Challenges and Perspectives on Women's Participation in Technology: A Study on the OxeTech Program

  • Lais S. Almeida UFAL
  • Geymerson S. Ramos UFAL
  • Raquel S. Cabral UFAL
  • Eliana S. Almeida UFAL

Abstract


This study analyzes the reach and female participation in the OxeTech program, a state-level initiative for training in Information Technology. Based on the application of statistical methods to over 8500 anonymous records, a significant association was identified between gender and job category, with female underrepresentation in areas such as Development & IT, and overrepresentation in categories such as Marketing & Social Media and Creative & Design. Furthermore, women showed greater adherence to introductory courses, in contrast to the male predominance in more advanced training. These findings highlight the need for public policies focused on foundational training and female engagement in areas of greater technical complexity and leadership, aiming to expand their participation beyond support roles.

References

AlDaajeh, S., Saleous, H., Alrabaee, S., Barka, E., Breitinger, F., and Choo, K.-K. R. (2022). The role of national cybersecurity strategies on the improvement of cybersecurity education. Computers & Security, 119:102754.

Avolio, B., Chávez, J., and Vílchez-Román, C. (2020). Factors that contribute to the underrepresentation of women in science careers worldwide: A literature review. Social Psychology of Education, 23(3):773–794.

Baidoo-Anu, D. and Ansah, L. O. (2023). Education in the era of generative artificial intelligence (AI): Understanding the potential benefits of ChatGPT in promoting teaching and learning. Journal of AI, 7(1):52–62.

Bergsma, W. (2013). A bias-correction for Cramér’s V and Tschuprow’s T. Journal of the Korean Statistical Society, 42(3):323–328.

Berman, F. D. and Bourne, P. E. (2015). Let’s make gender diversity in data science a priority right from the start. PLoS biology, 13(7):e1002206.

Brasscom (2021). Demanda de Talentos em TIC e Estratégia TCEM. Acesso em Maio de 2025.

Chang, E. H. and Milkman, K. L. (2020). Improving decisions that affect gender equality in the workplace. Organizational Dynamics, 49(1):100709.

Das, B. K., Jha, D. N., Sahu, S. K., Yadav, A. K., Raman, R. K., and Kartikeyan, M. (2023). Chi-Square Test of Significance, pages 81–94. Springer Nature Singapore, Singapore.

de las Cuevas, P., García-Arenas, M., and Rico, N. (2022). Why not STEM? A study case on the influence of gender factors on students’ higher education choice. Mathematics, 10(2):239.

Fondazione Deloitte (2022). Osservatorio STEM: Rethink STE(A)M education - A sustainable future through scientific, tech and humanistic skills.

Jiang, X. (2021). Women in STEM: Ability, preference, and value. Labour Economics, 70:101991.

Nascimento, L., Lima, Y., Barbosa, C., Costa, L., Santos, A., Galeno, L., Xexéo, G., and Souza, J. (2023). Paridade de gênero no ensino superior em stem no brasil: uma análise de 10 anos. In Anais do XVII Women in Information Technology, pages 217–227, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. SBC.

Nunes, J., Escaliante, L., Silva, L., and Penze, L. (2024). A primeira Maratona Feminina de Programação do Brasil: motivações para o desenvolvimento do projeto e relatos da primeira edição do evento. In Anais do XVIII Women in Information Technology, pages 1–11, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. SBC.

Pantic, K. and Clarke-Midura, J. (2023). Social interactions and practices that positively influenced women’s retention in their computer science major. Computer Science Education, 33(2):286–314.

Pullman, A. (2018). Gendered pathways from school to work: The association between field of study and non-standard employment outcomes in Canada. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, 58:44–53.

Technology by Page Group (2021). Women in Technology: O que as empresas estão fazendo para quebrar as barreiras? [link]. Acessado em Abril de 2024.
Published
2025-07-20
ALMEIDA, Lais S.; RAMOS, Geymerson S.; CABRAL, Raquel S.; ALMEIDA, Eliana S.. Challenges and Perspectives on Women's Participation in Technology: A Study on the OxeTech Program. In: WOMEN IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (WIT), 19. , 2025, Maceió/AL. Anais [...]. Porto Alegre: Sociedade Brasileira de Computação, 2025 . p. 82-93. ISSN 2763-8626. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/wit.2025.8361.