Female techies struggle with work/life balance

Work pressure stops almost half of female IT workers having children.

Workplace pressures deter nearly half of female techies from having children, new research claimed today.

A poll by online recruitment firm The IT Job Board found that 48.3 percent of female IT professionals said their decision not to have children had been influenced by work-related issues.

Of the 31 percent of women respondents with children, 70.4 percent said they believed their choice to have a family had adversely affected their career.

Almost two fifths would take a lower paid role that offered childcare facilities, although only 12.2 percent of people surveyed worked at organisations providing childcare.

Some 65 percent of women feel there is a 'macho' culture in the IT workplace, while 69.6 percent of men do not believe this to be the case.

Over 65 percent of men said they do not think women are discriminated against, but 78.2 percent of women believe they are.

Additionally some 54 percent of women believe that being female has worked against them. The key perceived disadvantages were lack of recognition by male bosses, reduced earnings and lack of career prospects.

"Many women clearly feel that choosing a career in the IT sector restricts their freedom to have a family. In today's supposedly egalitarian society this is unacceptable," said Ray Duggins, managing director of The IT Job Board.

The number of women working in the technology sector has been falling steadily. UK IT industry trade body Intellect recently reported the proportion of female IT employees as 16 percent, down from 27 percent in 1997.

Despite the worrying results of the survey, there is evidence to suggest that the IT industry does offer senior opportunities for women. Some 86 percent of men and 74 percent of women had worked for a female boss.