Women in Computer Science

re: Women in Computer Science

___ — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 18:36:34 GMT

Why we must bring more women in CS industry?

If we are lowering barriers for women we are lowering overall efficiency.

Do you agree that the fact that women DO NOT WANT TO WORK IN IT means that their work (statistically) due to some psuchological/physiological/other reasons is worse? Do we really want to change their mind? What is the reason?

re: Women in Computer Science

Alfred Thompson — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 19:29:30 GMT

I think we need more women in CS for two reasons. One is that we have a shortage of people that is going to get worse unless we do something. If the same number of women were in the field as men there would not be a shortage. The second, and perhaps more important, reason is that women bring a different approach to things. We need some new and different ways to look at CS problems. I look at the way business travel has changed in good ways since more women started traveling and think that women bring new ideas to a lot of things.
No one is suggesting lowering barriers that involve lowering efficiency. What people want to do it remove barriers that have nothing to do with quality or that are improper barriers for everyone.
I think that often women have different ways of looking at things and different priorities than men. Of course that is a broad brush sort of statement and does not apply to all. But different does not always mean better or worse. I think that there are very good reasons why women can be and often are better at CS than men. In the early days of the industry most programmers were women for example. Men were just in the hardware. The women I have known in CS are almost all better than average when compared to men at what they do. I think that adding more women will improve the state of the art and at the same time add to the quality of the work place. There is no down side to adding more women. There is a risk of losing greatly if we don’t.

re: Women in Computer Science

___ — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 12:18:16 GMT

My experience in working with women in IT shows, that they often tend to manage people with obvious lack of any sufficient skills (especially technical). Of course, the exceptions DO exist, but very rarely.

There is very complex situation: average CS skills of women are obviously lower than men's, but women often create comfort atmosphere in group in case they don't try to be "man in skirt" . If they "try" to be man, there is no "difference" between men and women and such a women lack this "comfort atmosphere".

re: Women in Computer Science

Alfred Thompson — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 17:36:06 GMT

I've been working in IT for a little over 30 years and my experience with women managers has all been very positive. So I don't believe that the "exceptions" are as rare as you have found. The average woman programmer I have worked with during the years has been as good or better than the average male programmer I have worked with. I think that women are naturally just better at a lot of programming tasks because they tend to plan more and work to those plans. My wife who was an outstanding programmer when she did that for a living always managed to create bug free code in less time than her male co-workers for example. I think that too many male programmers just "throw code together" until it sort of works. They produce results by working hard (lots of hours) rather than by working smart.
As for the population as a whole I do not think that there is much difference between the level of CS skills between men and women. I think the areas of skill may be different with boys learning games and girls learning communication tools.

re: Women in Computer Science

Alfred Thompson — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 17:37:22 GMT

One last comment. I notice that you are not signing your name or leaving a web link. Why is that?

re: Women in Computer Science

Pat Phillips — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 21:12:03 GMT

Sexist remarks based on stereotypes are exactly the reasons that so many women and girls stay away from, or leave computer science and high tech careers. The good ‘ole boy network and boy’s club mentality is alive and well! The sad thing about this is that our society, and indeed the world, can not afford to have only half of the population (less if you consider other unrepresented groups) excluded either overtly or culturally from any endeavor. Diversity insures rich complexity to every field and career. If you think technology will make greater and faster strides through a “closed club” approach you are sadly mistaken.

As you read the list below ask yourself “Why?”

 The percentage of women receiving bachelor-level degrees in computer or information sciences has declined from a peak of 35.8 percent in 1984 to 26 percent today.

 Among the science and engineering workforce, computer science is the only area where women's participation has declined since 1993.

 One study indicates girls in high schools make up only 5 - 7% of the students in the most challenging IT courses such as network design.

 In 2004 only 11% of Computer Science AB Advanced Placement test takers were girls. Computer Science is the ONLY AP subject to have lost ground in the number of girls participating. If you want proof of female abilities take a look at the numbers of girls in AP physics, calculus, biology and chemistry!

 According to the Coalition to Diversify Computing, the number in the advanced degree pipeline is not increasing by much, either. In fall 2004, 1.3% of enrolled PhD students were Hispanic, 1.8% African-American, and only 0.2% Native American.

If these numbers aren’t scary enough check out “Will Fewer Computer Students Hurt U.S. IT Market?” by Robb Drew. Technology education is stagnating in the US while other nations are forging ahead. Microsoft Research figures highlight the fact that Russia graduates 180,000 people a year with the necessary skills to make it in IT. India came in next with 60,000, and then China with 50,000. No other country in the developing world, including the U.S., comes close.

Wm. A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering sums it up. “…I believe that engineering is profoundly creative. Second, as in any creative profession, what comes out is a function of the life experiences of the people who do it. Finally, sans diversity, we limit the set of life experiences that are applied, and as a result, we pay an opportunity cost - a cost in products not built, in designs not considered, in constraints not understood, in processes not invented……”

How did we get to such a state?
Cultural expectations perpetuated by families and schools are probably the greatest culprit in this blame game. The subtle discouragements for this and encouragements for that are so pervasive I doubt we recognize them when thrown in our faces.
Amazing but true: I know a science teacher who thinks it is ok to tell 'dumb blonde' jokes because he also tells 'dumb jock' jokes.
We are all, at every level and in every way, products of our culture. Change is difficult and requires work.

Changing one’s attitude
Recognize that programming is not the sum total of IT.
Acknowledge that we need individuals skilled in IT in many fields.
financial and money management – banks, investment and estate planning
social services agencies – health, family, childcare
transportation – from airlines to shipping
communications – public relations, business, marketing
telecommunication – Internet, telemarketing centers, technical support

If you have not seen this book, I strongly suggest you get it and put it on your desk.
American Women in Technology – An Encyclopedia by Linda Zierdt-Warshaw, Alan Winkler, & Leonard Bernstein It will break down a few long held stereotypes.

There is little dispute that the first, and likely greatest, abstract/representational thinker was Ada Byron Lovelace. If you have a chance, watch this movie: To Dream Tomorrow - Ada Byron Lovelace.

Obviously, I am passionate on this topic. Sorry for such a long reply but you got me going! For me the bottom line is fairness. It is only fair that every field, every endeavor be open and, most importantly, welcoming to every qualified individual. Being discouraged from participation for whatever reason is plan wrong.

Perhaps the feeling that women developers aren’t as good as men (which I do not believe is true) is because many of the best are driven away to the other fields that recognize quality can wear pants, skirts, knickers or even tutus!