What is interesting though is how the emergence of the Internet is changing the role of computers within society. From being a tool that computes, to one that also communicates, the Internet has made computers relevant to the wider society. The implications are enormous. I predicted a number of years ago that the Internet would be a door which women would open in order to play a much greater role both economically and socially. The Internet is a network and networks encourage collaboration.
Women are natural collaborators.
The Internet brings to women access to information that was previously difficult to attain. Women have historically spent considerable time at home. The Internet supports their ability to tele-work. With the ongoing scarcity for IT workers, it makes sense for education strategies to focus on making IT a more attractive environment for girls to concentrate on. It may well be that the powerhouse economies of the next twenty years are those that best tap the huge potential that women offer.