Few Women in Computer Science? Blame the Geeks!

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.

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Dumbest (and least scientific) study ever (probably made by a women scientist with big glasses, no makeup, short hair and a girlfriend in a frilly dress named Betsy).

//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).
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As a woman with a BS in computer science who likes Star Trek, video games, and coke, I find this freakin hilarious. I take it Zachary Quinto was not on any of the posters?
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I think it has more to do with the fact that the industry looks like a boy's club than that geeks are gross. I can attest to the nervousness I feel in the presence of a group of men. The more men, the more sexist their behavior. I've watched otherwise progressive men devolve into games of placing women in categories based on physical attractiveness and laugh at the ones they wouldn't go to bed with just because there were a few frat boys in the group and they felt the need to keep up. It's extremely alienating, even if they're not doing it to you, because you realise that they would if you weren't listening. I think that eventually, as more and more women enter these fields, it won't seem like such a hostile environment to prospective female students.

Of course, I'm sure I should just lighten up, am I right? Crazy chicks and their insecurities.
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I would have majored in computer science if I hadn't failed calculus and intro to CS. I still desperately wish I could have. It's the kind of environment I love. And I adore nerds and geeks. So... fail study.
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What about other fields where the men are equally geeky, into science fiction, and play video games? The stereotype covered in this article is hardly limited to the realm of computer science.
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Wow, could they be more biased and sexist? Since when do we define enjoying computer games, science-fiction memorabilia and junk food as masculine? I enjoy all those things and I know a lot of other women who enjoy them as well. The inference is that women who DO enjoy those things are masculine and therefore abnormal. It's ignorance like that that pushes women away from the sciences.

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.
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San Francisco Bay ACM started the ball rolling for this event for girls 7-10 to attract them to computer science jobs. http://dare2bdigital.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html
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I agree with Cola and BlessedBlogger. My experience had to do with my intelligence. I am no genius and was certainly treated that way, by men and women alike. I still love science and would love to be in the industry, but, that's not happening any time soon.
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I remember reading this study before. These 40 women were already decided as fine arts and humanities majors and were asked at the most basic level would you rather work in this neutral clean office or that messy office.
I would take clean office and then personalize it with *My* action figures and toys.
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Let's not forget that girls are traditionally steered away from math and science at a young age. There's going to be a lot of anecdotal evidence to the contrary (or even supporting) this study but I think cola summed it up well above, this industry, like many, is often a "boys club" that women are steered away from and can be alienated in them. Either way this is a flawed study, and to take the conclusion that the poster has is an error that overlooks the other factors involved.
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I work as a developer and I am male and I can attest to the environment often being hostile. Not just to women, but overall. It's competitive and there's a macho side to it. I've seen people brag about working til 1 AM. There's yelling when schedules slip. There's sometimes a locker room vibe. I don't know if that's exclusive to CS though. It's something that I've seen in male dominated places in other fields. I'd have to say construction sites were worse. (Was there a study on that?)

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.
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"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."

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.
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Sorry, but woman have no one but themselves to blame. The truth is, computer science is a difficult major. CompSci majors have to work all-nighters while the business majors are out "networking" in the bars. This is the real reason women stay out of CompSci.
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I am a woman, a hot one I hear and most people thing that I am in business. During my first day at Comp Sci grad class someone asked if I was lost. Till i crushed them during tests and presentations.

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..
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My son almost never plays video games but he lives and breaths computers. It is how his mind works. I love to use the internet and use the computer but that is as far as my interest goes. I want to do things related to human beings. If I was college age and loves computers as my son does I would major in computer programming no matter how many geeky guys are around. I took photography and joined the bike club even though there were no more than a couple of other women in each. The guys were great and helped me on many occasions. Do what you love and love what you do and stop worrying so much. Don't major in computer science unless you love it with a burning passion because it will get old fast.
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I am a girl, has a BS in math and minor in CS. I taught myself how to build iPhone apps and I created a personal clothing app for the iPhone and iPod touch. Computer science requires sitting in front of a computer for a long period of time alone either coding or reading documentation, and that may seem boring and lonely. Most girls enjoy being around other people, learn and do things together. I think CS lacks the social aspect. I am sure guys appreciate girls who keep a good visual presentation and vice versa. Looking geeky is not a validation of one's ability to master a machine. Girls should not need to feel they have to dress nerdy or appreciate nerdy things to fit in. Star Trek Star Wars alike were created by men and for men to fulfil their fantasies, it's annoying people assume you have to like these sci fi stories if you are in CS. Nerds don't need a makeover, the field in general needs one badly.
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