1. Gender and Computing
Sponsored by Google
Brought to you by:
Dr. Musiimenta Angella and
Mr. Ampaire Collins
9th Aug 2012 CS4HS
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2. Background Contexts
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 Gender: Does not mean a
female thing!
 Computing = STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics) fields
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3. Women have been in Computing since
its inception!
• Women were computational pioneers of
the ENIAC-the worlds first computer
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used by the American Army. E.g Grace
Hoper developed the first compiler for
ENIAC
• Women were the first computer
programmers e.g Ada Lovelace was the
first woman to write an algorithm for
execution on an ENIAC machine.
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4. Women in Computing: Why so few?
• Video demo
• Though the first computer programmers were females,
women currently make up only a small fraction of the
computing industry. This lack of diversity jeopardizes
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technical innovation, creativity and profitability.
• E.g. gender analysis in the participants and
coordinators of this workshop!!
• As demand for talented computing professionals grows,
both academia and industry are seeking ways to reach
out to groups of individuals who are underrepresented in
computing, the largest of which is women.
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5. STEM Decision Making: Why So Few Women?
• The potential of women continues to be
underutilized. Women are under-
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represented in all STEM decision-making
structures (e.g. policy and regulatory
institutions, ministries and boards of
STEM companies)
• In STEM administrative positions, very
few women benefit and these are
normally paid lowest wages compared
to male counter parts
02/08/13 . CS4HS
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6. Computing Jobs: Why So Few Women?
Women are found in
disproportionately high numbers in the
lowest paid and least secure jobs at
the lower end of the supply chain.
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They hold jobs as:
o Data entry,
Google
o Phone operations,
o Clerk
Yet, there is more to this
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7. Is Computing an Man’s field?
• Men dominate in higher paid work in
hardware and software engineering and
management.
• This may appear to be because of the
lack of women engaged in the field,
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however,
Google
• Evidence shows that employers’
biases hinder STEM qualified women
from gaining positions in these fields
or rising in the company’s hierarchy.
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8. Is Computing an Man’s field?...
•Failure
to employ women skilled in
STEM businesses means:
•Loss of capacity that has economic
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impacts well beyond the life of each
individual woman.
•Hundreds of people lose through wealth
left unrealized,
•Millions of dollars may be lost from
resources that could have better served
the needs of people.
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9. Food for Thought: Why So Few?
It was a woman who:
•Developed the first compiler,
•Identified the first computer bug, and
•Created the first computer program,
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•but women are still underrepresented!!!
Group Brainstorming Session:
1. What factors hinder girls uptake of computer studies
in secondary schools?
2. How can we improve girls’ up take of computer
studies?
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10. Bringing Women on Board in Computing
Education = technical skills = computing jobs
Good governance and empowerment: Policies and
programmes meant to improve access and women participation
e.g. scholarships or reduced University entry points.
Support Groups e.g. intermediary women-based organizations
that provide computing support, scholarships and books for
women in STEM e.g. Google Anita Borg Scholarship, Google
Sponsored by
Zawadi Africa scholarships, Society of Women Engineers
(SWE), the UN’s Tech-Careers portal for girls and Women,
and the UN's Division for the Advancement of
Google
Women(conferences).
To do: Check the above for upcoming events and
opportunities!
Role Models that have a high profile of success as regards to
women contribution e.g. ADA, Grace Hopper, who developed
the first computer program and the first compiler.
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11. Bringing Women on Board in Computing...
Making of Computing a requirement, or a highly
recommended option for students in their early years e.g.
computer studies in secondary schools
Trained instructors that encourage women to take STEM
fields
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Strategies to change negative attitudes
Parental involvement
Encouraging gender equality e.g. equal salaries for both
men and women—this sends a strong signal that both
women and men are deemed to be critical assets in STEM
fields.
End
Thank you for your time and contributions
To do: Check our blog (ICT4All) for inspirational videos!
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