Transcript Gender

Gender in Computer Science
26-Jul-16
SIGCSE
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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 science—and keeping them
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There was very little new this year, so I’m just using last
year’s slides (with minor modifications)
Many of these same comments apply to other minorities
I am very interested in this problem
What I can do
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Not much :-(
Most losses occur during the second year
I can give you:
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some facts and figures
some research results
some opinions
Figures
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Enrollment in computer science programs reached a peak in
1986, then declined until 1996
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During the period 1986 to 1996:
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There has been an upward trend from 1996 to 2000
We don’t have good figures past 2000, but the trend is downward again
At this university, the trend is definitely downward
In 1986, female enrollment reached a peak of 40%
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?
Myths
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Both men and women incorrectly believe that men in
CS have higher GPAs than women
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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”
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Fact: Women and men are equally capable
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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
Myths II
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Myth: Some people just have a “computer gene”
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Fact: From a biological standpoint, it’s obvious that there is
no such thing
Fact: As with anything, there are individual differences in
ability
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Fact: If you work hard, you will succeed
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It is commonly believed (among teachers) that anyone can be taught
to program
No one is born with these skills
Fact: Many computer “hotshots” aren’t really very good
My belief: There is a positive feedback loop between
enjoying an activity and being good at it
Myths III
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Myth: Computer programming is for “loners” and is
basically an antisocial (or at least nonsocial) activity
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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 fairly—but
this does not reflect “real world” practice
Stereotypes
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Stereotype: Computer science majors are intelligent but
lack interpersonal skills
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Fact: Like all stereotypes, there are individuals who fit the
stereotype—but most do not
Stereotype: Successful computer science majors “don’t
have a life” but spend all their time at the computer
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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
Gender NON-differences
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Research results show no significant differences
between men and women in:
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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
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Age of first computer use
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But: CS majors spend more time than non-majors
But: Males generally have more access to computers
Knowledge of what CS is all about
More gender NON-differences
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Estimate of how many hours computer scientists work
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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
Real gender differences
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Research results show these statistically significant
differences
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Men have higher educational aspirations
Men value extrinsic rewards (e.g. money) more
Men are higher in aggressiveness and dominance
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But: No difference in kindness or nurturing
Biggest difference: Men are more confident of their own
ability
Confidence
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Confidence in ability to write a computer program:
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Students with high math ACT scores
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Male CS majors: 63%
Male non-CS majors: 60%
Female CS majors: 48%
Female non-CS majors: 44%
Students with low math ACT scores
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Male CS majors: 53%
Male non-CS majors: 49%
Female CS majors: 37%
Female non-CS majors: 34%
Especially interesting:
High-scoring female CS
students vs. low-scoring
male non-CS students
Why women drop out
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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:
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Inaccurate belief that women have lower ability
Lack of awareness of excellent income opportunities
Conflict between a woman’s view of herself and (inaccurate)
stereotype of “computer nerds”
“Stereotype threat”: Fear of confirming the stereotype
Less playful and relaxed attitude toward computers
Factors undermining self confidence
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(Note: These are opinions, not research results)
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Computer science is hard—everyone has difficulty
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Men are less willing than women to admit to having
difficulties, hence often appear more capable than they
really are
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The field is wide as well as deep: “You’re a computer
science major and you don’t know that?”
In programming, virtually all your mistakes are stupid
ones—everyone’s mistakes are stupid ones—and it’s easy to
mistake this for a personal failing
Interesting tidbits
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Percentage of women earning a bachelor’s 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
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Not true in historically black colleges and universities
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Not true in Greece, Turkey, France, Italy
In one study, 30% of self-rated “code warriors” failed
an assignment, compared to 15% of “code-a-phobes”
Job prospects
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The information sector has the second highest projected job growth rate.
Publishing, the Internet, and telecommunications should see real output climb
to $1.6 trillion by 2014. A fifth of this will be Internet-related. With real
growth in the information services sector targeted to be "an aggressive 8.5
average annual percent," this part of the economy can anticipate a jobs boom.
If you're technologically-inclined, your career prospects are bright.
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http://www.worldwidelearn.com/education-advisor/indepth/which-careers-are-projected-to-increase-in-demand.php
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The highest projected job growth rate is “home health aide”
New data show students' interest in the discipline is in a free fall. The
number of newly declared computer-science majors declined 32 percent from
the fall of 2000 to the fall of 2004, according to a report released this month
by the Computing Research Association, which represents computer scientists
in industry and academe. Another survey, from the Higher Education Research
Institute at the University of California at Los Angeles, shows that the number
of incoming freshmen who expressed an interest in majoring in computer
science has plummeted by 59 percent in the last four years.
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http://chronicle.com/free/v51/i38/38a03101.htm
Conclusions
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These studies suggest that women lose interest in
computer science because of:
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The misperception that they are not as capable as other
(especially male) students
The misperception that job prospects are declining
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
One more thing...
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This is a bit of personal advice, based on anecdotal
evidence, rather than on research results:
If you are a woman, you are likely to have a much
harder time if you are the first and only woman in their
research or IT department
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Mostly for guys:
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If you think men are inherently better at computer stuff than
women, get over it
If a woman joins the company where you work, do not
assume it is her job to make the coffee
The End
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The scientists measured the size and strength of claws of both male and female crayfish,
and then monitored how they performed in competitive bouts. They found crayfish use
claw size to determine the winners of the most aggressive disputes. For female crayfish
the size of the claw was an honest indication of how strong they were. However, claw
size of males was not a good indicator of their strength. Males were routinely bluffing
their opponents with weak claws to achieve dominance. They used claws more for
intimidation than actual strength.
-- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070402101947.htm