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  3. Why are there so few girls in programming?

Why are there so few girls in programming?

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  • A Ashley van Gerven

    I'm not sure how the trend started, but since this trend is already established, as a girl you'd have to resign yourself to working with male programmers, and the stereotype of the average male programmer probably isn't appealing to most women.

    "... This man is obviously a psychotic." "We-he-ell, uh, I'd like to hold off judgement on a thing like that, sir, until all the facts are in." (Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb)

    ~ ScrollingGrid (cross-browser freeze-header control)

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    Lost User
    wrote on last edited by
    #77

    I looked carefully when applying for a job - some industries are very hostile to women but some are fine. Elaine :rose: The tigress is here :-D

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    • J Jeremy Falcon

      KevinMac wrote:

      I am not saying this is common but if young women believe that they are going to paid less and not respected it could scare them away from the occupation.

      That can't be the reason they choose not to become programmers. Besides, this happens in way more than one field, and there are a lot of working women out there. Maybe it could have something to do with male-dominated fields, but that isn't strictly programmer and a bit of a broader scope. I'm not certain about this though. Jeremy Falcon

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      Anna Jayne Metcalfe
      wrote on last edited by
      #78

      I agree. From talking to others I strongly suspect it's largely due to it being perceived as a male dominated profession. Having worked in otherwise all male teams before I can see why that is not at all attractive to others. I much prefer a more mixed environment, and I'm sure that's not uncommon. Anna :rose: Currently working mostly on: Visual Lint :cool: Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter "Be yourself - not what others think you should be" - Marcia Graesch "Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart" - A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.

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      • C code frog 0

        Dude. Your SLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWW.:-D He wants to hook up with all the programming chicks and hand pick the hotties for 5 days of fun and sun.


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        Anna Jayne Metcalfe
        wrote on last edited by
        #79

        He's been rumbled, I see. :laugh: Anna :rose: Currently working mostly on: Visual Lint :cool: Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter "Be yourself - not what others think you should be" - Marcia Graesch "Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart" - A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.

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        • A Ashley van Gerven

          I'm not sure how the trend started, but since this trend is already established, as a girl you'd have to resign yourself to working with male programmers, and the stereotype of the average male programmer probably isn't appealing to most women.

          "... This man is obviously a psychotic." "We-he-ell, uh, I'd like to hold off judgement on a thing like that, sir, until all the facts are in." (Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb)

          ~ ScrollingGrid (cross-browser freeze-header control)

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          Anna Jayne Metcalfe
          wrote on last edited by
          #80

          Without a doubt that's the case. 5. :rose: Anna :rose: Currently working mostly on: Visual Lint :cool: Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter "Be yourself - not what others think you should be" - Marcia Graesch "Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart" - A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.

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          • C Corinna John

            Colin Angus Mackay wrote:

            there was more ethnic diversity in the lecturers

            That may be because Great Britain and Germany have less ethnical diversity than the US. Less diversity in the overall country must result in less diversity in each class. ;)

            Colin Angus Mackay wrote:

            I stopped after 4 years of school.

            Why? School is fun! You meet other people who are just as strange as you are. :cool: _____________________________________________________________________________ I don't expect too much, all I want is your vote for Halbsichtigkeit.

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            Colin Angus Mackay
            wrote on last edited by
            #81

            Corinna John wrote:

            Why? School is fun! You meet other people who are just as strange as you are.

            Myself and two classmates co-founded a company together developing software. It was a curious childhood ambition to run a software company. Now, I've done that my ambition is to run a successful software company. ;)


            Scottish Developers events: * .NET debugging, tracing and instrumentation by Duncan Edwards Jones and Code Coverage in .NET by Craig Murphy * Developer Day Scotland: are you interested in speaking or attending? My: Website | Blog

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            • L leckey 0

              Okay, I'm a girl and I like programming. I'm not very good at it yet, but I do like it. I've done research on women in science and the number of girls going into "computer" (whether programming, IT, etc.) keeps dropping significantly every year. For those of you with a formal education I'm curious how many girls you had in classes, how they acted (shy? open for discussion?), ethnic diversity (we had a few foreign girls but i was the only "white" girl in most of my classes.) But why do you think so few girls go into programming/computers? Other girls please give your feedback!

