Computer Science
Interview with Stefanie Schmidt
CAUSES
There are many theories that try to explain why women are not more involved with computers. We looked at some different causes relating to differing age levels. The following reasons are the ones that came up the most in our research. Not all apply to every case, and there are still many other reasons that women have given.
From a Young Age
1. Girls tend to not be interested with "tinkering" with electronics, computers or even building blocks such as Legos
2. Boys tend to "fall in love with computing," whereas girls usually resent computers because "[my] brother does that."
3. Most computers in the home are placed in the boys' rooms or in a common area where boys can dominate its usage
4. Fathers often spend more time with their sons doing "boy things," such as using machines or working on cars; girls tend to interact better with the mother.
5. "Boys invent things and girls use things boys invent."
6. Most computer/video games are aimed at male audiences.
From an Adolescent Age
1. All children have a general curiosity for new things when they are young, but when girls reach the teenage years they often start to believe the stereotypes that "computing is for boys."
2. At school:
- "geeks" get their name
- during free time: boys spend time on the computer, while girls spend time gossiping and reading magazines.
- Girls are more concerned with getting their homework done and therefore don't have time to "tinker" anymore.
3. Girls in middle school tend to be confident in their math and science skills, but by high school they tend to worry about their self-image. Without strong role models in computer science, their previous curiosities are no longer catered to, so they lose interest all together.
4. The phrases: "I'm not smart enough" or "I'm not skilled enough" are excuses girls use for not taking computer science classes.
5. CS courses in general are viewed as difficult and demanding.
6. In 1999, only 17% of all students that took the AP CS test were female.
7. Poor teaching often turns students away from the field.
8. Women have higher overall pass rates than men, but have a lower enrollment.
From a Social Standpoint
1. Women want to work with people; they view all computer science related occupations as "cubicle jobs."
2. Men choose this path because it's a "no-brainer"; women choose it for many other reasons (math/science related, broad/versatile, safe and secure employment, encouraged by others); both share the enjoyment of computing, but women have other motives as well.
3. Many textbooks are written in a very technical format instead of containing applicable information.
4. The CS major is structured in such a way that the early courses turn students away because of how technical they are; the lessons don't become applicable until more advanced courses are taken.
5. Women want a balance in life. They don't want computers to consume their whole life, whereas men will make it theirs.
6. More than half of all internet shoppers are women, but the designers of the internet are mostly men.