{"id":401,"date":"2022-03-01T18:34:52","date_gmt":"2022-03-01T18:34:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.computerscience.org\/?p=401"},"modified":"2023-11-08T21:39:41","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T21:39:41","slug":"women-in-computer-science-getting-involved-in-stem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.computerscience.org\/resources\/women-in-computer-science\/","title":{"rendered":"Women in Computer Science: Getting Involved in STEM"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Current State of Women in Computer Science<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a> (BLS) projects computer science research jobs will grow 19% by 2026. Yet, women only earn 18%<\/a> of computer science bachelor's degrees in the United States. Despite the high job demand, computer science remains a male-dominated field in the United States. In response, many top colleges are making efforts to recruit female computer science students, making it an ideal time for women to pursue computer science degrees.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The computer science field has been trying to appeal more to female employees by moving toward longer maternity leave and better work-life balance for working moms. However, efforts to attract women to tech-related careers need to begin in elementary school. On this page, you can learn more about why women aren't choosing tech careers and what can be done to change that.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Why Aren\u2019t More Women Involved in Computer Science?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Starting when computer technology first emerged during World War II and continuing into the 1960s, women made up most of the computing workforce<\/a>. By 1970, however, women only accounted for 13.6% of bachelor's in computer science graduates. In 1984 that number rose to 37%, but it has since declined to 18% -- around the same time personal computers started showing up in homes. According to NPR<\/a>, personal computers were marketed almost exclusively to men and families were more likely to buy computers for boys than girls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Computers are now commonplace, especially in classrooms. While it's hard to pinpoint a single reason for the lack of female computer science majors, researchers are finding that introductory computer science courses<\/a> play a big role in discouraging women from majoring in computer science. Luckily, organizations like Building, Recruiting, and Inclusion for Diversity<\/a> (BRAID) are researching ways to attract and support female CS students. Currently, 15 colleges partner with BRAID to create gender-inclusive learning environments.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The percentage of women working in computer science-related professions has declined since the 1990s<\/a>, dropping from 35% to 26% between 1990 and 2013. According to the American Association of University Women<\/a>, we can reverse this trend by removing negative connotations around women in computer science. Educators and parents must work together to help girls maintain their confidence and curiosity in STEM subjects. Professional women already in the field can become mentors, while men can help create a more inclusive workplace.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Why Should Women Want to Work in Computer Science?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Due to the marketing strategies of the last three decades, many women have developed misconceptions about computer science. While the notion of the geek coder is alive and well, many young women are unaware of the myriad jobs and opportunities available in tech.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The University of California at Berkeley experienced a revolution in their introductory computer science classes after changing how they marketed the course. What used to be known as introduction to symbolic programming is now called the beauty and the joy of computing<\/a>. As a result, in 2014 women outnumbered men in the class for the very first time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

According to the American Association of University Women<\/a>, computer science has one of the smallest pay gaps between male and female professionals, with women earning 94% of what men earn.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Discrepancies in overall male-to-female pay rates have remained stalled for the last decade, and women are greatly underrepresented in computer science fields. Only 20% of computer science professionals are women.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Increasing the inclusion of women is a sound business strategy. A study by Deloitte<\/a> found that women's choices account for up to 85% of buying decisions nationwide, and that diversity drives innovation. Though it is still commonplace to find boards and project teams without a female member, the integration of female perspectives will naturally lead to higher revenues and a better understanding of consumer marketplaces.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n

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What are Some Other Reasons for Women to Consider Entering the Tech Field?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In addition to the reasons mentioned above, many tech and computer science companies are at the forefront of progressive workplace policies. Some of the most innovative tech company benefits are included below.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Work\/Life Balance<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In a report by the New York City Economic Development Corporation<\/a>, researchers found that women working in tech companies -- particularly start-ups -- are much more likely to have a healthy work-life balance. Many tech companies support non-traditional work procedures, including videoconferencing and working from home<\/a>. Furthermore, many of these companies offer flexible hours, allowing employees to work around their personal schedules to complete projects.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Maternity Leave and Childcare<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

