More Web Proxy on the site http://driver.im/

article

Women in computing: what brings them to it, what keeps them in it?

Author:

Joy TeagueAuthors Info & Claims

ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, Volume 34, Issue 2

Pages 147 - 158

https://doi.org/10.1145/543812.543849

Published: 01 June 2002 Publication History

Abstract

Career stereotyping and misperceptions about the nature of computing are substantive reasons for the under-representation of women in professional computing careers. In this study, 15 women who have work experience in several aspects of computing were asked about their reasons for entering computing, what they liked about working in computing, and what they disliked. While there are many common threads, there are also individual differences. Common reasons for choosing computing as a career included: exposure to computing in a setting which enabled them to see the versatility of computers; the influence of someone close to them; personal abilities which they perceived to be appropriate for a career in computing; and characteristics of such careers which appealed to them. Generally, women working in the field enjoy the work they are doing. Dislikes arising from their work experiences are more likely to be associated with people and politics than with the work they do --- and they would like to have more female colleagues.

References

[1]

Anonymous. (1994). Boom careers for the coming years. Black Enterprise, 24(7), 79-89.

[2]

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (1996). Persons Not in the Labour Force, Australia (6220.0): Australian Bureau of Statistics.

[3]

Bachler, C. J. (1998). How to tackle the IT worker shortage. Workforce, 77(7), 52-57.

[4]

Barker, G. (1999, 14 January). Brain drain crisis in Australia's IT world. The Age, pp. 1-2.

[5]

Beech. (1991). Women and WIT. In I. V. Eriksson, B. A. Kitchenham, & K. G. Tijdens (Eds.), Women, Work and Computerization: Understanding Bias in Work and Education (pp. 331-346). Amsterdam: North-Holland.

[6]

Bell, M. (1994). By George, she's got IT. In A. Adam, J. Emms, E. Green, & J. Owen (Eds.), Women, Work and Computerization. Breaking Old Boundaries - Building New Forms (pp. 225-230). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Digital Library

[7]

Bruce, M., & Adam, A. (1991). Women's Career Paths in Artificial Intelligence. In G. Lovegrove & B. Segal (Eds.), Women into Computing (pp. 294-300). London: Springer-Verlag.

Digital Library

[8]

Bryant, L. (1991). Removed from power. In G. Lovegrove & B. Segal (Eds.), Women into Computing (pp. 56-58). London: Springer-Verlag.

Digital Library

[9]

Buchanan, R., & Carbone, A. (1998). Women studying computing - Employment perceptions and realities. In J. Verbyla (Ed.), Fifth Australasian Women in Computing Workshop (pp. 13-18). University of Queensland, Brisbane.

[10]

Burgetz, B. (1991). Needed: The Systems Apprentice. CMA Magazine, 65(5), 28.

[11]

Busch, T. (1995). Gender differences in self-efficacy and attitudes toward computers. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 12(2), 147-158.

[12]

Camp, T. (1997). The incredible shrinking pipeline. Communications of the ACM, 40(10), 103-110.

Digital Library

[13]

Capell, P. (1995). Nerds get best jobs - Tough guys finish last. American Demographics, 17(8,), 13-14.

[14]

Careers Guide '93. (1993, 17 May). The Age, pp. Supplement.

[15]

Chisholm, S. W., Ceyer, S. T., Friedman, J. I., Hopkins, N., Kleitman, D., Hewitt, J. N., Matthews, J. L., Hodges, K. V., Potter, M. C., Rizzoli, P. M., Royden, L., Silbey, R. J., & Stubbe, J. (1999). A Study on the Status of Women Faculty in Science at MIT. The MIT Faculty Newsletter, XI(4), http://web.mit.edu/fnl/women/women.html.

[16]

Clarke, V., & Teague, J. (1992). Girls, Have You Considered Computing. Geelong: Deakin University.

[17]

Clarke, V., & Teague, J. (1996). Characterizations of computing careers: Students and professionals disagree. Computers and Education, 24(4), 241-246.

Digital Library

[18]

Clarke, V. A., & Chambers, S. M. (1989). Gender-based factors in computing enrolments and achievements: Evidence from a study of tertiary students. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 5, 409-429.

