[roc]

> "Is that really what differentiates programming from fields with more social interaction (like sales) or fields with more of a human aspect (like health care and medicine)?"

If you're implying that programming just isn't work that most women are interested in, you'll have to more-precisely indicate what it is about programming that puts them off, given that accounting has no such problems.

Every accounting department I've ever seen is at least half female and many have a female majority.

Surely there are different skills involved, but many overlap in type [1] and it's a bit of a stretch to imply accounting is any closer to stereotypical female-dominated fields like social work, sales or health-care.

[1] Technical, precise, largely impersonal -- there's even database, script and simple application work

[wisty]

Job stability? Reasonable hours? Promotion prospects, without working like a maniac?

Women tend to value those things, often more than men.

Also, women in IT are often undervalued. A boss will assume they have no real talent, for some reason. While a guy who shows any ability will often be seen as a genius. People just don't assume that girls are hardcore hackers, while they assume that any guy who talks the talk (and wears are really bad t-shirt) is. I know I think that way, but I'm aware of it, so I can consciously compensate.

[roc]

> "Job stability? Reasonable hours? Promotion prospects, without working like a maniac?"

There are plenty of corporate programming jobs with those attributes.

[pugnusferreus]

Still depends on your boss. I used to work for a bank and my head of department dislike people who goes home before 7pm. Our official working hours is 9am - 6pm. I was called into the room once for going home at 6:15pm.

[docgnome]

That would be what you call, a terrible job.

[peterwwillis]

* > A boss will assume they have no real talent, for some reason. While a guy who shows any ability will often be seen as a genius. People just don't assume that girls are hardcore hackers, while they assume that any guy who talks the talk (and wears are really bad t-shirt) is.*

IMHO, promotion is rarely done based on merit. Welcome to corporate life.

(Also, you have to actually show your boss you are a hardcore hacker. My boss will assume I have no talent too unless I demonstrate it)