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              realJSOP
              wrote on last edited by
              #82

              It's because women have the "cook, sew, and clean" gene, and the men have the "work for a living" gene. Seriously, though... It's been scientifically proven that the female brain is wired differently than the male brain. As a rule, women don't use the analytical side of their brain as much as men do (and no, I don't know why that is). Also, female reaction times to external stimuli are generally slower (that's why they generally cost less to insure). It's not that they can't be programmers - it's that they don't want to be. Could it be how they're raised? Get married, have kids, blah blah blah. Don't know... [edit] And if I'm going to get one's I might as well earn them... Women who used to be men are still men in their brain, so the circuitry is the same, no matter how many operations they have... I wish I had a cherry to put on this thread, because that pretty much says it all, unless someone comes up with the universal thread closer, "neener neener neener", but I think that's a little out of context. [/edit]

              "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
              -----
              "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

              -- modified at 16:43 Thursday 22nd June, 2006

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              • A Anna Jayne Metcalfe

                Same here. Out of 120 or so in my year, there were only about 5 of us (though I was undercover at the time!). Anna :rose: Currently working mostly on: Visual Lint :cool: Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter "Be yourself - not what others think you should be" - Marcia Graesch "Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart" - A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.

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                Monty2
                wrote on last edited by
                #83

                Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote:

                (though I was undercover at the time!).

                :laugh::laugh: Man that was funny


                **You know you're obsessed with computer graphics when you're outside and you look up at the trees and think, "Wow! That's spectacular resolution!"

                Only kings, presidents, editors, and people with tapeworms have the right to use the editorial "we."**

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                • A Anna Jayne Metcalfe

                  Without a doubt that's the case. 5. :rose: Anna :rose: Currently working mostly on: Visual Lint :cool: Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter "Be yourself - not what others think you should be" - Marcia Graesch "Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart" - A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.

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                  realJSOP
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #84

                  Are you commenting on this from the viewpoint of a female?

                  "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                  -----
                  "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

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                  • M Monty2

                    Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote:

                    (though I was undercover at the time!).

                    :laugh::laugh: Man that was funny


                    **You know you're obsessed with computer graphics when you're outside and you look up at the trees and think, "Wow! That's spectacular resolution!"

                    Only kings, presidents, editors, and people with tapeworms have the right to use the editorial "we."**

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                    Anna Jayne Metcalfe
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #85

                    Life is full of little surprises. ;) Anna :rose: Currently working mostly on: Visual Lint :cool: Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter "Be yourself - not what others think you should be" - Marcia Graesch "Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart" - A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.

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                    • R realJSOP

                      Are you commenting on this from the viewpoint of a female?

                      "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                      -----
                      "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

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                      Anna Jayne Metcalfe
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #86

                      As much as you are commenting from the viewpoint of a biggotted troll. :mad: Anna :rose: Currently working mostly on: Visual Lint :cool: Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter "Be yourself - not what others think you should be" - Marcia Graesch "Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart" - A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.

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                      • L Lost User

                        Men are better at being obessive than women? :rolleyes: The tigress is here :-D

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                        Shog9 0
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #87

                        :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

                        ---- Scripts i’ve known... CPhog 1.0.0.0 - make CP better. Forum Bookmark 0.2.5 - bookmark forum posts on Pensieve Print forum 0.1.2 - printer-friendly forums Expand all 1.0 - Expand all messages In-place Delete 1.0 - AJAX-style post delete Syntax 0.1 - Syntax highlighting for code blocks in the forums

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                        • A ankita patel 0

                          leckey wrote:

                          is it Pakistani or Pakistanian?)

                          I think Pakistani.

                          leckey wrote:

                          why do so many Indian students come to the US for engineering? Are the universities in India considered subpar?

                          There many reasons. Number of engineering students in India is very high. And very small percentage of these students come to US for higher education, and most of them generally goes to well reputed US schools. Now there are some excellent engineering schools in India, but many many new government and private eng. colleges are opening every year too. And most of them are not very subpar with these US universities. Another reason is for the students who wants to immigrate to US and get a good job, getting a US degree is the best choice. Ankita

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                          Nish Nishant
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #88

                          Ankita, Are you an immigrant now (GC holder)? Or still on a work Visa? Just curious because of your last sentence where you said students who wish to immigrate do a Masters in the US to help the process. Regards, Nish


                          Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
                          Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. Also visit the Ultimate Toolbox blog (New)

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                          • J Jeremy Falcon

                            leckey wrote:

                            not trying to be desperate for attention!

                            On a site that's 99.99% guys? That's tough to believe. Jeremy Falcon

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                            JCParker
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #89

                            Ohio

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                            • S Shog9 0

                              leckey wrote:

                              Okay, I'm a girl and I like programming.

