About the book editors
Rebecca Dorries
After organising, speaking and volunteering at numerous Girls in IT days, this book idea come as a new way of reaching girls and helping the organisers by sharing knowledge of inspirational IT role models across the different states of Australia where IT days for girls are held regularly. I completed a Bachelor of Information Technology with Honours in the area of knowledge management at Griffith University in 2005. In this course, there were often only 2 females in a class of 100 students. I now work in the IT department large multinational organisation, which boasts equal numbers of males and females. Studying and working in IT, it has become obvious to me that there are certain stereotypes believed about women who work in IT, however I have found these stereotypes to be incorrect most of the time. I want to portray this through the book.
Jenine Beekhuyzen
The idea for this book has been around in many forms for a number of years. Alongside my research aimed at understanding the reasons why females are not well represented in information technology education and work, I volunteer on many projects in education and in the community that deal directly with girls and women and their exposure to technology. The idea for this book was that it would be a useful resource for those that are running programs for girls and women in technology, as well as an attractive 'quick read' type book for girls to see the range of technology careers that are available, and that the women working in the industry are not necessarily geeky with no social skills (which brings to mind the negative image mostly portrayed in the media). Some are proud geeks and that is great! The word geek here though means 'loves technology' but this often isn't what younger people take it to mean. It takes all types of people to work in IT. The book aims to show the more 'girlie' side of women working in the industry, which is often not seen. We are also hoping to portray that women who do work with technology are intelligent, creative and fun. It is hoped the girls can relate to the women presented in the book through their profiles and their short stories and that after reading this, they may be inspired to consider a career in information technology.
If you have any comments about this site, our tech2morrow project or book project, please contact us at:girlieitbook@gmail.com.
