Gender Differences in the Information Systems Managerial Ranks: An Assessment of Discriminatory Practices

Abstract

This paper examines the extent to which gender discriminationis a force effecting the senior managerial ranks of the informationsystems (IS) occupation. While the employment trends of women inthe IS occupation is encouraging, we present data which suggeststhat IS is not immune to the problems of gender discrimination.Analyzing data gathered by the Society for Information Management(SIM), we find several serious problems suggestive ofdiscriminatory practices. First, a disproportionate majority ofsenior IS management is male. Second, women receive lower salariesthan men even when controlling for age, education, job level andtenure within the organization.