[19]

Clarke, V. A., & Teague, G. J. (1994). Encouraging girls to study computer science - should we even try? Australian Educational Computing, 9(1), 17-22.

[20]

Couger, J. D., Davis, G., Dologite, D. G., Feinstein, D. L., Gorgone, J. T., Jenkins, A. M., Kasper, G. M., Little, J. C., Longenecker, H. E. J., & Valacich, J. S. (1995). IS '95: Guideline for undergraduate IS curriculum. MIS Quarterly, September, 341-358.

Digital Library

[21]

Craig, A. (1997). Women and business computing: Where to from here? GATES, 4(1), 13-19.

[22]

Craig, A. (1998). Changing times - The perceptions of women studying computing in the 90s. In J. Verbyla (Ed.), Fifth Australasian Women in Computing Workshop (pp. 27-32). University of Queensland, Brisbane.

[23]

DEET. (1990). Education and Training Needs of Computing Professionals and Para-professionals in Australia. (Vol. 1). Canberra: (Department of Employment Education and Training Economic and Policy Analysis Division), Australian Government Publishing Service.

[24]

Domozetov, C. (1986). The specificity of the participation of women on the introduction of computing technology in two areas of work., Internationalen Symposium on Noue Techfologien und Sozialpolitik . Linowsee bei Rheinsberg.

[25]

Durndell, A. (1991a). Paradox and practice: gender in computing and engineering in Eastern Europe. In G. Lovegrove & B. Segal (Eds.), Women into Computing (pp. 392-400). London: Springer-Verlag.

Digital Library

[26]

Durndell, A. (1991b). The persistence of the gender gap in computing. Computers and Education, 16(4), 283-287.

Digital Library

[27]

Durndell, A., & Lightbody, P. (1993). Gender and computing: Change over time? Computers and Education, 21(4), 331-336.

Digital Library

[28]

Durndell, A., & Thomson, K. (1997). Gender and computing: A decade of change? Computers and Education, 28(1), 1-9.

Digital Library

[29]

Edgar-Nevill, V. (1991). Management: Practical experiences in the UK and Canada. In G. Lovegrove & B. Segal (Eds.), Women into Computing (pp. 301-309). London: Springer-Verlag.

Digital Library

[30]

Edwards, P. A. (1993). Effective IS attitudes in the 90's. Journal of Systems Management., 44(5), 17-20.

[31]

Frenkel, K. A. (1990). Women and computing. Communications of the ACM, 11(11), 34-46.

Digital Library

[32]

Gilbert, J. (1994). The best jobs in America. Money, 23(3), 70-74.

[33]

Greenbaum, J. (1994). Windows on the workplace: the temporization of work. In A. Adam, J. Emms, E. Green, & J. Owen (Eds.), Women, Work and Computerization. Breaking Old Boundaries - Building New Forms (pp. 295-309). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Digital Library

[34]

Grundy, F. (1996). Women and Computers. Exeter: Intellect Books.

[35]

Gunson, N., & Fielder, P. (1991). Does a masculine management style deter women applicants? In G. Lovegrove & B. Segal (Eds.), Women into Computing (pp. 211-216). London: Springer-Verlag.

Digital Library

[36]

Gunter, K. (1994). Women and the information revolution: Washed ashore by the Third Wave. In A. Adam, J. Emms, E. Green, & J. Owen (Eds.), Women, Work and Computerization. Breaking Old Boundaries - Building New Forms (pp. 439-452). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Digital Library

[37]

Guyon, J. (1998). The global glass ceiling and ten women who broke through. Fortune, 138(7), 102-103.

[38]

Hall, R. M., & Sandler, B. R. (1982). The Classroom Climate: A Chilly One for Women? Washington, D. C.: Project on the Status and Education of Women, Association of American Colleges.

[39]

Hemenway, K. (1995). Human nature and the glass ceiling in industry. Communications of the ACM, 38(1), 55-62.

