If you calculate some sort of mean aptitude for IT work for each gender, you end up with a meaningless statistic. All men and women are individuals capable of i

If you calculate some sort of mean aptitude for IT work for each gender, you end up with a meaningless statistic. All men and women are individuals capable of individual contribution and for any large 'group' of individuals to be discouraged/lost is not a good thing for any profession. For selfish reasons I want more women to consider applying their talents to IT/computing. I'm sure sexism and other factors have an effect, but people have a knack for overcoming things like that... I think the problem is much deeper rooted. Anecdotal evidence, but ten years ago the pupils in my year at school were asked to pick from Computing or Administration as one of their subjects for the next year. We ended up with about 2 girls picking computing in the whole yeargroup, whereas the Administration class (secretarial work) was much more evenly dividied. Computing was a harder subject but the girls in my year were just as academically accomplished as the boys (if not more). So what gives? That is the root of the problem IMO