Interest in ICT Studies and Careers: Perspectives of Secondary School Female Students from Low Socioeconomic Backgrounds

The under-representation of females in information and communication technology (ICT) fields of study and careers continues to attract considerable attention. This article discusses findings of a research study that investigated interest in ICT studies and careers among female secondary school students. The investigation focused on girls from schools in the Western suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, home to families with low socio-economic status and students exposed to "educational disadvantage." The article outlines the demographic background of the participating girls, their experiences with ICT, self-efficacy of ICT skills, and their preferences for future studies and careers in ICT. It also analyzes factors that might have influenced the girlsʹ attitudes towards ICT studies and careers, including their ethnic background, exposure to ICT at school and home, and perceptions of ICT. The article concludes with suggestions for future research.