Arnold: 1987, ‘Integrated Circuits/Segregated Labour: Women in Computer Related Occupations and High-Tech Industries’, in National Research Council (ed.), Computer Chips and Paper Clips: Technology and Women' Employment (National Academy Press, Washington DC).
Tierney, M.: 1993, ‘Negotiating a Software Career: Informal Work Practices and “The Lads” in a Software Installation’, in E. Green, J. Owen and D. Pain (eds.), Gendered by Design? (Taylor Frances).
Tijdens, K.: 1991, ‘Women in EDP Departments’, in I. V. Eriksson, B. A. Kitchenham and K. G. Tijdens (eds.), Women, Work and Computerization (Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. (North-Holland)).
Tijdens, K. G.: 1997, ‘Gender Segregation in IT Occupations’, in A. F. Grundy, D. Kohler, V. Oechtering and U. Petersen (eds.), Women, Work and Computerization – Spinning a Web from Past to Future (Springer-Verlag, Berlin).
Watson, W. E., K. Kuman and L. K. Michaelsen: 1993, ‘Cultural Diversity' Impact on Interaction Process and Performance: Comparing Homogeneous and Diverse Groups’, Academy of Management Journal 36, 590–602.
Wilson, F.: 1997, ‘Computing, Computer Science and Computer Scientists: How They are Perceived’, in Lander and Adam, op. cit.
Wright, R.: 1996, ‘The Occupational Masculinity of Computing’, in C. Cheng (ed.), Masculinities in Organizations (Sage, London).
Wright, R.: 1997a, ‘Women in Computing: A Cross National Analysis’, in Lander and Adam, op. cit.
Wright, R.: 1997b, Women Computer Professionals: Progress and Resistance Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Panteli, A., Stack, J. & Ramsay, H. Gender and Professional Ethics in the IT Industry. Journal of Business Ethics 22, 51–61 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006156102624
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006156102624