A common thread throughout the posts we do here on the SheHeroes Blog as well as the great stuff we find and share with our Facebook and Twitter friends is how we can get more girls into the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Statistics continue to show that while women are holding more degrees than men and are now the majority of the workforce, there is still a huge gaping hole where the women in the fields of STEM should be.
That’s why we are always quick to share with our readers and support groups and organizations that are stepping up and helping to get more girls into any of those fields. So when I first read about NextGen Tech Women and their goal to raise funds for the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) I knew we had to share. Here is the lowdown on NCWIT from their website:
Who We Are
NCWIT is the National Center for Women & Information Technology. We are a coalition of over 250 prominent corporations, academic institutions, government agencies, and non-profits working to increase the participation of girls and women in computing and IT. NCWIT is a 501(c)(3)*, established in 2004.
What We Believe
We believe that inspiring more women to choose careers in IT is a compelling issue of innovation, competitiveness, and workforce sustainability. In a global economy, gender diversity in IT means a larger and more competitive workforce; in a world dependent on innovation, it means the ability to design technology that is as broad and creative as the people it serves.
Why We Exist
Girls represented just 18 percent of Advanced Placement computer science (CS) exam-takers in 2009; that’s the lowest female representation of any AP exam.
In 2009 women earned only 18 percent of all CS degrees. Back in 1985, women earned 37 percent of CS degrees.
Women hold more than half of all professional occupations in the U.S. but only 25 percent of all computing-related occupations.
Women hold only 11 percent of corporate officer positions at Fortune 500 technology companies.
A study on U.S. technology patenting reveals that patents created by mixed-gender teams are the most highly cited (an indicator of their innovation and usefulness); yet women were involved in only 9 percent of U.S. tech patents.
Chances are if you’re reading the SheHeroes blog whether you subscribe to the feed or follow us on Facebook, you are a supporter of encouraging and helping girls gain ground in the field of Technology and share the vision of NCWIT. The NextGen Tech Women team is trying to raise $25,000 from the online social media and technology communities, and from matching donations from leading technology companies through, May 5 – the Thursday prior to Mother’s Day – to help the next generation of girls in tech make their dreams come true by donating all the funds raised to the National Center for Women and Information Technology‘s Award for Aspirations in Computing, which recognizes young women in high-school for their computing- related achievements and interests.
You can help the NextGen Tech Women by donating here or by joining them on Facebook and Twitter and helping spread the word. Way to go NextGen Tech Women and NCWIT for helping make the young SheHeroes of today the leading ladies of Technology tomorrow!