WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 1 The Effect of the Internet on Women in Science and Engineering My interest in this topic My interest in this topic  Superior female participation in my on-line class forums  Higher grade averages for females than for males in on-line courses  Papers that I had collected on the topic  Internet as impacting on negative factors in female education Can I get others involved? Can I get others involved?

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 2 The Issue The representation of women in the field of computer science is low The representation of women in the field of computer science is low  Several factors have been proposed as discouraging female participation  Internet mechanisms may mitigate these specific factors  Distance learning, in particular, may be a positive factor for women (and minority groups) in computer science education Yet representation in mathematics, medicine, and science has improved regardless of those factors Yet representation in mathematics, medicine, and science has improved regardless of those factors

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 3 Taulbee Surveys Percentage of women: Doctorates Earned in CS 17.5%15%16% Assistant Professors 9%14%14% Associate Professors 8%13%14% Full Professors 2.7%8%8%

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 4 Taulbee Surveys % of CS bachelor’s degrees awarded to women % of CS bachelor’s degrees awarded to women % of CS bachelor’s degrees awarded to women % of CS bachelor’s degrees awarded to women

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 5 Current Estimates In CS, parity with males will not be reached until using current trends In CS, parity with males will not be reached until using current trends In science and engineering in general, women should reach parity in earned doctorates by In science and engineering in general, women should reach parity in earned doctorates by –Computing Research News; May 2002

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 6 Discouragement versus the Internet Cultural bias Cultural bias  Education is for males since they are the “family support”  Immigrant cultures are sometimes biased ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  And yet, this bias is true for other sciences where women have mainly overcome it The Internet can help:  The Internet exposes families and students to a wider cultural view  Females now total more than 50% of Internet users  Web sites advertising opportunities and women in the field can target parents and girls

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 7 Discouragement / The Internet Sexual harassment Sexual harassment Gender disparagement Gender disparagement~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And yet, women have dealt with these in other sciences And yet, women have dealt with these in other sciences Gender can be hidden on the Internet Harassment and gender disparagement are less likely because of software (paper) trail that will be left

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 8 Discouragement / The Internet Lack of role models Lack of role models~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And yet, women have dealt with this in other sciences And yet, women have dealt with this in other sciences The Internet provides a large geographic area from which to obtain role models MentorNet and other virtual communities provide role models and helping hands

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 9 Different communication styles / The Internet Males are generally more aggressive in their speech Males are generally more aggressive in their speech Males appear to be more self confident Males appear to be more self confident Females appear to be more differential in their speech Females appear to be more differential in their speech~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And yet, women have dealt with this in other sciences And yet, women have dealt with this in other sciences Female writing skills are typically better Participating off-line (not real time) lets women check their work and thus have more confidence in their entries On-line courses can guarantee “turns” in communications  We require forum entries

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 10 Time and safety concerns Females still do the bulk of care-giving Females still do the bulk of care-giving Travel during late evening studies and work is more dangerous for women Travel during late evening studies and work is more dangerous for women~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And yet, women have dealt with this in other sciences And yet, women have dealt with this in other sciences Much Internet work can be completed as time is available No geographic limitations No travel is required on the Internet

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 11 Discrimination versus the Internet Studies at MIT, for example, show that women are not awarded equal salaries, space, honors, resources as men Studies at MIT, for example, show that women are not awarded equal salaries, space, honors, resources as men~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Although women have not surmounted discrimination in sciences and business, that has not prevented their strong entrance into other fields. Although women have not surmounted discrimination in sciences and business, that has not prevented their strong entrance into other fields. Internet support groups can provide some assistance to women in these struggles

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 12 Is Computer Science for Women? Computers are used as toys by boys but as tools by girls Computers are used as toys by boys but as tools by girls~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And yet, in there was a larger percentage and absolute number of women in undergraduate CS even though the material was at a less abstract level. And yet, in there was a larger percentage and absolute number of women in undergraduate CS even though the material was at a less abstract level. Is mathematics for girls? Is mathematics for girls? Fisher – customize curriculums, aided by Internet instructors

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 13 Is Computer Science For Women? Perhaps girls who look for careers consider CS to be incompatible with raising a family Perhaps girls who look for careers consider CS to be incompatible with raising a family Perhaps CS is not considered rewarding enough Perhaps CS is not considered rewarding enough CS has the reputation of tekkies staying up all night CS has the reputation of tekkies staying up all night Many CS jobs do have crazy hours Many CS jobs do have crazy hours Media gives CS a bum rap Media gives CS a bum rap The Internet allows work from home – specifically appropriate for women with small children Contrast working at home for CS to medicine, nursing, elementary school teaching These opportunities must be publicized

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 14 Enhance traditional courses using the Internet The web is a resource for obtaining material The web is a resource for obtaining material  Research can be done in available time is a powerful communication tool is a powerful communication tool  Women are more willing to ask a question by than in class  Answers should generally be forwarded to entire class The Internet is useful for team communication The Internet is useful for team communication

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 15 Enhance traditional courses using the Internet Class material, such as syllabi, slides, etc. can be posted on web sites Class material, such as syllabi, slides, etc. can be posted on web sites  Notes can be easily obtained if classes are missed Material from educational mailing lists can be forwarded to classes as relevant Material from educational mailing lists can be forwarded to classes as relevant If we can get professors in different fields to use Internet enhancement, women might get interested in the field (back door) If we can get professors in different fields to use Internet enhancement, women might get interested in the field (back door)

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 16 On-line courses Class material is posted on web sites Class material is posted on web sites Required forum entries is chief tool of communication between teacher and students Required forum entries is chief tool of communication between teacher and students  Males are limited in “hogging” discussion  Students post entries as time permits  Useful for care givers  Students have more time to think over the material and their answers

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 17 On-line courses There are few geographic or time restrictions There are few geographic or time restrictions It is easier to have multiple faculty members teach classes It is easier to have multiple faculty members teach classes  In particular, top women faculty can be included in part of multiple high level courses It is easier to tailor courses to female strengths and interests It is easier to tailor courses to female strengths and interests

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 18 Grade distribution in 15 FDU web courses GradeWeight#women # men Weighted-women Weighted – men A A B B B C C C F Totals (3.6)327.07(3.3)

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 19 Distribution by classes Class#womenGPA#menGPA Intro to CS(7/01) DB (1/98,1/01,7/01) Dist. DB (9/01) Competitive Adv.(1/02) File Sys (12/01) MIS (1/97,9/98) MISII(9/97,1/01) Networks (9/98, 9/99,9/00,9/01)

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 20 The Internet and Multiculturalism Factors that favor women generally assist minorities Factors that favor women generally assist minorities  Virtual support groups  Geographically diverse teachers  Written participation rather than oral  Time factor  Diverse Internet reference material, perhaps in a foreign language  A web class as a virtual community

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 21 Areas of necessary research Gather on-line course statistics for: Gather on-line course statistics for:  Other on-line programs at FDU  Other schools  Traditional classroom programs, to compare with on-line programs Questionnaires to women about what is encouraging/discouraging about on-line courses Questionnaires to women about what is encouraging/discouraging about on-line courses

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 22 Areas of necessary research Utilize the Internet for dissemination of opportunities and advantages of CS for women Utilize the Internet for dissemination of opportunities and advantages of CS for women  Web pages on women scientists that stress advantages of CS – work from home, job satisfaction, family life Advertise internet enhancement tools for traditional courses Advertise internet enhancement tools for traditional courses