Digital Library

[40]

Holtgrewe, U. (1994). Everyday experts? Professionals' women assistants and information technology. In A. Adam, J. Emms, E. Green, & J. Owen (Eds.), Women, Work and Computerization. Breaking Old Boundaries - Building New Forms (pp. 121-128). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Digital Library

[41]

Horner, M. S. (1970). Feminity and successful achievement: A basic inconsistency. In Judith Bardwick et al (Ed.), Feminine Personality and Conflict (pp. 45-74). Belmont, California: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.

[42]

Isaacs, E. (1996). Gender discrimination in the workplace: A review. Communications of the ACM. 38(1), 58.

Digital Library

[43]

Johnson, B. (Ed.). (1991). Single-sex classes for science in a co-ed setting. (Vol. 1). The University of Melbourne, Australia: Key Centre for Teaching and Research in School Science and Mathematics.

[44]

Jones, S. (1991). Why do we want to see more women in computing? In G. Lovegrove & B. Segal (Eds.), Women into Computing (pp. 59-65). London: Springer-Verlag.

Digital Library

[45]

Kahn, S. E., & Schroeder, A. S. (1980). Counsellor bias in occupational choice for female students. Canadian Counsellor, 14, 156-159.

[46]

Kay, J., Collins, P., Lublin, J., Poiner, G., Prosser, M., Bishop, R., & Watson, K. (1986). An Investigation of the Status of Women at Early Stages of Professionally Accredited Tertiary Computer Science and Data Processing Programmes. Sydney: University of Sydney, Basser Department of Computer Science.

[47]

King, J. (1997). IT labor emergency prompts Feds to study, fix shortage. Computerworld, 31(40), 1,14.

[48]

King, J. E., Rimmer, R. J., & Rimmer, S. (1993). Her Brilliant Career: Opportunities in Information Technology (TR C93/05): Deakin University.

[49]

Klawe, M., & Leveson, N. (1996). Women in computing: Where are we now? Communications of the ACM, 38(1), 29-35.

Digital Library

[50]

Lane, P., Clarke, V., & Teague, J. (1992). Girls, Have You Considered Computing? {Video}. Geelong: Deakin University.

[51]

Lewin, T. (1990, May 19). Winner of sex bias suit set to enter next arena. The New York Times, pp. 7.

[52]

Lips, H., Foster, H., & Frantzve, J. L. (1991). Gender, computers and power in the workplace. In L. J. Rennie, L. H. Parker, & G. M. Hildebrand (Eds.), Action for Equity: The Second Decade. The Sixth International GASAT Conference (Vol. 2, pp. 716-724). The University of Melbourne, Australia: Key Centre for Teaching and Research in School Science and Mathematics.

[53]

Lovegrove, G., & Hall, W. (1991). Where are the girls now? In G. Lovegrove & B. Segal (Eds.), Women into Computing (pp. 33-44). London: Springer-Verlag.

Digital Library

[54]

Martin, J. (1995). How does your pay really stack up? Fortune, 131(12,), 79-86.

[55]

McLennan, W. (1996). Labour Force Australia 1978-95 (6204.0). Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.

[56]

Milner, A. (1991). Action research: primary schoolgirls and new technology. In G. Lovegrove & B. Segal (Eds.), Women into Computing (pp. 87-96). London: Springer-Verlag.

Digital Library

[57]

Mintchell, G. (1998). Is there a shortage of engineers? Control Engineering, 45(2), 21.

[58]

O'Rourke, J. (1993). Mentor project targets female undergrads. Computing Research News, 5(4), 3-5.

[59]

Pearl A., Pollack, M. E., Riskin, E., Thomas, B., Wolf, E., & Wu, A. (1990). Becoming a computer scientist. Communications of the ACM, 33(11), 47-57.

Digital Library

[60]

Pomerleau, A., Daniel Bolduc, Gerard Malcuit, and Louise Cossette. (1990). Pink or blue: Environmental gender stereo-types in the first two years of life. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 22, 359-367.

[61]

Probert, B. (1992). Gender and technology at work. CIRCUT Newsletter, 4(8), 9-10.

