What causes the scarcity of women in the field of computer science? While some pointed out that girls aren't attracted to math and science in high school, a new study by Sapna Cheryan of University of Washington revealed another factor: they're repulsed by geeks!
"When people think of computer science, the image that immediately pops into many of their minds is of the computer geek surrounded by such things as computer games, science-fiction memorabilia and junk food," said lead researcher Sapna Cheryan, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Washington. "That stereotype doesn't appeal to many women who don't like the portrait of masculinity that it evokes." [...]
In the first experiment, about 40 male and female students entered a small classroom that either contained objects stereotypically associated with computer science, such as Star Trek posters, video game boxes and Coke cans, or non-stereotypical items such as nature posters, art, a dictionary and coffee mugs. (The students were told to ignore these objects because the room was being shared with another class.)
Then, the students filled out questionnaires about their attitudes toward computer science.
In the geeky environment, women were significantly less interested than men in computer science, while there was no gender difference for the non-stereotypical classroom. Female students in the stereotypical environment said they felt less similar to computer-science majors than did those in the classroom that wasn't geeked out.
//see how fun it is to make random biased assumptions on little to no real data//
I'd interpret the study (if you can call a sample set of "about 40" to be a real study) to prove what most people already know - young women are shallow (no big surprise there to anyone who's raised teenage girls).
Of course, I'm sure I should just lighten up, am I right? Crazy chicks and their insecurities.
I loved science and technology and I wanted to love math but the teachers I had made me feel excluded and unwanted in those fields. As a woman I often feel that way around men now, not because their maleness is intimidating but because their attitude is. I don't want to stereotype all men, obviously there are men who treat women with respect regardless of the occasion or situation, but a lot of guys treat women interested in math/science/technology/gaming as if we're either to ignorant to really understand it or some sort of rarity like an albino deer.
Women will get involved in these fields more when they don't feel excluded, oppressed, disregarded and under appreciated. In other words, when we're treated with as much respect as the men in the room.
Gosh, which one seems like it'd be worth the tuition?
I would take clean office and then personalize it with *My* action figures and toys.
There are probably a lot of reasons why women don't go into CS as much. I would note the statistics classes I had, which were quite technical, had a lot of women in them, maybe half or more. The Operating Systems class I took though, had less than 10% women in it and it was a requirement for the CS degree.
As far as this study, I can see dumb inferences being made from it, ie, women don't like Sci Fi posters or something. "That stereotype doesn’t appeal to many women who don’t like the portrait of masculinity that it evokes." I'd be inclined to assume they don't like the indication of unprofessionalism it evoked in them as compared with the other non-tradional workplaces, (rightly or wrongly).
I'd be interested in just hearing directly from female college students why they weren't going for CS degrees. Something as subjective as why you go into a particular field isn't going to be easy to study scientifically.
Interesting. I'd imagine that'll decrease as time goes on. I've worked with older guys who came from a time when there were no women around. Now that's rare.In my experience anyway. My previous project manager was a woman. The GM of the place where I work is a woman. Probably 1/4 of the professors I had in CS were women.
I agree with the premise of this study, that CS and 'Nerds' are a daunting group. there is a definite group mentality but its based more on show boating and fear of people realizing just how little you do know that it is about any actual women being intimidated by a physical environment. As Necronomoc recoversy said;...post from the 50's. The study misses its mark by making a stupid physical space argument.
No doubt its an intimidating environment. But for human reasons. I always felt this field is about showing off and he/she who shows off the most is considered the expert when we should use measures that other industries use like licenses for doctors or law or engineering. Maybe then we would be less needing to be closed off and engage other non tech people more..