Why is computer science a sausage fest?
stubbornella.org
Why is computer science a sausage fest?
1–10 of 155 posts
Re: Why is computer science a sausage fest?
#2As usual, I like Philip Greenspun's explanation better than all of the anecdotes and fuzzy generalizations in this blog post: http://philip.greenspun.com/careers/acm-women-in-computing http://philip.greenspun.com/careers/women-in-science
tl;dr: It's because the women who would do well in CS/STEM have much better paying, or easier, or more prestigious options available to them.
Re: Why is computer science a sausage fest?
#3 CS education works best for people who already know how
to code before they begin. CS teaches the theory behind a
practice in which they assume you already have some
skill. Women are less likely to already know, because
they don’t play video games as much.
Re: Why is computer science a sausage fest?
#4As usual, I like Philip Greenspun's explanation better than all of the anecdotes and fuzzy generalizations in this blog post: http://philip.greenspun.com/careers/acm-women-in-computing http://philip.greenspun.com/careers/women-in-science tl;dr: It's because the women who would do well in CS/STEM have much better paying, or easier, or more prestigious options available to them.
…or, you know, the directly hostile and sexist things women sometimes experience in the industry. As described in the original post.
Not to say that Greenspun is wrong in his conclusions, but when women are saying "I find it unpleasant to be in the industry because…", it seems kinda patronising to turn around and suggest that they're wrong.
Re: Why is computer science a sausage fest?
#5I suspect women aren't attracted to computer science careers as often as men because they generally like more artistic and creative ventures. In other words, most women prefer careers and interests that allow them to be hand-on empathetic with the objects and people around them. In general, computer science is hardly portrayed as such a career. It may involve aspects of these things, but women generally aren't aware of it. The role models they see are all in the same sort of areas, and the majority of their female peers are all into the same sort of things.
It creates something of an echo chamber that simply multiplies a compounding effect with dominant culture that discourages women from even entering a computer lab filled with sweaty nerds, much less think about joining them.
Re: Why is computer science a sausage fest?
#6Ive seen many articles talking about code cowboys, or the lone rockstar programmer. It might just be the places ive worked at but I have yet to see anyone who fits this description. An anti social arrogant person who makes a lot of mistakes would simply find it hard to stay hired in todays comp sci world.
Re: Why is computer science a sausage fest?
#7For the opposite reason that nursing is a taco fest.
Re: Why is computer science a sausage fest?
#8The argument that I usually have, and constantly resist, is that a) generally women just aren't as interested in CS as men, and b) that's ok, so c) why give out scholarships to make CS artificially attractive, and d) if the industry isn't suffering for the lack (arguable) what's the big deal?
But I think that the people in CS are being degraded. The women have to deal with a constant stream of rubbish, and men are being conditioned to provide it. It appears that some people are not being given full credit for their skills and work, and in an industry powered by kudos as much as money that should offend everyone.
Re: Why is computer science a sausage fest?
#9I suspect women aren't attracted to computer science careers as often as men because they generally like more artistic and creative ventures. In other words, most women prefer careers and interests that allow them to be hand-on empathetic with the objects and people around them. In general, computer science is hardly portrayed as such a career. It may involve aspects of these things, but women generally aren't aware…
"…dominant culture that discourages women from even entering a computer lab filled with sweaty nerds, much less think about joining them."
You have a good point here, but it's not just that they're sweaty, it's that all too often they're actively hostile to women – whether it's sexist jokes, an obsession with rape in DND games (all too frequent) or just the way they seem shocked that a woman could actually be good at coding. Makes things a bit unpleasant, yeah?
Re: Why is computer science a sausage fest?
#10CS education works best for people who already know how to code before they begin. CS teaches the theory behind a practice in which they assume you already have some skill. Women are less likely to already know, because they don’t play video games as much. This does not make any sense. How does playing video games translate to coding skill?
"I like video games" often translates to "I want to work in the video game industry" often translates to "I'll learn how to program."
More generally, however, enthusiasm for video games makes kids keenly aware of the hardware that makes it possible. (Even at the age of ten, kids will get into console wars citing which has the faster processor, etc.) Having that technical background from an early age, however rudimentary, makes gamers more likely to feel comfortable with programming.