[Nyororin]

I apologize for the gender mixup. You think I`d know better as it irritates me when people assume I`m male. Argh.

Either way - I don`t really think that actual numbers of a gender in a specific field of work means much of anything in the long run. As much at it is denied, women and men definitely prefer different careers and in general have different interests. There are exceptions (Like me) but it`s not an empty stereotype.
Saying that fewer women in IT careers doesn`t mean that they`re not being allowed into the field. It may be that they just *don`t want to do it*.
No one ever brings up "Fewer women in construction!" because women generally don`t want to do manual labor.

The biggest point is whether women have the *choice* available to them. In my experience, in Japan, they do. It doesn`t matter which path they actually choose.