2016;271-272. doi: 10.1145/2960310.2960343.

Accounting for the role of policy in the underrepresentation of women in computer science.

E Patitsas

UIID-AD: 4260 DOI: 10.1145/2960310.2960343

Abstract

Since the 1990s, a great deal of e ort has been toward im-proving female participation in computing. Yet the numbers in North America haven't budged: women continue to make up 18% of CS majors. Current efforts and research focus on societal, cultural, and psychological reasons for this un- derrepresentation. I argue that the political dimension also needs to be considered both in terms of why women are un- derrepresented and how to change it. I have found that admissions policies have a profound effect on how many women study undergraduate CS. I've also observed that diversity is not being considered in mainstream CS department policy- making, and \women's issues" are expected to be solved by women's groups. And in the women's spaces, I've observed a focus on individual career advancement (\Lean In") rather than a push for political, collective action.

Publication Types

• Conference Proceedings