4 ms·

Women as a whole aren't born being more inclined to go into non-CS fields. This preference is acquired at some point in childhood. I am comfortable making thi

by skwirl 13y ago

Women as a whole aren't born being more inclined to go into non-CS fields. This preference is acquired at some point in childhood. I am comfortable making this claim because we know that in the mid 80s 37% of CS graduates were women vs. 12% today. Something happened in the meantime. I don't think it is a result of supposed wage gaps (which supposedly exist in all fields) or supposed widespread sexism (as if other fields are any better). But I do think it is a problem. We have a shortage of good developers in this country and not being able to draw talent very well from roughly half the population is not helping.

dragonwriter 13y ago
> Women as a whole aren't born being more inclined to go into non-CS fields. This preference is acquired at some point in childhood. I am comfortable making this claim because we know that in the mid 80s 37% of CS graduates were women vs. 12% today. Something happened in the meantime. The impressive and oft-reported increase of female representation in the biological sciences, to the point where they've reached a majority at all levels, degree programs happened in the meantime. Related? Dunno. But something to think about.
johnbm 13y ago
Yes, what happened was that people are now more free to choose their occupation, which is shown to increase the stereotypical occupation choices of both men and women in practically every country in the world: http://psych.fullerton.edu/rlippa/abstracts_2009.htm http://psych.fullerton.edu/rlippa/abstracts_2009.htm Don't tell the feminists.
jheriko 13y ago
i strongly disagree. see the stuff i linked and research the subject. there is plenty of research showing that tech/social biases are measurable from the earliest possible ages. there are certainly lots of opinions that this is not true from sociologists and other 'almost doctor' types. and treating this matter seriously will make you unpopular with women and men alike... i won't deny wage gaps or sexism. i just think its sexist in a sort of nasty and ignorant way, to try and incentive women to do things they may not want...

by skwirl 13y ago

dragonwriter 13y ago

> Women as a whole aren't born being more inclined to go into non-CS fields. This preference is acquired at some point in childhood. I am comfortable making this claim because we know that in the mid 80s 37% of CS graduates were women vs. 12% today. Something happened in the meantime. The impressive and oft-reported increase of female representation in the biological sciences, to the point where they've reached a majority at all levels, degree programs happened in the meantime. Related? Dunno. But something to think about.

johnbm 13y ago

Yes, what happened was that people are now more free to choose their occupation, which is shown to increase the stereotypical occupation choices of both men and women in practically every country in the world: http://psych.fullerton.edu/rlippa/abstracts_2009.htm http://psych.fullerton.edu/rlippa/abstracts_2009.htm Don't tell the feminists.

jheriko 13y ago

i strongly disagree. see the stuff i linked and research the subject. there is plenty of research showing that tech/social biases are measurable from the earliest possible ages. there are certainly lots of opinions that this is not true from sociologists and other 'almost doctor' types. and treating this matter seriously will make you unpopular with women and men alike... i won't deny wage gaps or sexism. i just think its sexist in a sort of nasty and ignorant way, to try and incentive women to do things they may not want...