• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, September 12, 2001

A survey released by Deloitte & Touche and conducted by Roper Starch Worldwide, reveals that 60% of women currently working in the high tech industry would choose another profession if "starting out on a career" today.

The high tech industry is perceived to have attitudes and practices that favor males, according to the survey of women and men who work full-time both in high tech and more traditional fields, and have Internet access at least once a week.

Findings of the Deloitte & Touche Women in Technology surveyinclude:

- 62% of women surveyed believe a glass ceiling is a reality for women in the high technology industry, whereas 62% of men felt that this barrier is a non-issue for women in the high tech industry.

Those who perceive a glass ceiling exists cited the following reasons: - women perceived as less knowledgeable and/or qualified than their male counterparts - gender bias - sex discrimination - stereotypes - lack of women technology leaders (84% of women and 57% of men said there were too few women high tech leaders)

- 65% of respondents associate the high tech industry with men compared with 4% who associate it with women.

- Women link female success to skill, accessibility to female mentors, and education

- men attribute women's success to the prosperous economy of the past 10 years.

- 70% of those surveyed associate the high-tech industry with long working hours, compared to 24% who think they work a normal week.

- 55% of those surveyed view the high tech industry as cutthroat

"While there are women achieving stunning success in the high tech industry, they appear to be the exception rather than the rule," said Sue Molina, tax partner and national director of the Deloitte & Touche Initiative for the Retention and Advancement of Women. "There is clearly a disconnect between men and women's perceptions of what factors contribute to success in the workplace."