Cyber-women of the 21st Century
We're used to hearing about the "glass ceiling" that businesswomen hit when they attempt to climb the career ladder, but traditional educational biases have served to create a "silicon wall" as well. The IWWA is helping working women to break through that wall with events like this one.by Wm. Auckerman
The realm of science and technology, including computers, has traditionally been considered a "man's world." While this Victorian attitude is changing, males continue dominate the computer science departments of most colleges and universities -- especially in Japan. And in the Japanese corporate environment, most women who work with computers find themselves relegated to what can best be described as Data-Entry Duties -- a "DED-end" rung on the corporate career ladder.
Enhancing the chances of success
The non-profit International Working Women's Association is striving to hasten change of this status quo by developing women's full potential. Founded in October 1994 as a networking and information-exchange forum for Japanese and foreign women, the IWWA seeks to promote a greater awareness of working women's issues and enhance the business skills of its members.IWWA activities have included topical lectures, social events such as wine-tastings and onsen visits, and semi-annual forums. In its most ambitious project to date, the IWWA is presenting "Cyber-women of the 21st Century" in an effort to make information technology (IT) more accessible to women. Some 300 participants are expected to attend this conference, whose theme is "Information Technology and You."
Scheduled to run from noon to 6:00 PM at Tokyo's Waseda University on Sunday, April 21, the Cyber-women of the 21st Century conference is the first major event in Japan to focus on information technology from the perspective of the working woman. This conference will introduce recent technological breakthroughs that can help today's working women develop their full potential.
A major feature of the conference will be series of panel discussions on a variety of IT-related topics. As of press time, the tentative program includes discussions (about 20 minutes each) of the following topics:
* business opportunities and job-hunting on the Internet;
* running a virtual company/home-based business;
* becoming computer savvy about DTP and databases;
* industry trends; and
* multimedia products.
A highlight of the panel discussions will be a live videoconference with the US branch of IWWA. Barbara Zimny in Chicago will talk on the topic of crossing international borders with technology.
After a Q&A period and hour-long breakout session with the panelists, there will be an open fair of hands-on demonstrations by participating sponsors, many of them on the cutting-edge of information technology. (Computing Japan is a co-sponsor, so be sure to stop by our booth and say konnichiwa.)
If you're a working woman (or even if you're not), Waseda University's International Conference Hall is the place to be on Sunday, April 21. It will be a great chance to hear about and see the latest in information technologies, meet some of today's technology leaders, and network with other working women. The admission fee for non-IWWA members is ¥6,000.
For more information and updates about Cyber-women of the 21st Century, visit the IWWA Web home page at http://www.iac.co.jp/~iwwa.
