In computer science, a growing gender gap

The Boston Globe ^ | December 18, 2005 | Marcella Bombardieri

[A. Pole]

[...]

Today, Souvaine chairs the Tufts University computer science department, which has more female professors than male. But few younger women have followed in her generation's footsteps. Next spring, when 22 computer science graduates accept their Tufts diplomas, only four will be women.

Born in contemporary times, free of the male-dominated legacy common to other sciences and engineering, computer science could have become a model for gender equality.

[...]

When Tara Espiritu arrived at Tufts, she was the rare young woman planning to become a computer scientist.[...]The same men always spoke up, often to raise some technical point that meant nothing to Espiritu. She never raised her hand.

''I have not built my own computer, I don't know everything about all the different operating systems," she said. ''These people would just sit in the front of the class and ask these complicated questions. I had no idea what they were talking about."

[...]

On a broader level, the National Science Foundation will soon announce a new set of grants to universities, high schools, and industry groups with creative ideas for attracting women to computer science. A two-year-old organization called the National Center for Women & Information Technology has designated several schools and groups, including the Girl Scouts, to identify solutions.

[...]

The goal is to inspire more students like Katie Seyboth of Tufts. She loved math and science, but had never been interested in computer science before she took, on a whim, one of the school's introductory classes for people with no previous experience.

Soon, Seyboth was procrastinating on her other class work in order to do computer science assignments. Still, she found it ''really intimidating" when men used terms she didn't know and talked about complicated programs they wrote in their free time.

[...]

[Bon mots]

Hey, women can carry computers, can't they?

:-)

[KarlInOhio]

Introductory classes zeroed in on programming and other technical aspects of the field, rather than explaining big ideas or talking about how computing can impact society, many professors say.

I don't remember any of the teachers 101 classes in any college department wasting time talking about how their topic can impact society. Day one in chemistry started with definitions of molecules, mixtures and compounds. In physics we started with frames of reference and measurement. In electrical engineering we started with discussing voltage and electric current. Computer science started with how computers are organized and how a processor works.

[bahblahbah]

OK, just because I mention that I took programming classes in high school means in no certain terms that is what I believe that is all what computer science is. I actually transfered to the UofI from Eastern Illinois University. It was pretty obvious that those at EIU would have been just as well off getting a MCSD or some Java certification, getting a job, and doing some self study on data structures, design patterns, etc. Even at the lowest level computer science classes at the UofI, the programming aspect is relegated to a few machine problems and maybe a few test questions on the exam.

[Glenn]

They are flexing their intellectual muscles for your benefit.

I am fortunate enough to get to work with some of the finest minds in the industry. Babes still aren't attracted to "intellectual muscles", unless those muscles are layered on someone who happens to be on parole for something.

Some of the minds I get to work with are women. They are so very good at their crafts and get all my respect.

Then there is an entire other cardinality that consists of maintenance programmers who think the world owes them rewards for getting up in the morning. The ones who are constantly whining that "they aren't getting the training" they need to be great.

[SteveMcKing]

3. Be aware that a lot of the tech-speak among these guys is for 2 purposes. One is to establish a pecking order, similar to guys who have to drive faster cars with bigger stereos. (Mine is bigger than yours.) Another is to "impress babes".

No, and no.

"IEEE 802.11" is used, because that's what it is. No pecking, no babes.

[Bon mots]

[csvset]

rather than explaining big ideas or talking about how computing can impact society

You mean they didn't explain how computers would solve world hunger, stop homelessness or cure AIDS?

[Theo]

Today, Souvaine chairs the Tufts University computer science department, which has more female professors than male.

Those who can't, teach.

[theo runs and hides]

[King Moonracer]

I've been finding that the majority of programmers are male, and the majority or project managers are female.

I also believe that "project management" tends to be a work-dodge for the PM, and a good way to "pork" the client for excess billables, but thats just me....and all the other programmers, and the clients too!

[generally]

"Babes still aren't attracted to "intellectual muscles", unless those muscles are layered on someone who happens to be on parole for something."

Not always true. I know a lot of women who find intelligent men very attractive, FAR, FAR more attractive than 6-pack abs. Maybe it's because these women are intelligent - and by the way, they are not ugly - ranging from average to hot. The idea of someone who's out on parole is repulsive to me, and I'd bet to most of the women I know. (Here's a dating tip for smart guys interested in smart women: Don't be either a braggart or falsely modest. You don't have to "strut your stuff", nor do you need to play dumb. If she's smart, she'll be able to figure out that you're smart, too.)

Good points about the maintenance programmers. I've seen a lot of that, too.

[Ben Chad]

"Mr. Udall how do you write Women so well?"

"I think of a man then take away reason and accountability."

[fso301]

I've taken several programming classes over the past two years. Generally, there are one or two females in the class. In one class, there were none.

[DUMBGRUNT]

1. Why not let the people who are interested in and good at something do it? What law/rule/convention says that everything has to be equitably divided along gender/racial/lifestyle lines?

Here is the answer and a very good read.From an odd source.

Harrison Bergeron

by Kurt Vonnegut (1961)
http://instruct.westvalley.edu/lafave/hb.html

[kalee]

ping

[Chode]

let me get this straight... girls don't want to take computer classes, therefore there's a gender gap and discrimination is involved??? can i throw up my breakfast now???

[rbg81]

Discrimination my fanny! The truth is that any woman who majors in Computer Science will have $$ thrown at her and (if she graduates) her pick of lucarative job opportunties.
There are some many opportunities for women who major in CS it's unbelieveable. Yet, despite these incentives, very few women are willing to take the opportunity. This seems the opposite of the early-mid 80s when a lot of women were gravitating toward CS careers. [The fact that it's a male dominated field would also make it easier for them to meet potential mates.]

Computer science really isn't any tougher than other fields (like Math or Engineering), that have seen increases in female enrollment. It must be the geek label and the sense that jobs are being outsourced. Go figure.

[John Robertson]

Good! I'm sick of reading articles about professions and academic pursuits where women far outnumber men.

[IronJack]

Why should they train for a career in a field that is being outsourced to china, india and eventually kenya?

Yep. This isn't about women in IT. It's about IT as a viable career field. I can't in good conscience urge my son to go into programming. The industry may well not exist in this country by time he's employable.

[TalBlack]

"What are the "omputers"?"

Computers which have gone into meditation mode.