[62]

Purves, S., Wealands, E., Schwarz, V., Alen, J., Deans, H., & Steward, J. (1988). Primary Strategies: Continuing the Change for Equity, Careers Options for Girls. Victoria: Ministry of Education.

[63]

Reinen, I. J., & Plomp, T. (1997). Information technology and gender equality: A contridiction in terminus? Computers in Education, 28(2), 65-78.

Digital Library

[64]

Ridgway, G. J. (1993). Computing/Mathematics at Deakin University, Geelong Campus. Geelong: Deakin University.

[65]

Rimmer, R., & Rimmer, S. (1994). Brilliant careers in information management. GATES, 1(2), 8-17.

[66]

Rowe, M. P. (Undated). Barriers to Equality: The Power of Subtle Discrimination to Maintain Enequal Opportunity : Unpublished report by the special assistant to the president of MIT.

[67]

Sampson, S. N. (1991). Progress of women in employment in science related areas of work: the Australian picture. In L. J. Rennie, L. H. Parker, & G. M. Hildebrand (Eds.), Action for Equity: the Second Decade. Contributions to the Sixth International GASAT Conference (Vol. 3, pp. 88-97). The University of Melbourne, Australia: Key Centre for Teaching and Research in School Science and Mathematics.

[68]

Sanders, I., & Galpin, V. (1994). A survey of attitudes to computing at the University of Witwatersrand. In A. Adam, J. Emms, E. Green, & J. Owen (Eds.), Women, Work and Computerization. Breaking Old Boundaries - Building New Forms (pp. 209-223). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Digital Library

[69]

Sandler, B. R., & Hall, R. M. (1986). The Campus Climate Revisited: Chilly for Women Faculty, Administrators, and Graduate Students. Washington, D.C.: Project on the Status and Education of Women, Association of American Colleges.

[70]

Saunders, J., & McGinnis, M. (1989, Date unknown). Letter to the editor. Encouragement needed. International Herald Tribune.

[71]

Schwartz, L. A., & Markham, W. T. (1985). Sex Stereotyping in Children's Toy Advertisements. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 12, 157-170.

[72]

Shashaani, L. (1993). Gender-based differences in attitudes towards computers. Computers and Education, 20(2), 169-181.

Digital Library

[73]

Spertus, E. (1991). Why are there so few female computer scientists? (MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Technical Report 1315): MIT.

Digital Library

[74]

Stewart, E., Hutchison, N., Hemmingway, P., & Bessai, F. (1989). The Effects of Student Gender, Race, and Achievement on Career Exploration Advice Given by Canadian Preservice Teachers. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, 21, 247-262.

[75]

Teague, G. J. (1997). A structured review of reasons for the underrepresentation of women in computing. In J. Hurst (Ed.), 2nd Australasian SIGCSE Conference (pp. 91-98). The University of Melbourne: The Association of Computing Machinery, Inc.

Digital Library

[76]

Teague, G. J. (1998). Personality type, career preference and implications for computer science recruitment and teaching. In P. Strooper (Ed.), Australasian Computer Science Education Conference '98 (Vol. 1, pp. 155-163). Brisbane: The Association for Computing Machinery, Inc.

Digital Library

[77]

Teague, G. J., & Clarke, V. A. (1991). Fiction and fact: Students' and professionals' perceptions of women in computer science. In I. V. Ericksson, B. A. Kitchenham, & K. G. Tijdens (Eds.), Women, Work and Computerization: Understanding and Overcoming Bias in Work and Education (pp. 363-375). Amsterdam: North-Holland.

[78]

Teague, G. J., & Clarke, V. A. (1993). Attracting women to tertiary computing courses: Two programmes aimed at secondary level. SIGCSE Bulletin, 25(1), 208-212.

Digital Library

[79]

The Age. (1999, 18 January). Tertiary places '99. The Age, pp. Supplement.

[80]

Tijdens, K. (1991). Women in EDP departments. In I. V. Eriksson, B. A. Kitchenham, & K. G. Tijdens (Eds.), Women, Work and Computerization: Understanding and Overcoming Bias in Work and Education (pp. 377-390). Amsterdam: North-Holland.

