Women in Computer and Information Systems Prof. P. A. Joseph Computer Science Department Slippery Rock University of PA Jason Neel Information Technology senior Slippery Rock University of PA ISECON – November 4, 2006 – Dallas, Texas

Women in American Society Women are a 51% minority Women are a 51% minority Under representation Under representation “Double Jeopardy” “Double Jeopardy” Surprise at lack of women in computing? Surprise at lack of women in computing?

Rear Admiral Grace Hopper Developed the first compiler Developed the first compiler Oversaw the development of COBOL Oversaw the development of COBOL Famous for the first computer “bug” Famous for the first computer “bug” Photo:

Some Statistics TotalUndergradCSMajorsISMajorsITMajors Female58%19%36%31% Male42%81%64%69% Total90,5514,0411, Students in Baccalaureate or Higher Degree Programs in 20 Georgia Institutions (2002) Source: “Women in Computing Programs: Does the Incredible Shrinking Pipeline Apply to All Computing Programs” by Cindy Randall, Barbara Price, Han Reichgelt

History of Computing Women Decline led to Women in Computing Conference (July 1988) Decline led to Women in Computing Conference (July 1988) Sought to overcome all minority issues in computing Sought to overcome all minority issues in computing International issue International issue

‘Cyberfeminism’ Movement Sadie Plant Sadie Plant Technology “inherently feminine” Technology “inherently feminine” “Connectionist computing” “Connectionist computing”

Cyberfeminism Groups Million Women March (October 1997) Million Women March (October 1997) GirlGeeks.org GirlGeeks.org GirlGeeks.org Association for Women in Computing Association for Women in Computing Association for Women in Computing Association for Women in Computing

Solutions for the Future How do we bring more women into computing? How do we bring more women into computing? –Overcome preconceived ideas –Recruit middle school students –Promote women already in the field

How should we recruit women? Start while women are young Start while women are young Encourage influential people to promote computer sciences Encourage influential people to promote computer sciences –High School Teachers & Counselors –More role models Maintain encouragement throughout college Maintain encouragement throughout college

Why do women avoid computing? Less experience before college Less experience before college Perception of ‘obsessed’ geeks and underground hacker culture Perception of ‘obsessed’ geeks and underground hacker culture

Solutions Provide more opportunities to gain experience before college Provide more opportunities to gain experience before college Promote the application of computing in different contexts; purpose to computing Promote the application of computing in different contexts; purpose to computing Boost confidence in those who women who do choose CS/IS Boost confidence in those who women who do choose CS/IS

Why do women choose to study computing? Women choose computer careers because… Encouragement from friends and family Encouragement from friends and family Creativity in their careers Creativity in their careers Expect careers that pay well Expect careers that pay well

The Alice Project Carnegie Mellon University Carnegie Mellon University Visual programming introduces fundamentals Visual programming introduces fundamentals Available for free at Available for free at

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Conclusions Past: Women underrepresented in computing Past: Women underrepresented in computing Present: Cyberfeminism helping to educate more women about computing Present: Cyberfeminism helping to educate more women about computing Future: More needs to be done Future: More needs to be done

For more information… GirlGeeks GirlGeeks Association for Women in Computing Association for Women in Computing Alice Project Alice Project ACM-W ACM-W

Questions? Comments? Contact: Contact: Jason Neel Information Technology senior Computer Science Department Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, PA 16057