Most of you probably have already figured this out, but I think the reason there are few women in IT is that unless we have a role model (a male or female relative in IT) it is not normally a field which a lot of women naturally feel drawn to for various reasons.

In my own experience, computers (PCs) were not available to me until I was out of college. I didn't grow up learning how to build things and take them apart. Heck, my husband and father STILL insist on doing any upgrades on MY computers and they aren't exactly proficient at it either. No one took my interest in computers very seriously until I started creating applications and (hesitantly) showing them to consultants at work. Internet has been the most helpful source of help. I have been lucky to find a lot of people, mostly men, who encouraged my learning and pointed me to other resources. I think that is very cool.