Males have dominated computer science for a long time now, and even with the great career opportunities, women still haven’t broken into the industry. Why? There’s nothing truly preventing women from succeeding in the industry. Yet, there still is a great disparity between the two genders.

Media

The portrayal of computer science in the media dissuades women from entering the industry. When you think of the stereotypical coder, you may think of a geeky guy who never leaves his room, and probably lacks proper hygiene routines. This is derived from the idea that not only computer science, but also gaming and coding itself is meant for men. The idea that women don’t belong in the industry, keeps them out.

Mentality

Women and men think differently. Most women tend to be perfectionists and get frustrated or discouraged when there are mistakes. Coding is black and white, it either works or it doesn’t. The entire concept of coding is problem-solving, and chipping away at the mistakes in code until it works. The fact of the matter is that you’ll never get perfect code. This can cause women to doubt their abilities, and that loss of confidence drives them away from the field. If women feel they cannot make any mistakes, they’ll never succeed in computer science.

Occupational Segregation

Occupational segregation causes more than just the gender gap within computer science, but it also contributes to the gender wage gap. Breaking into the field is one thing but moving up in the field is another. Computer science is conquered by men, and consequently many high-ranking positions hold the connotation that they’re for men only. That stigma is hard to overcome, especially by a group that feels they do not belong in the field in the first place.

 

The gender gap within the computer science industry is large. This being so, by being aware of the reasons behind the disparities, we can work towards increasing the demographic. If you’re a woman and you want to jump into this industry, do it. If you’re a man and you want to jump into this industry, do it. Don’t be afraid of diving into the unknown. Just remember to support your fellow computer science enthusiasts and grow the industry even further.