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Research

Computer Science Continues To See Gender Gap

If the attitudes of high school students are a good predictor of eventual career choices, the future will continue to see computer science fields dominated by males. According to new research released by ACM and the WGBH Educational Foundation, compared with girls, more than twice as many boys see computer science as a "good" or "very good" choice as a college major. What's more, four times as many boys cited computer science as a "very good" career choice.

The report (PDF) is part of a larger, multi-stage effort called New Image for Computing that looks to answer the question of why interest in computer science is waning in the United States and to promote computer science as a career choice. For the first phase of the effort, researchers surveyed 1,406 college-bound teens in December to determine the attitudes of high school students.

What it found was that 52 percent of all student viewed computing, computer science, and information technology as good or very good potential choices for college majors. By this measure, the computing category is in the top 3, virtually neck and neck with business/management/marketing (55 percent positive) and art/music/design (53 percent positive).

However, by gender, 74 percent of boys cited computing/computer science/information technology as a good or very good choice, compared with only 32 percent of girls. Broken down by ethnicity and gender, as seen in the following chart, white females had the lowest positive response to computer science as a major. Hispanic males had the highest.

The story was similar when it came to students' views about computer science as a career choice. Fewer overall saw computing, computer science, and information technology as a good or very good career choice (46 percent overall). For boys, it was 67 percent; for girls, it was 26 percent. White girls, again, had the most negative view of computer science, while Hispanic males had the most positive.

According to the report, the top positive drivers toward computer science were creating and discovering new things and working in a cutting-edge field. The negative drivers making a difference in people's lives and working in an "interconnected, social, and innovative way." In other words, people who ranked these last two as high priorities for their career choices ranked computer science low on their list.

"We know that the number of computer science majors is not meeting projected workforce needs," said John White, ACM CEO and co-principal investigator for the project, in a statement released to coincide with the report. "Many factors contribute to the low interest in computer science, but the image of the field is a key element in current perceptions among this population."

The report's authors said that, owing to the gender gap revealed in this initial study, more emphasis will be placed on girls as a "special focus audience" when it comes to creating messages designed to influence college-bound students to pursue computer science as a major and as a career.

A complete copy of this first-phase New Image for Computing report, funded by the National Science Foundation, is available as a free download in PDF format. It can be accessed here.

Comments

Tue, Jul 21, 2009

We all know girls are as smart as guys; however, percentage of females go into science related fields is lower compared to males is probably family related issues. Although I love math, physics, chemistry, engineering, and computer science, I didn't go into computer science field was because I didn't want to deal with intensive project deadlines. I have another full-time job at home that is being a mom and I don't want to burn out when I get home. I wonder how many females out there who love science but don't go in science field because of the same reason I have.

Wed, Jul 15, 2009

I am discouraged by the stats. As a female IT professional, I too feel obligated to go out and promote why IT is a good career choice. One observation is that the stats do not address asian students' views.

Fri, Jul 10, 2009 MC Univ of Michigan

As a woman trying desperately to break into IT, it seems difficult. The opportunites are few and far between due to the recent requirements of job experience due to economic down turns. Woman are at a huge disadvantage when it comes to long term experience in the IT field. Every year I talk to middle schoolers, girls and boys alike about the IT field. I will continue this practice and hope to see a change in gender roles played in the IT field.

Wed, Jun 10, 2009 Caron Colorado

This article has motivated me, as a successful woman in IT, to get out and personally deliver the message to the girls in high school. These girls need to be informed of the life enrichment they can receive working in this industry. Let's keep encouraging these girls every way we can.

Wed, Jun 10, 2009 Janine Loveless Muscatine, IA

After working as a femanle IT programmer, systems analyst, professor, I have graduated in 1979 as one of the 2 girls in a group of 30 graduating students. As a higher education teacher I agree with Donna, but I have also seen the lack of High School preparation in minority girls (and boys). They come to the IT door but give up after the first semester (unsuccesful). Very sad. What could we do to make this situation better?

Fri, Jun 5, 2009 Donna Schot Nashville, TN

As a female working in IT/Web in higher education I have experienced this gender gap. However, the ladies of IT at this institution are going strong and growing in numbers. I would like to think that the survey results might have shown an increased interest in CS/IT/Web if the students were given exposure to a successful female role model in IT/Computer Science. I wonder if they would think differently if they were offered a full understanding of the scope of career choices, knew of the opportunities for amazing professional growth, and knew of the nice salary ranges possible in IT/Web. I say more career days in high schools need to include a female role model who can show them the IT/Web/Computer Science light.

Thu, Jun 4, 2009 VF Colorado

I am concerned the negative response by women is based upon the view that the industry is dominated by arrogant white guys. These you women have undoubtedly have contact with condescending dudes that treat them as though the were stupid. I wouldn't want to work with them either. Don't like it much when I work with them as a woman in the industry. I work in one of the few shops where if you call IT, a woman will probably answer. That makes us really rare! A survey of science grads found that if a woman is teaching entry level classes, the probability for a woman graduating in the sciences increases, while for men there was no effect. Computer Science may be similarly impacted.

Thu, Jun 4, 2009 MzK CA

Good article, but being a female in CSCI and about ready to retire....very very sad. I guess we can blame inherited women's lib, and a complete social attitude change in what it means to be a "cool gal" in today's society. Brains are out; sexiness is in! Dear young women of today: please watch "Criminal Minds" and the very cool linux gal Garcia or the wonderful NCIS character Abby! Be like them! :)

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