                              Sorry, i don't buy it. Hardly any girls like programming, everyone knows that - but plenty of programmers like to play fast and lose with the sex of their online personas. I suspect you are merely one of the latter... :suss:

                              ---- Scripts i’ve known... CPhog 1.0.0.0 - make CP better. Forum Bookmark 0.2.5 - bookmark forum posts on Pensieve Print forum 0.1.2 - printer-friendly forums Expand all 1.0 - Expand all messages In-place Delete 1.0 - AJAX-style post delete Syntax 0.1 - Syntax highlighting for code blocks in the forums

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                              Nish Nishant
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #90

                              Shog9 wrote:

                              Sorry, i don't buy it. Hardly any girls like programming, everyone knows that - but plenty of programmers like to play fast and lose with the sex of their online personas. I suspect you are merely one of the latter...

                              :laugh: Regards, Nish


                              Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
                              Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. Also visit the Ultimate Toolbox blog (New)

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                              • L leckey 0

                                Most of the other girls who were with me (usually 2 or 3) were Indian/Pakistani (is it Pakistani or Pakistanian?) My alma matter has a large Indian student population. Most of the girls are engineering of some kind. I hired on Indian female grad student at my last job and she was just the nicest. But I have a question, why do so many Indian students come to the US for engineering? Are the universities in India considered subpar? I'm curious.

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                                Nish Nishant
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #91

                                leckey wrote:

                                But I have a question, why do so many Indian students come to the US for engineering?

                                The number of "good" higher education institutions in India are not that high. So, most people try and get their Masters done in the US (or Canada, UK). BTW, when I did my under grad, my class had 54 students out of which there were 25 girls and 29 guys - so the ratio was kinda even. Regards, Nish


                                Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
                                Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. Also visit the Ultimate Toolbox blog (New)

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                                • _ _AK_

                                  But still the number is pretty less if you think about programming. Best Regards, Apurva Kaushal

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                                  Nish Nishant
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #92

                                  apurva kaushal wrote:

                                  Apurva Kaushal

                                  Sorry of this a dumb question. Is Apurva a gender-neutral name? It sounds feminine to me, but I believe guys use the name too? Regards, Nish


                                  Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
                                  Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. Also visit the Ultimate Toolbox blog (New)

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                                  • A Anna Jayne Metcalfe

                                    As much as you are commenting from the viewpoint of a biggotted troll. :mad: Anna :rose: Currently working mostly on: Visual Lint :cool: Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter "Be yourself - not what others think you should be" - Marcia Graesch "Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart" - A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.

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                                    realJSOP
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #93

                                    I'm not a bigot, and you're not a female. Now that we have that out of the way...

                                    "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                                    -----
                                    "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

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                                    • N Nish Nishant

                                      Ankita, Are you an immigrant now (GC holder)? Or still on a work Visa? Just curious because of your last sentence where you said students who wish to immigrate do a Masters in the US to help the process. Regards, Nish


                                      Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
                                      Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. Also visit the Ultimate Toolbox blog (New)

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                                      ankita patel 0
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #94

                                      Nish, No, I am on work visa. Honestly, I am not even sure what was the reason for me to come to US. When I graduated there were no jobs in India for a computer graduate. And I had already made up my mind for further studies. Options for me were to do MBA or go for MS in computers. And as you said in your other reply there were not many good schools for that. And it was easier (less amount of time spent in preparation to get the admission) get admitted in one of the good US schools than IIT or IIM. :-O Ankita

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                                      • R realJSOP

                                        I'm not a bigot, and you're not a female. Now that we have that out of the way...

                                        "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
                                        -----
                                        "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

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                                        Anna Jayne Metcalfe
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #95

                                        Wrong on both counts. Can't you ever give it a rest John? Anna :rose: Currently working mostly on: Visual Lint :cool: Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter "Be yourself - not what others think you should be" - Marcia Graesch "Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart" - A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.

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                                        • A ankita patel 0

                                          Nish, No, I am on work visa. Honestly, I am not even sure what was the reason for me to come to US. When I graduated there were no jobs in India for a computer graduate. And I had already made up my mind for further studies. Options for me were to do MBA or go for MS in computers. And as you said in your other reply there were not many good schools for that. And it was easier (less amount of time spent in preparation to get the admission) get admitted in one of the good US schools than IIT or IIM. :-O Ankita

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                                          Nish Nishant
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #96

                                          ankita patel wrote:

                                          When I graduated there were no jobs in India for a computer graduate.

                                          Interesting - what year did you graduate? I know it's impolite to ask a lady something that might indicate her age. So you can give me a year range if you prefer that :-)

                                          ankita patel wrote:

                                          And it was easier (less amount of time spent in preparation to get the admission) get admitted in one of the good US schools than IIT or IIM.

                                          Yep - definitely easier :-) Regards, Nish


                                          Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
                                          Currently working on C++/CLI in Action for Manning Publications. Also visit the Ultimate Toolbox blog (New)

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