An overview of the individual differences theory of gender and IT

The individual differences theory of gender and information technology (IDTGIT) was born out of a desire to balance the role of societal and individual factors in explaining the underrepresentation of women in the IT field. The theory’s premise is that women are not a monolithic group, all experiencing the same biases and barriers in the same ways, and therefore requiring uniform interventions. Rather, the gender gap results from environmental influences that are moderated or enhanced by one’s intersectional identity, and individual factors. Hence, the reasons for this disparity are to be found in the interaction of societal influences and individual variation in response to them. This theory is now applied beyond women to other gender minorities, and to social inclusion more generally. It was further extended by the addition of a dynamic dimension which explains the ways in which these factors exert their influence over time and context.