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Gender and Computing
Joanne McGrath Cohoon
Why Few Females Pursue Computing
Evidence on factors affecting women’s recruitment and retention
PART 1
Reasons few women pursue computing
Lack of information/misconceptionsEducational policies allow choices influenced by stereotypes Stereotypes reduce confidence and interestLittle support
and encouragement
I don’t wanna sit in front of a computer
all day- Carter 2006
Lack of Information and Misconceptions
• Computer science is what? Programming? Excel, Word?
• Few students, parents, or teachers know what computer scientists do
• Too many sources misinform and reinforce stereotypes
• Men chose for games• Women chose for use of the skills
Policies Allow Stereotype-Based Choice
Carter 2006
Charles & Bradley 2006
Too Little Support & Encouragement
• Peers and authorities • You’re studying what?
• Women need to explain their choice of CS
…but men don’t»- Cohoon 2006
• Isolation• Feeling like you do not belong»- Kissinger et al. 2009
Stereotypes Reduce Confidence and Interest
• Cultural belief: Disconnect between “feminine” and “technical”
- Lagesen 2005
• Stereotype threat: Fear of confirming negative beliefs about my group• Hinders performance• Affects choices and aspirations
• Leads to harsh personal standards, opting out if not met
• Inhibits feelings of fit- Correll 2004
• Stereotype threat: Fear of confirming negative beliefs about my group• Hinders performance• Affects choices and aspirations
• Leads to harsh personal standards, opting out if not met
• Inhibits feelings of fit- Correll 2004
Stereotypes are good and bad
• Valuable mental shortcuts for generalizing knowledge to other situations
• May lead to mistakes - miscategorization African
Americans
Common Mistaken Stereotype: Feminine ≠Technical Lagesen 2005
• Stereotype threat• Fear of confirming negative beliefs about my group
• Hinders performance• Affects choices and aspirations
• Leads to harsh personal standards, opting out if not met
» - Correll 2004
• Stereotype threat• Fear of confirming negative beliefs about my group
• Hinders performance• Affects choices and aspirations
• Leads to harsh personal standards, opting out if not met
» - Correll 2004
Stereotypes can create threatening situations
Not just about gender, e.g., age stereotypes reduce memory effectiveness - Chasteen et al. 2005
Stereotype Threat masks ability and reduces learning and persistence• Remove threat and Anglo women test better- Good et al. 2008
• Note-taking skill reduced by stereotype threat (ST)- Appel et al. 2011
• Feelings of belonging impaired by ST- Good et al. 2012
Good, Aronson, Harder, 2008
Calculus Test Results
ST is easy to trigger and particularly affects motivated students
• Gender imbalance in room
• Stereotyped physical space
• Attention called to gender
• Belief that ability is inherent
Interventions that work
• Invoke positive stereotypes
• Increase feelings of belonging
• Build confidence
Invoke positive stereotypes or personal characteristics
– McGlone & Aronson 2006
Increase feelings of belonging and computing professional identity
• Foster belief in growth of intellect
• - Good, Rattan, Dweck 2012
• Provide intentional role models
• - Marx et al. 2005
Create community- Marx et al. 2005
Build Confidence
•• Mastery experiences• Role models• Verbal persuasion - Bandura
Conclusion
• Teachers can create an environment that fosters ability, learning, and persistence
Computing is a Crucial High School Course
NCWIT ResourceBy
J. McGrath Cohoon
PART 2
Computing offers great careers It’s where the jobs are We’re preparing too few students
Take-aways
• Computer science studies computers and problem-solving processes, including their • Principles• Designs• Applications• Impact
CS & IT are about creation and problem solving, not use
22
IT is pervasive
IT is a driver of the U.S. and global economy
IT is a critical tool of national security
IT drives science and technology
IT is changing the economic and social foundations of our society
information technology1: all forms of technology used to create, store, exchange
and use information in its various forms
2: the design and use of computers and communications to improve the way we live, learn, work, and play
Computing shapes the world we live in
Walter Bender, “Program or Be Programmed” TED Talk
1. Software Engineer2. Mathematician3. Actuary4. Statistician5. Computer Systems Analyst
• According to CareerCast
Best Jobs in America 2011
Three of the top ten occupations are computing
•Systems Engineer
•IT Project Manager
•Network Security Consultant
•Manage large complex projects
•Plan, organize, and oversee the team on a computing project
•Protect important computer systems from infiltration
Source: CNNMoney.com, Best Jobs in America, 2011
Computing offers exciting work that affects our world and the people in it
Create technology for
•Tracking endangered dolphins
•Mobile forensics labs for
instant analysis at crime scenes
•GPS systems that guide blind
people
•Scanning DNA for childhood
diseases
•Designing and displaying new
fashions
•Restoring and preserving art
work
Source: dotdiva.org
COMPUTER SCIENTISTS GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES
Technology for human rights•Design secure databases to record human rights abuses while shielding the identities of victims or witnesses
•Create tools that help ordinary people collect extraordinary amounts of money for important causes
Computer Scientists work in every industry
29
Source: dotdiva.org
Computing occupations are well paid
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Excellent Job Opportunity Expected
Source: BLS Occupational Employment Projections to 2020
Computing Offers More Jobs than other Sci & Engineering Fields
Employment in Major Occupational Groups Projected for 2020, in thousands
Source: BLS – Employment Projections to 2020
BLS Projected 2020 Occupational employment for jobs requiring college degree only
CS
30% of jobs for college grads will be in computing
Too few graduates to meet predicted demand in 2020
Degrees = 2011, from IPEDS Completion dataBLS Data on 2020 projected job openings for largest computing occupations
We could more than double graduates if CS drew from the majority
Now that you know
Data on computing careersHow diversity can help meet workforce needs
Work to offer high quality, inclusive CS in high school!
NCWIT is the National Center for Women & Information Technology
Our coalition includes more than 250 universities, corporations, and non-profits.
Mobilizing for Change: NCWIT
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Join the C4C campaign by contacting
Jane Krauss [email protected]
Visit NCWIT www.ncwit.org/c4c