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Women in Computer and Information Systems

Women in Computer and Information Systems. Jason Neel Information Technology senior Slippery Rock University of PA. Prof. P. A. Joseph Computer Science Department Slippery Rock University of PA. ISECON – November 4, 2006 – Dallas, Texas. Women in American Society. Women are a 51% minority

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Women in Computer and Information Systems

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

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

  3. Rear Admiral Grace Hopper • Developed the first compiler • Oversaw the development of COBOL • Famous for the first computer “bug” Photo: http://hopper.navy.mil

  4. Some Statistics 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  13. The Alice Project • Carnegie Mellon University • Visual programming introduces fundamentals • Available for free at http://www.alice.org

  14. Graphic: http://www.alice.org

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

  16. For more information… • GirlGeeks http://www.girlgeeks.org • Association for Women in Computing http://www.awc-hq.org • Alice Project http://www.alice.org http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06088/677530-115.stm • ACM-W http://women.acm.org

  17. Questions? Comments? • Contact: Jason Neel jnn6866@sru.edu Information Technology senior Computer Science Department Slippery Rock University Slippery Rock, PA 16057

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