[81]

Truman, G. E., & Baroudi, J. J. (1994). Gender differences in the information systems managerial ranks: An assessment of potential discriminatory practices. MIS Quarterly, June, 129-141.

Digital Library

[82]

Uden, L. (1991). Gender bias: the east-west bias. In G. Lovegrove & B. Segal (Eds.), Women into Computing (pp. 386-391). London: Springer-Verlag.

Digital Library

[83]

US DOE National Center for Education Statistics. (1992). "Degrees and Other Formal Awards Conferred" surveys and Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Systems (IPRDS) .

[84]

Vehviläinen, M. (1994). Living through the boundaries of information systems expertise - a work history of a Finnish woman systems developer. In A. Adam, J. Emms, E. Green, & J. Owen (Eds.), Women, Work and Computerization. Breaking Old Boundaries - Building New Forms (pp. 107-120). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Digital Library

[85]

Watt, H. D. (1991). SWIM: Scottish women returners study information technology management. In G. Lovegrove & B. Segal (Eds.), Women into computing (pp. 250-256). London: Springer-Verlag.

Digital Library

[86]

Webster, J. (1994). Gender and technology at work: 15 years on. In A. Adam, J. Emms, E. Green, & J. Owen (Eds.), Women, Work and Computerization. Breaking Old Boundaries - Building New Forms (pp. 311-324). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Digital Library

[87]

Weinraub, M., & Brown, L. M. (1983). The Development of Sex-Role Stereotypes in Children: Crushing Realities. In Franks & Rothblum (Eds.), The Stereotyping of Women: Its Effects on Mental Health (pp. 30-58). New York: Springer Publishing Co.

[88]

Wellhousen, K., & Yin, Z. (1997). 'Peter Pan isn't a girls' part': an investigation of gender bias in a kindergarten classroom. Women and Language, 20(2), 35-39.

[89]

White, K. B. (1984). MIS project teams: An investigation of cognitive style implications. MIS Quarterly, 8, 95-101.

Digital Library

[90]

Whiteside, S. P. (1994). Attitudes to computers and information technology: A case study of speech and language therapy students at Sheffield University. In A. Adam, J. Emms, E. Green, & J. Owen (Eds.), Women, Work and Computerization. Breaking Old Boundaries - Building New Forms (pp. 239-253). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Digital Library

[91]

Wilde, C. (1997, 20 January). Women cut through IT's glass ceiling. Informationweek, 83-86.

[92]

Wirth, L. (1998). Women in management: Closer to breaking through the glass ceiling? International Labour Review, 137(1), 93-102.

[93]

Women in Computing Conference. (1997). Participation data provided by participants at the conference.

Cited By

Kim KKwon K(2024)Designing an Inclusive Artificial Intelligence (AI) Curriculum for Elementary Students to Address Gender Differences With Collaborative and Tangible ApproachesJournal of Educational Computing Research10.1177/0735633124127105962:7(1837-1864)Online publication date: 28-Aug-2024
https://doi.org/10.1177/07356331241271059
Hermans FSchlesinger AEdwards JTaeumel M(2024)A Case for Feminism in Programming Language DesignProceedings of the 2024 ACM SIGPLAN International Symposium on New Ideas, New Paradigms, and Reflections on Programming and Software10.1145/3689492.3689809(205-222)Online publication date: 17-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3689492.3689809
Kirdani-Ryan MKo ABorisova E(2023)“Taught to be automata”: Examining the departmental role in shaping initial career choices of computing studentsComputer Science Education10.1080/08993408.2023.217168934:1(87-113)Online publication date: 5-Mar-2023
https://doi.org/10.1080/08993408.2023.2171689
Show More Cited By

Recommendations

Women and computing

There is mounting evidence that many women opting for careers in computing either drop out of the academic pipeline or choose not to get advanced degrees and enter industry instead. Consequently, there are disproportionately low numbers of women in ...
The Intersectional Experiences of Black Women in Computing
SIGCSE '20: Proceedings of the 51st ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education

Efforts to broaden participation in computing have led to gender-focused interventions intended to increase the number of women in the field of computing. However, such efforts have failed to significantly increase the percentage of Black women in ...
Women of opportunity: characteristics of experienced women in computing and information technology careers

Comments

Please enable JavaScript to view thecomments powered by Disqus.

