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/misconceptions Educational policies allow choices influenced by stereotypes Stereotypes reduce confidence and interest Little 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 American s

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 Note-taking skill reduced by stereotype threat (ST) -Appel et al Feelings of belonging impaired by ST -Good et al 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 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 Resource By 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 in  for  ma  tion tech  nol  ogy 1 : 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 Engineer 2.Mathematician 3.Actuary 4.Statistician 5.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 data BLS 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 careers How 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 Visit NCWIT