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This is a good example of why we say that the plural of anecdote isn't data. Even if you had two boys, that wouldn't be at all surprising, right? Statistically

by inimino 11y ago

This is a good example of why we say that the plural of anecdote isn't data. Even if you had two boys, that wouldn't be at all surprising, right? Statistically, most kids aren't going to be interested in computer science. Most children of computer scientists aren't going to go into computer science. Most people don't pick the same major that their parents did, across any and every field. It's only looking at the broader statistics across all kids that we see these tremendous gender imbalances. It's not surprising that any particular young women aren't interested in computer science, but what's surprising is that practically none are. You can attribute that to inherent differences in interest or aptitude, but to do so is to disregard the strong social signals that programming is "for boys". If art was as overwhelmingly male-dominated as computer science is, would your daughter still have developed her interest in it in the first place? That's not as easy a question to answer.

Wildgoose 11y ago
I agree that I can't expect my children to necessarily follow in my footsteps, however the point I was attempting to make was that my daughters weren't interested in maths and computing even after having been actively encouraged to take such an interest. (I have a son as well - he's studying Engineering at University). Meanwhile, you haven't addressed the data that the majority of subjects are female dominated. Psychology for example is 75% female, and yet men are three to seven times more likely to commit suicide than women - yet another gender imbalance that seems to get ignored. All my life I have heard demands that something must be done about any issue where men are in the majority, but at the same time a deafening silence when the reverse is true. A recent study has shown that when applying for tenure-track positions in university science departments that female candidates are now twice as likely to be chosen as equally qualified men. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/04/14/study-finds-surprisingly-that-women-are-favored-for-jobs-in-stem/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/04/1... That suggests that the current male dominance in STEM subjects is actually despite the same pro-female bias that we see elsewhere.

by inimino 11y ago

Wildgoose 11y ago

I agree that I can't expect my children to necessarily follow in my footsteps, however the point I was attempting to make was that my daughters weren't interested in maths and computing even after having been actively encouraged to take such an interest. (I have a son as well - he's studying Engineering at University). Meanwhile, you haven't addressed the data that the majority of subjects are female dominated. Psychology for example is 75% female, and yet men are three to seven times more likely to commit suicide than women - yet another gender imbalance that seems to get ignored. All my life I have heard demands that something must be done about any issue where men are in the majority, but at the same time a deafening silence when the reverse is true. A recent study has shown that when applying for tenure-track positions in university science departments that female candidates are now twice as likely to be chosen as equally qualified men. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/04/14/study-finds-surprisingly-that-women-are-favored-for-jobs-in-stem/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/04/1... That suggests that the current male dominance in STEM subjects is actually despite the same pro-female bias that we see elsewhere.