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I suspect women aren't attracted to computer science careers as often as men because they generally like more artistic and creative ventures. In other words, mo

by Keile 16y ago

I suspect women aren't attracted to computer science careers as often as men because they generally like more artistic and creative ventures. In other words, most women prefer careers and interests that allow them to be hand-on empathetic with the objects and people around them. In general, computer science is hardly portrayed as such a career. It may involve aspects of these things, but women generally aren't aware of it. The role models they see are all in the same sort of areas, and the majority of their female peers are all into the same sort of things. It creates something of an echo chamber that simply multiplies a compounding effect with dominant culture that discourages women from even entering a computer lab filled with sweaty nerds, much less think about joining them.

mattdw 16y ago
"…dominant culture that discourages women from even entering a computer lab filled with sweaty nerds, much less think about joining them." You have a good point here, but it's not just that they're sweaty, it's that all too often they're actively hostile to women – whether it's sexist jokes, an obsession with rape in DND games (all too frequent) or just the way they seem shocked that a woman could actually be good at coding. Makes things a bit unpleasant, yeah?
- andymorris 16y ago
  For pretty much all of my coding life, I distanced myself from the other people doing CS. I stayed and worked hard at it because I enjoy it, and definitely out of no love for the "dominant culture". Yes, we're all a socially inept bunch of geeks, whatever. Socially inept girls should fit right in, and the rest of the girls can do what I did - ignore it, and just focus on learning.
- Tichy 16y ago
  I am male and I would consider the people you describe to be unpleasant, too. Either I didn't encounter that many of them, or I did a better job ignoring them than the average woman. It's not as if you have to put up with that kind of behavior (when was the last time you were FORCED to join a D&D game??).

by Keile 16y ago

mattdw 16y ago

"…dominant culture that discourages women from even entering a computer lab filled with sweaty nerds, much less think about joining them." You have a good point here, but it's not just that they're sweaty, it's that all too often they're actively hostile to women – whether it's sexist jokes, an obsession with rape in DND games (all too frequent) or just the way they seem shocked that a woman could actually be good at coding. Makes things a bit unpleasant, yeah?

andymorris 16y ago
For pretty much all of my coding life, I distanced myself from the other people doing CS. I stayed and worked hard at it because I enjoy it, and definitely out of no love for the "dominant culture". Yes, we're all a socially inept bunch of geeks, whatever. Socially inept girls should fit right in, and the rest of the girls can do what I did - ignore it, and just focus on learning.
Tichy 16y ago
I am male and I would consider the people you describe to be unpleasant, too. Either I didn't encounter that many of them, or I did a better job ignoring them than the average woman. It's not as if you have to put up with that kind of behavior (when was the last time you were FORCED to join a D&D game??).