Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, has helped start an unstoppable movement that continues to gain momentum. There are few women in tech, and, until recently, girls have been discouraged from pursuing higher education in computer science. Girls Who Code aims for gender equality in these fields. According to their vision statement: “We believe that more girls exposed to computer science at a young age will lead to more women working in technology and engineering fields.” We agree! Here are 10 reasons why you should get your daughters more interested in technology.
1. Technology is the future
The US Department of Labor projects that by 2020, there will be 1.4 million IT jobs.
2. Computer Science for All
Earlier in the year, President Obama announced his Computer Science for All initiative, which aims to make technology education available to all students from grades K-12. “Our economy is changing rapidly, and both educators and business leaders are increasingly recognizing that computer science (CS) is a new “basic” skill for economic opportunity and social mobility. ”.
3. CODEGIRL
The award-winning documentary’s director, Lesley Chilcoot, follows girls from around the world as they battle to win the Technovation Challenge by designing the best app to tackle a community issue. As the CODEGIRL site says: “By 2017, the app market will be valued at $77 billion. More than 80% of these developers are men.
4. Girlg Who Code has awarded $1 million in scholarships
Their goal is to provide computer science education and exposure to 1 million young women by 2020. Now, more than ever, technology education is available to all income levels.
5. Only 4% of High School Girls Take Computer Science as an Elective
Girls Who Code reports this disappointing statistic: “In middle school, 74% of girls express an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), but when they choose electives, only 0.4% of high school girls choose computer science.” .
6.Elephant in the Valley
Elephant in the Valley is a study of over 200 women working in the Silicon Valley about their experiences with discrimination and harassment at work. Just read a few of her stories and stats, and you’ll want to fight more for more girl power in tech.
7. Big corporations are getting in on the act of having more women in tech
Forbes reports: “The nonprofit, founded just three years ago, has also secured $2.7 million in essential funding from AT&T T -0.23%, The Prudential Foundation and Adobe to establish an alumni network where girls from its summer or local club can stay in touch, find job openings, and improve their work with the code.”
8. Your daughters could get big career boosts from high school tech programs.
The organization also announced that more than 20 leading technology companies have committed to sharing internships and other opportunities with Girls Who Code alumnae, as part of the organization’s “Hire Me” campaign. Take a look at the #HireMe Pledge.
9. Technology is not just games and electronics
Google’s Made With Code program introduces girls to an incredible variety of things they can do with code technology through mentorship and online projects, such as designing a Zac Posen Led dress, animation, and creating digital accessories to bring pizzazz to the selfies
10. The Covergirl BeautyU App
Esi Eggleston Bracey, executive vice president of Global Cosmetics at Procter & Gamble Co., recently told WWD that working with two Girls Who Code students was her favorite part of developing BeautyU: “The girls are fantastic. They can do anything. We want to break gender barriers.”
