Why more women aren't "geeks"

CNET ^ | August 12, 2005 | Stefanie Olsen

[nickcarraway]

Where are all the women who forsake social outings to stay up all night writing computer code and read science fiction?

Most of those computer "geeks" (as the stereotype goes) live in countries that mandate math and science courses through the teenage years.

That's one of the conclusions of a new study exploring the gender gap in computer science, a profession dominated by men. Professors of sociology at the University of California at San Diego and Western Washington released a study Friday that showed that women are vastly underrepresented in computer science in 21 nations--Germany, Czech Republic and Belgium being among the top countries with few women in tech.

That is because those as well as most countries are influenced by the notion that men and women are naturally suited to different occupations. But what's different is that their schools do not require curriculum in math and science, and therefore encourage fulfilling those roles, according to the findings.

In South Korea, a nation with the highest number of women in computer science, math must be studied through 12th grade, and science through 11th. Ireland, Sweden, Turkey and the United States were also among nations with the highest penetration of women in technology.

[muawiyah]

That technology is penetrating women all the time ~ is that what they call it these days?

Am I on the right thread?

[scott says]

"...the highest penetration of women..."

...um....a....I.....oh,boy, I better not say anything...LOL

[Dog Gone]

I'm not touching that final sentence at all.

[darkwing104]

Oh my my...

[Darkwolf377]

For anyone who's not sure, if you post a "penetration" joke, the answer is "Hell yeah! You're a geek!" :)

[CzarNicky]

...with the highest penetration of women in technology.

I've seen animes that started out this way...

[al baby]

highest penetration of women

I would not google that with a 10 foot pole

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Where are all the women who forsake social outings to stay up all night writing computer code and read science fiction?

They are around but for some reason women tend to balance such things better. Most female geeks of my acquittance tend to have at least a few close friends. They might not go on social outings but they tend to interact more on a face to face basis with other humans.

[scott says]

um....ah....gee....ah,..go ahead....

[Mr. Jeeves]

Where are all the women who forsake social outings to stay up all night writing computer code and read science fiction?

In the same town with all the men who spend their days shopping for shoes with their friends and reading Cosmo. ;)

[al baby]

Ok I did and you got me

[Kuehn12]

Women are naturally social and communicative. They readily form social groups, and they are nurturing. I was in the medical field which require communication and empathy, and so it was overwhelmingly female.

Geeks don't posses these qualities and many men don't have these qualities. So, social problems can occur more in men than women.

[scott says]

hehe...what no posting of pics? lol!
<img src= ????

[RightWhale]

That Stefanie Olsen has a way with words.

[al baby]

Nope. I am on the soon to be baned list as it is. I must be mindfull of my posts.

[freedumb2003]

ONe Girl Geek, comin at ya:

[scott says]

..definitely a "champion".....

[meowmeow]

We're out here - but we're happily married to geek guys, cleaning our gadget-filled homes, cooking great dinners, taking care of the garden and all the regular stuff that women do. When we get a few minutes of down time, then it's time to get back to building our dream recipe software, or cuddling up with a favorite Vonnegut or Asimov. And no, we are not particularly social.

[DameAutour]

Where are all the women who forsake social outings to stay up all night writing computer code and read science fiction?

tentatively raises her hand