4 ms·

Why Are Women Leaving Computer Science?

21 points by visha1v 2mo ago

visha1v 2mo ago
half of women leave the technology field by age 35
- DiscourseFan 2mo ago
  I think most women drop out of the workforce by 35
  - neuronexmachina 2mo ago
    That doesn't seem to be true: https://www.cio.com/article/201905/women-in-tech-statistics-the-hard-truths-of-an-uphill-battle.html https://www.cio.com/article/201905/women-in-tech-statistics-... >Women leave the tech industry at 45% higher rates than men, and 50% of women leave the tech industry by age 35 compared to only 20% for other industries, according to Accenture.
    - DiscourseFan 2mo ago
      Tech industry demands long hours, and most women in Tech are married to men in Tech, and by the time they are in their 30s and want to have kids, there is no need for them to have two salaries. In other industries, women are given a break if they choose to continue working after having kids, but in exchange they don’t receive promotions and are expected to spend more time at home with the kids. I have met many women who work in tech and almost none of them have kids, but I can tell some of them would like to. If they get the opportunity I imagine they would just quit.
andsoitis 2mo ago
> The number one reason women leave the field is a lack of confidence, or imposter syndrome, > “They have a computer science degree.." Haven't we been saying for a long time that a degree is not a sign of competence?
- graymalkin 2mo ago
  I think that’s to try to make those who didn’t get one feel better, but yes it’s a problem. I always shush myself when I see it.
- cindyllm 2mo ago
  [dead]
- ButlerianJihad 2mo ago
  Earning a degree in any field is surely a sign of investment and commitment.
graymalkin 2mo ago
I am a woman with a grad degree in CS. I left the field because I was BORED. The field was full of stuffy types who were only interested in money. It still is.
- telesilla 2mo ago
  Try changing the field, some areas are still exciting and full of innovation in tech. Maybe be part of a small team, or even better start your own. Lots of opportunities to find funding for women-run outfits.
  - dominotw 2mo ago
    ironic 'well actually..' response.
    - budsniffer952 2mo ago
      [dead]
    - telesilla 2mo ago
      As a woman. I didn't see the need to point it out.
- salawat 2mo ago
  Fellow here who feels the same way. Industry seems hell bent on making the world worse by shoving processors where they don't belong. If that's the best this field can be arsed to aspire to, I'll find something else to do. No FIRE is worth knowing paving the path to a dystopian hellhole.
ksudb 2mo ago
[dead]
nonethewiser 2mo ago
Half of women leave by age 35. How many men leave by age 35? Whats the baseline? Why doesn’t the article state this? Is 50% low?
- pfannkuchen 2mo ago
  What percent of them are married to men in tech and then leave the industry after they have kids, since they can afford to live on a single income at that point even in HCOL areas? I would guess a lot.
  - gracefulliberty 2mo ago
    Would also like to see the stats of men who do the same.
- x313 2mo ago
  Following the citations, the original source is this 2013 paper: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4279242/pdf/nihms580781.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4279242/pdf/nihms58... The paper compares women in STEM to women outside STEM (as the baseline). However, the paper tracks a cohort of high school/college students from 1979, meaning they would've reached 35 by the 1990s.
- neuronexmachina 2mo ago
  From one of the linked sources: https://womenhack.com/women-in-tech-statistics/ https://womenhack.com/women-in-tech-statistics/ >Women leave tech at 45% higher rates than men. [Accenture, 2024]
dominotw 2mo ago
Programming is a horrible job that most ppl hate. Women get an option to do photography while husbands play the role of soulless breadwinner. How many of us fantize about 'leaving' every day but have mouths to feed . No one ( women or men) will admit to eat, love ,pray while their partners give them health insurance and stable income being a corporate drone. Anyways this article doesnt really answer "why" despite the title.

21 points by visha1v 2mo ago

visha1v 2mo ago

half of women leave the technology field by age 35

DiscourseFan 2mo ago
I think most women drop out of the workforce by 35
- neuronexmachina 2mo ago
  That doesn't seem to be true: https://www.cio.com/article/201905/women-in-tech-statistics-the-hard-truths-of-an-uphill-battle.html https://www.cio.com/article/201905/women-in-tech-statistics-... >Women leave the tech industry at 45% higher rates than men, and 50% of women leave the tech industry by age 35 compared to only 20% for other industries, according to Accenture.
  - DiscourseFan 2mo ago
    Tech industry demands long hours, and most women in Tech are married to men in Tech, and by the time they are in their 30s and want to have kids, there is no need for them to have two salaries. In other industries, women are given a break if they choose to continue working after having kids, but in exchange they don’t receive promotions and are expected to spend more time at home with the kids. I have met many women who work in tech and almost none of them have kids, but I can tell some of them would like to. If they get the opportunity I imagine they would just quit.

andsoitis 2mo ago

> The number one reason women leave the field is a lack of confidence, or imposter syndrome, > “They have a computer science degree.." Haven't we been saying for a long time that a degree is not a sign of competence?

graymalkin 2mo ago
I think that’s to try to make those who didn’t get one feel better, but yes it’s a problem. I always shush myself when I see it.
cindyllm 2mo ago
[dead]
ButlerianJihad 2mo ago
Earning a degree in any field is surely a sign of investment and commitment.

graymalkin 2mo ago

I am a woman with a grad degree in CS. I left the field because I was BORED. The field was full of stuffy types who were only interested in money. It still is.

telesilla 2mo ago
Try changing the field, some areas are still exciting and full of innovation in tech. Maybe be part of a small team, or even better start your own. Lots of opportunities to find funding for women-run outfits.
- dominotw 2mo ago
  ironic 'well actually..' response.
  - budsniffer952 2mo ago
    [dead]
  - telesilla 2mo ago
    As a woman. I didn't see the need to point it out.
salawat 2mo ago
Fellow here who feels the same way. Industry seems hell bent on making the world worse by shoving processors where they don't belong. If that's the best this field can be arsed to aspire to, I'll find something else to do. No FIRE is worth knowing paving the path to a dystopian hellhole.

ksudb 2mo ago

[dead]

nonethewiser 2mo ago

Half of women leave by age 35. How many men leave by age 35? Whats the baseline? Why doesn’t the article state this? Is 50% low?

pfannkuchen 2mo ago
What percent of them are married to men in tech and then leave the industry after they have kids, since they can afford to live on a single income at that point even in HCOL areas? I would guess a lot.
- gracefulliberty 2mo ago
  Would also like to see the stats of men who do the same.
x313 2mo ago
Following the citations, the original source is this 2013 paper: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4279242/pdf/nihms580781.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4279242/pdf/nihms58... The paper compares women in STEM to women outside STEM (as the baseline). However, the paper tracks a cohort of high school/college students from 1979, meaning they would've reached 35 by the 1990s.
neuronexmachina 2mo ago
From one of the linked sources: https://womenhack.com/women-in-tech-statistics/ https://womenhack.com/women-in-tech-statistics/ >Women leave tech at 45% higher rates than men. [Accenture, 2024]

dominotw 2mo ago

Programming is a horrible job that most ppl hate. Women get an option to do photography while husbands play the role of soulless breadwinner. How many of us fantize about 'leaving' every day but have mouths to feed . No one ( women or men) will admit to eat, love ,pray while their partners give them health insurance and stable income being a corporate drone. Anyways this article doesnt really answer "why" despite the title.