While the average length of maternity leave in America for salaried employees is six weeks, many technology companies provide substantial paid-leave policies for new parents. Some of the best examples of parental leave policies as included below.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFacebook continually strives toward creating a better work environment for its employees. Facebook allows employees six weeks of paid leave<\/a> to care for sick children and family members, which benefits women because they are often the ones who take on this role. Facebook also offers four months of paid maternity leave.<\/sonic-resource-list>\r\n\r\nApple also offers excellent maternity benefits<\/a>, including 18 weeks of paid maternity leave and nine weeks of unpaid maternity leave. This is higher than the industry average, which is 11 weeks of paid maternity leave and nine weeks of unpaid maternity leave.<\/sonic-resource-list>\r\n\r\nIt is no secret that Google is a trendsetter in the tech community. When it comes to paid maternity leave, they set the bar high. Google offers<\/a> mothers 22 weeks of paid maternity leave. Parents also receive a cash gift after having a child.<\/sonic-resource-list>\r\n\r\nSAS offers benefits for both birth and adoptive mothers. SAS employees<\/a> receive 12 weeks of paid maternity leave and eight weeks of paid adoption leave. SAS believes in providing mothers with time to bond with new children.<\/sonic-resource-list>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nNow that historical misconceptions have been overturned, it\u2019s time to think about how to get more women involved in computer science and foster a lifelong passion for computer science in young girls.\r\n<\/sonic-callout>\r\n\r\n

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Getting Started: How Do We Get Young Women Interested in CS?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

With the number of women studying computer science near an all-time low, it's clear that we need to take action, and early childhood education is the root of the problem. According to recent coverage from The Journal<\/a>, two-thirds of elementary-aged children indicate an interest in science; however, as they enter middle school, the percentage of interested girls falls dramatically. By high school, many girls who previously took advanced scientific courses drop them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n

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Reasons for the Decline of Girls Studying Computer Science<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The above statistics are corroborated in an extended report<\/a> from Florida Gulf Coast University and The University of Colorado, which theorizes reasons for the drop in female interest. In secondary school, less emphasis is placed on developing computer science skills in girls compared to boys. As a result, women who study STEM-related topics in college often lag behind male counterparts. Furthermore, female students lack role models, as most leaders in the field are men. Historically, scientific fields have catered to men.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

While the geek-programmer stereotype has become less popular, there is still a belief that STEM-related professions are narrow, impersonal, and unsuited for those who wish to work on a human level. In reality, computer science careers touch every part of modern human life, and many computer science positions require interpersonal skills.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Ways to Increase Girls\u2019 Interest in Computer Science<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Beginning in the mid-1980s, the number of women studying computer science and similar fields fell into decline. In recent years, this number has leveled off between 14% and 18%, establishing a baseline against which to measure new educational initiatives. Some of the ways educators and parents can work to increase girls' interest in computer science and STEM-related subjects are addressed below.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

1. Create an Equal Learning Environment<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

While boys tend to be more verbal in class, it's up to educators to engage female students and bring them into class discussions. This will increase girls' interest in the subject matter and better prepare them for college-level courses in computer science.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

2. Enact Mentorship Programs<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Girls entering the field of computer science are likely to face more resistance than in subject areas more heavily populated by females. Adults can bolster their resolve by providing examples of strong, successful females thriving in their careers. Whether by creating a mentorship program at the secondary or postsecondary level, bringing in speakers, or using female leaders as case studies, educators and parents can instill confidence in girls who pursue careers in historically male-dominated fields.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

3. Redefine the Field<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

As discussed in the previous section, the number of women in computer science and related degrees<\/a> dropped sharply in the 1980s in response to male-focused marketing for home computers. In the interim years, women have shifted to subjects typically classified under humanities or liberal arts, as explained by Forbes<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A June 2015 Newsweek<\/a> report featured Harvey Mudd College's efforts to counter this trend. Rather than pure programming, its introductory computer science course<\/a> has been reworked to focus on creative problem solving and opportunities within the field. The school also made classes less intimidating by splitting the course into two sections based on incoming students' prior programming experience. Within four years, the computer science program's female student rates rose from 10% to 40%, where they plateaued.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Harvey Mudd is one of several top computer science colleges for women<\/a>, focused on improving gender balance in the major.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

4. Make It Approachable<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

As the push to encourage more girls' to work in computer science gains momentum, a number of programs have been created to help foster interest. Some of the most innovative include:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n