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If women are represented in the rest of STEM but not the T - doesn't that challenge the narrative of "social conditioning" being the root cause? What I mean is

by smokeyj 10y ago

If women are represented in the rest of STEM but not the T - doesn't that challenge the narrative of "social conditioning" being the root cause? What I mean is, there isn't anyone out there telling women that physics is cool whereas programming is not. My bet is that anyone encouraging their little girl to be a physicists would be equally enthused about electrical engineering.. but I could be wrong. I think when people decide what a good career would be, they're going off what little knowledge they have. And programmers aren't displayed on TV as big earners - but rather scrawny stinky anti-social dorks. And sadly there's a source of truth to this.. Software just isn't cool. It's actually pretty un-cool. I don't know how to change that.

yorwba 10y ago
> Software just isn't cool. It's actually pretty un-cool. I don't know how to change that. I'm currently as an exchange student in China, and every time I tell someone that I'm studying CS, they are like "Oh my god, that's so cool!". Somehow I'm still completely surprised when I hear that reaction. I have no idea what causes this perception, I need to remember to ask next time. The gender distribution in my classes is still 90%+ male, though. Somehow the different image of the field does not translate into more female students.
ForHackernews 10y ago
> doesn't that challenge the narrative of "social conditioning" being the root cause? > Software just isn't cool. It's actually pretty un-cool. I don't know how to change that. I don't see how you find this to be a conflict. If software is presented as "uncool", is that not social conditioning?