Gender in Computer Science

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Gender in Computer Science
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SIGCSE

• SIGSCE is the Special Interest Group in Computer
  Science Education
• I attend the SIGCSE annual conference each year
• A common theme, this year and every year, is
  attracting women to computer scienceand keeping
  them
• Many of these same comments apply to other
  minorities
• I am very interested in this problem

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What I can do

• Not much -(
• Most losses occur during the second year
• I can give you
• some facts and figures
• some research results
• some opinions

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Figures

• Enrollment in computer science programs reached a
  peak in 1986, then declined until 1996
• There has been an upward trend from 1996 to 2000
• We dont have figures past 2000
• In 1986, female enrollment reached a peak of 40
• During the period 1986 to 1996
• Men majoring in computer science dropped by 33
• Women majoring in computer science dropped by 55
• Other minorities also dropped by larger amounts
  than white males
• Why?

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Myths

• Both men and women incorrectly believe that men
  in CS have higher GPAs than women
• Fact There is no difference in GPAs
• Fact In my MCIT program, there is no gender
  difference in GREs of admitted students
• Women who succeed in CS are often viewed as
  exceptional
• Fact Women and men are equally capable
• Both groups do equally well on assignments
• Both groups do equally well on examinations
• Fact Women do not have to be better than men
  to succeed

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Myths II

• Myth Some people just have a computer gene
• Fact From a biological standpoint, its obvious
  that there is no such thing
• Fact As with anything, there are individual
  differences in ability
• It is commonly believed (among teachers) that
  anyone can be taught to program
• Fact If you work hard, you will succeed
• No one is born with these skills
• Fact Many computer hotshots arent really very
  good
• My belief There is a positive feedback loop
  between enjoying an activity and being good at it

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Myths III

• Myth Computer programming is for loners and is
  basically an antisocial (or at least nonsocial)
  activity
• Fact Prospective employers shun loners and look
  for people who work well with others
• Fact Large programs are group efforts
• Fact Most programming methodologies are about
  how to best organize the programming team
• Fact In an educational setting, we typically
  insist on individual effort, mostly in an attempt
  to grade fairlybut this does not reflect real
  world practice

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Stereotypes

• Stereotype Computer science majors are
  intelligent but lack interpersonal skills
• Fact Like all stereotypes, there are individuals
  who fit the stereotypebut most do not
• Stereotype Successful computer science majors
  dont have a life but spend all their time at
  the computer
• Fact Almost all computer scientists do have a
  life
• Fact However, CS majors do spend significantly
  more time on schoolwork than non-CS majors
• In my personal experience Obsessive programmers
  are less likely to succeed

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Gender NON-differences

• Research results show no significant differences
  between men and women in
• College GPA
• ACT math, science, and composite scores
• Interest in majoring in CS
• Belief that CS is a worthwhile major
• Number of hours per week spent on schoolwork
• But CS majors spend more time than non-majors
• Age of first computer use
• Knowledge of what CS is all about

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More gender NON-differences

• Estimate of how many hours computer scientists
  work
• But There are differences in estimated
  compensation
• Fact Women are, on average, not as well paid as
  men
• Fact The difference is much less in the computer
  field than in most other, non-technical fields
• Importance placed on having a family
• Belief that family life and career would be
  compatible for women
• Stress level
• Support and encouragement from others
• Self esteem

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Real gender differences

• Research results show these statistically
  significant differences
• Men have higher educational aspirations
• Men value extrinsic rewards (e.g. money) more
• Men are higher in aggressiveness and dominance
• But No difference in kindness or nurturing
• Biggest difference Men are more confident of
  their own ability

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Confidence

• Confidence in ability to write a computer
  program
• Students with high math ACT scores
• Male CS majors 63
• Male non-CS majors 60
• Female CS majors 48
• Female non-CS majors 44
• Students with low math ACT scores
• Male CS majors 53
• Male non-CS majors 49
• Female CS majors 37
• Female non-CS majors 34

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Why women drop out

• According to one study, females suffer a loss of
  interest in the field, preceded by a loss of
  self-confidence
• Probable causes of loss of confidence
• Inaccurate belief that women have lower ability
• Lack of awareness of excellent income
  opportunities
• Conflict between a womans view of herself and
  (inaccurate) stereotype of computer nerds
• Stereotype threat Fear of confirming the
  stereotype
• Less playful and relaxed attitude toward computers

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Factors undermining self confidence

• (Note These are opinions, not research results)
• Computer science is hardeveryone has difficulty
• Men are less willing than women to admit to
  having difficulties, hence often appear more
  capable than they really are
• The field is wide as well as deep Youre a
  computer science major and you dont know that?
• In programming, virtually all your mistakes are
  stupid oneseveryones mistakes are stupid
  onesand its easy to mistake this for a personal
  failing

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Interesting tidbits

• Percentage of women earning a bachelors degree
  is significantly lower if the CS department is in
  the College of Engineering rather than in the
  College of Arts and Sciences
• Under-representation of women in CS appears to be
  a cultural problem
• Not true in historically black colleges and
  universities
• Not true in Greece, Turkey, France, Italy
• In one study, 30 of self-rated code warriors
  failed an assignment, compared to 15
  ofcode-a-phobes

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Conclusions

• These studies suggest that women lose interest in
  computer science because of
• The misperception that they are not as capable as
  other (especially male) students
• The (accurate) perception that they do not
  conform to the (mostly inaccurate) stereotype of
  computer nerds
• The foregoing is presented in the hope that
  having some actual information on gender
  differences will help some of you in your college
  careers

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The End