Running Head: THE LOW NUMBER OF WOMEN IN COMPUTER SCIENCE 1

The Low Number of Women in Computer Science

Kevin Apodaca

University of Texas at El Paso

RWS 1302
Low Number of Women in CS 2

Abstract

The idea that the computer science field was developed and created by males for males

and that women do not really have a place in this field has persisted throughout our history

despite the origins of computer science involving multiple females. This paper will attempt to

explore the reasons why so few young women are joining the computer science field and why the

number of women that are graduating from this field is so drastically low. By posing many

questions and taking a look at research done and surveys taken, this paper will try to explain why

these numbers are so low.

Keywords: Women, CS, computer, low number

Low Number of Women in Computer Science

It is no secret that historically, the computer science field has been male-dominated, and

it has been a male-oriented field. However, it is easy to overlook the fact that, had it not been for

a woman, the field of computer science would not exist as we know it right now. It was due to a

woman that we are able to understand and design computers and algorithms in the way that we

do at this point in time. Women have always had notable contributions to the field of computer

science and there are many conferences held all around the world to celebrate these females and

their incredible contribution to society.

Despite these incredible women and conferences held in their name, to this day the role

of women in computer science has remained low and not something that is focused on and

largely ignored by the younger generation. This paper will try to figure out why there are there so

few young women enrolling in CS in universities throughout the country. With some additional

questions that will help guide our research being:

1. How many women are actively participating in the Computer Science field in the United

States?

2. What are the actual numbers for women that are enrolling in this field

3. Is it true that women avoid computer science fields, if so how can this be changed for the

positive, if not what computer science fields are dominated/inviting for women?

4. Do high schools have something to do with why the number of women joining CS is the

way it is?
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The following text will provide clear information to each of the questions in order to provide

useful information to the reader and an insight view towards the challenges women face

while pursuing a career in computer science.

How many women are actively participating in CS in the United States?

Women make up for than half of the population on earth. They earn 57% of all

undergraduate degrees and 42% of all undergraduate math and statistics. Yet they only make

up 18% of all undergraduate computer and information sciences degrees, according to a

study done in 2012 by National Center for Women and Informational Technology.

Furthermore, according to another article published in ComputerScience.org in the early

200s claims that not only are there very few women involved in these CS-related professions,

but that the number has actually steadily declined, dropping from 35% to 25% in the last 15

years. Which is actually very dramatic a shift.

To conclude this section of the research, a graph is presented in the following page with

research done by the Department of Education, that is meant illustrate the number (in

percentage) of degrees in computer science that have been presented to women from the late

20th century to the early years of the 21st century, and the data is quite peculiar.
Low Number of Women in CS 5

! (Figure 1.)

By looking at the graph we can see that the percentage of women from its peak of

1983-1984 has steadily decline the lowest its been in the years computer science began to

arise, this total decline of 19.5% clearly shows a lot of women are losing interest in the field

and this leads to their male companions outnumbering them, which can definitely play a part

in womens confidence to become involved in the field. A very interesting point to remember

is that originally it was by female hands that this field became what it is, and looking at this

graph certainly doesnt reflect this historical contribution.

Are high schools at fault for there being very low number of women in CS?

Much of our first experiences with many different careers path happen in high school,

this is where we start to get a taste of the different careers that are out there for students to

take part in and it is the responsibility of the schools to present these careers to us in a way

that interests us and engages students to many to lean more about the career, so what do the

Computer Science classes look like in high schools. A survey conducted by the Computer
Low Number of Women in CS 6

Science Teachers Association found that the number of high schools that are offering a basic

and introductory computer science class is down by 17% (CTSA, 2012) and even more,

that the number of schools that had AP computer science classes was down by a drastic 35%

since 2005. So just looking at this number, and considering the fact that most high schools

offer Computer Science as just another elective course that doesnt count as a math or science

credit, we begin to see a problem, schools are not finding out about this field in high school,

where it is easy to introduce and get excited about multiple career paths. According to Barker

& Aspray (2006) this problem give(s) the implicit message that computer science is

superfluous, something neither important nor required.

To add to this, using data taken from surveys that were administered during the SAT

exams to 1.5 million students (data graph below), more than 60% of the students that

reported having no CS coursework in their high school, were females. That number is

incredibly high and leads to the confusion that high schools are not doing their part in getting

these young girls informed and interested in the field.

(Figure 2.)
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Are women actively avoiding the Computer Science field, if so, what can be done to

remedy this problem?

It seems that men are more drawn to fields like computer science, physics, and other

types of engineering fields. They seem to enjoy the task of taking objects apart and then

working to put them back together, but what are the reasons for why women seem to avoid

this field and having these same opportunities. Could it be that women do not have that same

deep desire to take things apart and put them back together? Engineering is a very tough field

to work in, it is filled with lots of math and problem solving, could it be that women are just

not as willing to spend countless hours messing around with things until they make

something happen?

Companies have created several different incentives to invite more women into their

company, for example, companies like Facebook, Google, Apple offer serval different

services/perks that caters to womens interests, such as 18 weeks off work, or 22 weeks if any

complications happen. In addition to paid leave and even extensions, women will also

receive a form of a bonus, this bonus is intended to be spent on baby supplies such as

food, clothing and various needs it will need once the newborn is born (7).

Taking a look at these will hopefully gain the attention of future female computer

scientists, in addition to making them more favorable in the womens community of

computer science, by making their own company look good and inspire women to become

programmers and thus diversify the companys workforce.

During an interview with a computer science student in her second year at the University

of Texas at El Paso, when asked what she thought was the reason behind the low number of

females in this field she answered that they simply dont know what computer science is: I

personally didnt know what it was until my senior year of high school (personal

communication, 2017). So this adds to the previous point that women are avoiding the field

largely because they were not made aware, in high school, of the opportunities that this field

can offer to young women (such as those listed previously by Facebook, Google, etc etc.) and

all the things that can be learned.

In conclusion, the number of incoming women to the field of computer science is too

low, and part of this is because high schools are not putting enough emphasis and dedication

into this field and inspiring young females to join. Women are just as capable as men of

succeeding before any challenge they are faced with, and because not many women are

coming into the field of computer science, the field itself is being robbed of many wonderful

and passionate people that could contribute something great and change the field for the

better.

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References

(Figure 1) By 2011, it was down to 17.6 percent. (n.d.). Women - Joanne Jacobs. Retrieved

October 21, 2017, from http://www.joanejacobs.com/tag/women/

(Figure 2) Percentage of students reporting computer coursework/experience in high school.

(n.d.). The College Board, archived SAT Data and Reports. Retrieved October 21, 2017,

from h#ps://www.ncwit.org/resources/girls-it-facts

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Lagesen, V. (2007). The Strength of Numbers: Strategies to Include Women into

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(June 2001), 27-30. DOI=http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/376134.376145

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