Information & Contributors

Information

Published In

cover image ACM SIGCSE Bulletin

ACM SIGCSE Bulletin Volume 34, Issue 2

Women and Computing

June 2002

176 pages

ISSN:0097-8418

DOI:10.1145/543812

Issue’s Table of Contents

Copyright © 2002 Author.

Publisher

Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

Publication History

Published: 01 June 2002

Published in SIGCSE Volume 34, Issue 2

Check for updates

Qualifiers

Article

Contributors

Other Metrics

View Article Metrics

Bibliometrics & Citations

Bibliometrics

Article Metrics

54
Total Citations
View Citations
2,534
Total Downloads

Downloads (Last 12 months)48
Downloads (Last 6 weeks)2

Reflects downloads up to 23 Dec 2024

Other Metrics

View Author Metrics

Citations

Cited By

Kim KKwon K(2024)Designing an Inclusive Artificial Intelligence (AI) Curriculum for Elementary Students to Address Gender Differences With Collaborative and Tangible ApproachesJournal of Educational Computing Research10.1177/0735633124127105962:7(1837-1864)Online publication date: 28-Aug-2024
https://doi.org/10.1177/07356331241271059
Hermans FSchlesinger AEdwards JTaeumel M(2024)A Case for Feminism in Programming Language DesignProceedings of the 2024 ACM SIGPLAN International Symposium on New Ideas, New Paradigms, and Reflections on Programming and Software10.1145/3689492.3689809(205-222)Online publication date: 17-Oct-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3689492.3689809
Kirdani-Ryan MKo ABorisova E(2023)“Taught to be automata”: Examining the departmental role in shaping initial career choices of computing studentsComputer Science Education10.1080/08993408.2023.217168934:1(87-113)Online publication date: 5-Mar-2023
https://doi.org/10.1080/08993408.2023.2171689
Simon Sheard JLuxton-Reilly ASzabo C(2023)Computing Education Research in AustralasiaPast, Present and Future of Computing Education Research10.1007/978-3-031-25336-2_17(373-394)Online publication date: 5-Jan-2023
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25336-2_17
Hsu TChang CWong LAw G(2022)Learning Performance of Different Genders’ Computational ThinkingSustainability10.3390/su14241651414:24(16514)Online publication date: 9-Dec-2022
https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416514
Joyner DBernstein LBolger IDittamo MGorham SHudson RMerkle LDoyle MSheard JSoh LDorn B(2022)Anonymity: A Double-Edged Sword for Gender Equity in a CS1 Forum?Proceedings of the 53rd ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education - Volume 110.1145/3478431.3499289(766-772)Online publication date: 22-Feb-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3478431.3499289
Shahin MGonsalvez CWhittle JChen CLi LXia X(2022)How secondary school girls perceive Computational Thinking practices through collaborative programming with the micro:bitJournal of Systems and Software10.1016/j.jss.2021.111107183(111107)Online publication date: Jan-2022
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2021.111107
Rankin YThomas JErete S(2021)Real talkACM Inroads10.1145/346340612:2(30-37)Online publication date: 10-May-2021
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3463406
Rankin YThomas JErete S(2021)Black Women Speak: Examining Power, Privilege, and Identity in CS EducationACM Transactions on Computing Education10.1145/345134421:4(1-31)Online publication date: 25-Oct-2021
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3451344
Shahin MIlic OGonsalvez CWhittle J(2021)The impact of a STEM-based entrepreneurship program on the entrepreneurial intention of secondary school female studentsInternational Entrepreneurship and Management Journal10.1007/s11365-020-00713-717:4(1867-1898)Online publication date: 7-Jan-2021
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-020-00713-7
Show More Cited By

View Options

Login options

Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution to get full access on this article.

Full Access

Get this Publication

View options

PDF

View or Download as a PDF file.

eReader

View online with eReader.

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

View Issue’s Table of Contents