Women in Computing: Underrepresentation in the Field' What to Tell Women About Computing

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Women in Computing Under-representation in the
Field. What to Tell Women About Computing?

• Jessica Young
• April 12, 2007
• CPSC 430

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• Women are a minority in computer science
  departments across the country
• 28 - BS in Computer Science (Bombardieri)
• 20 - PhD in Computer Science (Bombardieri)
• 15 - AP Computer Science Exam (Gilbert)

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(No Transcript)
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Why Women are Needed in the Field?

• Products are created by a small group of little
  variety.
• Greater diversity among those who create
  technology ensures that those technologies are
  relevant to and usable by a wider range of
  people (Roberts)

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What Can Be Done?

• the middle school/high school underclass female
  student
• the female high school senior/college freshman
• the teachers, professors, and administration.

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To the Middle School/High School Underclass
Female Student

• Are you looking for an elective course to take?
  Have you considered taking computer science?
• Variety of opportunities
• Strengthen problem solving skills
• Explore something new

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To the Middle School/High School Underclass
Female Student

• Are you intimidated by the small number of
  females taking computer science at your school or
  your lack of previous experience?
• Nationwide there are fewer females than males in
  high school computer science classes (Margolis
  Fisher)

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To the Middle School/High School Underclass
Female Student
Salem High School
(Gooding)
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To the Middle School/High School Underclass
Female Student

• Are you worried that you wont be successful in
  the class? Do you think you would be better off
  taking a class that you already know everything
  about the subject?
• females have been successful at a higher rate
  than males (Gooding)
• Curious and enjoy problem solving?

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To the Female High School Senior/College Freshman

• Are you considering majoring in computer
  science?
• Problem solving, math, and the sciences
• Variety of career opportunities
• Demand for computer science majors

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To the Female High School Senior/College Freshman

• Do you think that computer science is a male
  major and that females do not have what it takes
  to be successful?
• Major is NOT just for men!
• Women have been successful

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To the Female High School Senior/College Freshman

• I guess this sounds kind of funny, but I dont
  want to be the kind of person who stays up in
  their room late at nightsoaking in the rays from
  the computer and hunched over the keyboard. I
  just dont like that image, and I want to stay
  away from that. I mean, I like doing it, but I
  dont like it to extremes. I think its a
  stereotype, but I dont think it would have
  become a stereotype if there werent some truth
  to it. I mean, I know people who do this. I
  know someone who goes to bed early so he can get
  up in the middle of the night and type on his
  computer. And that frightens me, you know?
  (Margolis and Fisher)

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To the Female High School Senior/College Freshman

• Do you have a similar fear?
• Do not want to become the stereotype
• Stereotype does not fit everyone

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To the Female High School Senior/College Freshman

• Do you lack previous computing experience?
• In general, women have less computing experience
  prior to college than their male counterparts
  (Margolis Fisher)
• experience is not a prerequisite for success
  (Fisher Margolis)

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To the Female High School Senior/College Freshman

• Does the small number of females in the
  department scare you?
• Intimidating
• Have what is needed?

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To the Female High School Senior/College Freshman

• How do we get more women in the field in order
  to attract others to the field?
• Need for role models

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To the Teachers, Professors, and Administration

• What can you do to change this?
• Stress previous points
• Opportunities
• Computing at younger age

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Conclusion

• Introducing girls to computing at a young age
• Encourage
• Various arguments

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References

• Bombardieri, M. In computer science, a growing
  gender gap - Women shunning a field once seen as
  welcoming. The Boston Globe December 18, 2005
  cited Available from http//www.boston.com/news
  /education/higher/articles/2005/12/18/in_computer_
  science_a_growing_gender_gap/.
• Fisher, A. and J. Margolis, Unlocking the
  Clubhouse The Carnegie Mellon Experience. SIGCSE
  Bulletin, 2002. 34(2) p. 79-83.
• Gilbert, A. Computer science's gender gap.
  news.com February 8, 2002 cited Available
  from http//news.com.com/2008-1082-833090.html.
• Gooding, L., Email about Computer Science at
  Salem High School. March 2007.
• Gürer, D., Women in Computing History. SIGCSE
  Bulletin, 2002. 34(2) p. 116-120.
• Johnson, D.G. and K.W. Miller, Is Diversity in
  Computing a Moral Matter? SIGCSE Bulletin, 2002.
  34(2) p. 9-10.
• Klawe, M., Girls, Boys, and Computers. SIGCSE
  Bulletin, 2002. 34(2) p. 16-17.
• Margolis, J. and A. Fisher, Unlocking the
  Clubhouse Women in Computing. 2002, Cambridge,
  Massachusetts MIT Press.
• Prey, J. and K. Treu, What Do You Say? Open
  Letters to Women Considering a Computer Science
  Major. SIGCSE Bulletin, 2002. 34(2) p. 18-20.
• Roberts, E. Expanding the Audience for Computer
  Science. SIGCSE 2003 - Reno, Nevada February 20,
  2003 cited Available from http//www-cs-facult
  y.stanford.edu/eroberts//sigcse/expanding-the-aud
  ience.ppt.
• Roberts, E.S., M. Kassianidou, and L. Irani,
  Encouraging Women in Computer Science. SIGCSE
  Bulletin, 2002. 34(2) p. 84-88.
• Vegso, J., Interest in CS as a Major Drops Among
  Incoming Freshman. Computing Research News, 2005.
  17(3).