J. McGrath Cohoon

Toward improving female retention in the computer science major

A lthough many computer professionals believe that inherent or deeply ingrained gender differences make women less suited to the study and practice of computer science [5, 9], the results reported here demonstrate that female underrepresentation in computer science could be avoided. Women can and do succeed in computer science (CS) when conditions do not deter them. The variation that occurs in womens participation rates demonstrates that many women succeed as computer scientists in certain times and settings. Conditions affecting female retention in undergraduate computer science are identified in this article. 1 Evidence that womens success in computer science varies over time was provided in an article by Camp that appeared in Communications in 1997 [2]. In this article, Camp documented the rise and fall in the female proportion of computer science Bachelors degrees between 1981 and 1994. Camp also noted that this variation was affected by the type of college (engineering/nonengineering) in which a CS department was located. Figure 1 expands Cam-ps timeframe to the most recent available data and reconfirms that womens proportion of CS Bache-lors degrees waxes and wanes. As Figure 1 shows, women comprised 14% of CS Bachelors degrees in the U.S. in 1971; this percentage rose to 37% by 1984, and then dropped 10 percentage points over the subsequent 13 years. These temporal changes in female representation are not statistical phantoms that can be easily explained away. In particular, they are not attributable to general trends in female educational attain-ment—womens proportion of all Bachelors degrees rose steadily from 46% to 56% during this period. Furthermore, womens proportion of non-CS scientific and technical disciplines also rose during this period [7]. The temporal changes in female representation were also not attributable to the effects of newly formed CS departments—a similar rising and What causes women to discontinue pursuing the undergraduate computer science major at higher rates than men? Toward Improving Fem the Computer Sc 1 In the U.S., 69% of the female college entrants who intended to major in computer science in 1987 switched to some other major by 1991 [10]. This female switching rate compares very unfavorably with the male switching rate of 46%.

Recruiting and retaining women in undergraduate computing majors

This paper recommends methods for increasing female participation in undergraduate computer science. The recommendations are based on recent and on-going research into the gender gap in computer science and related disciplines They are intended to work in tandem with the Computing Research Associations recommendations for graduate programs (see [18] in this issue) to promote a general increase in womens participation in computing professions.Most of the suggestions offered here could improve the educational environment for both male and female students. However, general improvements are likely to be of particular benefit to women because women in our society do not generally receive the same level of support that men receive for entering and persisting in this field. Parents, friends, and classmates seldom encourage women to choose and continue in a computing discipline. Those few women who declare a computing major tend to experience continued lack of support throughout their education. They have few female peers to call on for help. Furthermore, students in their own and other majors may consider them odd. Even faculty can discourage women with unthinking remarks or with expectations based on the assumption that mens behavior and experience are the basis for success in computing majors. This lack of support can block or weaken womens commitment to computing. Moreover, when conditions in a department are generally unfavorable, those with a weakened commitment to the discipline often leave at higher rates than those who have sufficient support to overcome the conditions.

Gendered experiences of computing graduate programs

This investigation of gendered experiences in computer science and computer engineering (CSE) doctoral programs uses survey data from a nationwide stratified random sample. Analyses of data from 41 departments show that women CSE doctoral students have less confidence than men students that they can achieve their educational goals. Moreover, womens confidence is significantly affected by their comfort asking questions in class, which is in turn affected by faculty beliefs about the relationship between diversity and student quality. Program rank also has a negative effect on confidence, but affects men and women similarly.

Departmental differences can point the way to improving female retention in computer science

Departmental attrition data from one state show that the difference between male and female rates of undergraduate attrition from computer science varies by institution. This analysis suggests that departmental factors are important in attrition from CS. Some CS departments inhibit female persistence at the undergraduate level while other departments promote persistence. The observed variation encourages research that compares departmental characteristics such as structure and culture, and relates them to departmental outcomes. Shifting the research focus to departmental characteristics and outcomes will identify effective methods for retaining women.

Women in CS and biology

Common departmental characteristics and practices in computer science and biology/life science are compared for 46 departments at 23 Virginia colleges and universities. The goal of this preliminary investigation is to provide additional evidence on how departmental factors can affect the retention of female students.

Will they stay or will they go

The research reported here confirms and deepens our understanding of factors that affect womens confidence in their ability to complete a computer science or computer engineering (CSE) doctoral degree. Analysis of data from a longitudinal study of women participating in the Computing Research Associations Graduate Cohort for Women identifies the conditions or experiences that women perceive as influential. More importantly, we found that women who are not confident in their ability to complete their programs are about four times more likely to think about leaving CSE than those who begin confidently.

Gender and computing conference papers

Women increasingly publish in ACM conference proceedings and are notably productive authors.

Sexism: toxic to women's persistence in CSE doctoral programs

Using longitudinal survey data from women in the CRA-W Graduate Cohort program, we measured the prevalence of observed or experienced sexism and its impact on departure from Computer Science and Computer Engineering (CSE) doctoral programs. Our data suggest that sexist behavior is perceived less often by these women than it is by women in general. In addition, few of the women who observe sexism are motivated by it to think of leaving their CSE doctoral programs. Nevertheless, when their reason for thinking of leaving is due to sexism they observed or experienced, the odds of women actually departing are at least 21 times greater than if they thought of leaving for any other reason.

Improving gender composition in computing

Combining academic and industry representation, the NCWIT Pacesetters program works to increase the participation of girls and women in computing.

Gender and Computing

Worldwide, information technology (IT) has exhibited phenomenal growth over the past several decades. This growth underlies the creative and analytical processes for the full range of endeavors ranging from science to business and social interaction, and it powers the burgeoning IT economy. Other benefits include vast career opportunities (OECD 2012), and the implications associated with unparalleled access to information. Finally, a benefit noted in many nations is that women’s access to IT and participation in computing can be an important mechanism of economic growth and societal development. Nevertheless, women and men are seldom equal participants in this boom.