Gender Gap Persists in Computer Science Fields
When we consider the image that comes forth when we think about computer programmers, we don’t tend to quite visualize a woman body sitting behind a desk writing code all day. Instead, the popular stereotype of the antisocial workaholic comes to mind; these brilliant, yet nerdy, boys/men who sit behind a computer screen, their fingers a blur as they type out their muse in moments of caffeine induced eureka. It is hardly ever we see bodies of female representation in the school of computer studies. Unfortunately, this favor towards a male dominated image of the computer science industry directly correlates with the severe gender gap which realistically exists within the workforce. Studies have shown an apparent gap in focus between men and women who pursue a science, math, or computer studies degree during their undergrad education.
There are numerous studies that have been conducted to reach similar numbers in realizing the lack of presence that women have in the coding and computer industry. The numbers are frankly disturbing, yet only questionably shocking. To fully comprehend the culprits of the cause, it might be too apt to focus closely into the influences of early life environments to get a sense of what we’re dealing with here. In relation to the idea of being a “programmer itself”, girls are internalizing at a very young age that computers and especially, gaming, are meant more for boys than it it it meant for them. Gaming computers are advertised heavily towards the male consumer and as boys develop experience in familiarizing themselves with the technology, they are praised for their technical skills. Girls, on the other hand, are expected more to dive away from the nerdy, geeky, archetype to pursue a lifestyle of staying in their boxes. Let the boys be boys and try out new things honey, because you don’t ever have to worry about a thing. With a mindset so pervasive and detrimental towards the progress of equity in the computer work space, it;s no wonder than women do not feel inclined to chase a field that they are not comfortable with.
College undergrad course in the computer science field is dominated quite evidently by male students. The intimidation factor of being one of the only females in a classroom can by demoralizing to a young student. Unfortunately, women are required and needed to be brave so as to install further female programmers into the field to generate more equity and visible presence to represent a progressive future for our society. Young girls benefit in seeing visual representations and role models of women in particular fields that are predominated by the male presence. The diversity shared between a more varied group of workers can also succeed in producing creative fluidity for companies to develop ingenuous products and creations that may not have been possible in a homogenized work space. The gender gap in the coding business is certainly an issue that simply needs a push towards equity to move in the right direction. This direction starts, with changing the stigmas associated upon the programming business, and to allow young girls to be encouraged to pursue fields and crafts that may be beneficial to their development, rather than hinder them.
