Underrepresentation Women in Computer Science

Women have historically been excluded from the field of computing, leading to a

significant gender gap in the field. Despite significant progress in addressing this issue in recent

years, the percentage of women earning degrees in computer science remains low. According to

the National Center for Education Statistics, women hold only 19 percent of bachelor's degrees

in computer science and information technology in the United States. Such underrepresentation

not only limits opportunities in the field, but also perpetuates gender stereotypes and biases. As a

woman studying computer science, I have experienced firsthand the importance of representation

and how it can motivate and inspire more women to enter the field. The underrepresentation of

women in computer science is not only an ethical but also a practical problem. The field of

computer science is constantly evolving and requires various perspectives and ideas for

development. Without women in computer science, the field loses creativity and innovation that

brings different perspectives. A lack of diversity can also lead to a homogenous culture, which

can make it difficult for women to feel welcome and supported in the industry. This can lead to

talented women leaving the industry, ultimately harming the entire industry. By increasing the

number of women in computer science, we can improve the overall quality and diversity of the

field. We must first deal with the systemic issues that have historically kept them away. One of

the main issues is the lack of encouragement and support for women in computer science careers.

Stereotypes and prejudices can start as early as childhood, when girls are often reluctant to take

an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This can continue into

high school and college, where women are often underrepresented in computer classes and clubs.

Additionally, the industry may lack female role models, making it difficult to envision women in

those roles.
 To address these issues, we need to focus on creating a more inclusive and supportive

environment for women in IT. This could include initiatives such as mentorship programs,

scholarships for women in STEM, and support efforts to encourage girls to take an interest in

technology. In addition, we must strive to destroy gender stereotypes and prejudices both in the

classroom and in society as a whole. To increase the representation of women in computing, we

must first address the root causes of the gender gap. One important factor is the lack of computer

education and access for girls and women. By providing more opportunities for girls and women

to learn computer science and coding, we can help them develop an interest in the field and

pursue a career in it. In addition, addressing and breaking down gender bias and stereotypes in

the industry can help create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for women. It is also

important that IT companies and organizations actively promote and support the employment

and retention of women. This includes offering mentoring and sponsorship programs, offering

fair pay and benefits, and creating a culture that values diversity and inclusion. By prioritizing

the recruitment and retention of women, we can create a more balanced and diverse industry.

In conclusion, the underrepresentation of women in computer science is a social justice

issue that needs to be addressed. Increasing the number of women in the industry promotes

gender equality, but also benefits the industry as a whole. As a computer science student and a

woman, I believe we have a responsibility to work to create a more inclusive and diverse

industry. By offering women more opportunities and support, we can create a more equal and

innovative playing field. In addition, eliminating the underrepresentation of women in computer

science also requires challenging and changing the social and cultural norms that have

contributed to the problem. This can include challenging stereotypes and prejudices about

women's skills in technology and creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment that
values diversity and fosters inclusion. It is important to identify and address systemic barriers

that women and other underrepresented groups face in computing careers, such as a lack of

educational resources, opportunities, and mentorship.

References:

Alqaq, Daba. “Women in Computer Science & Programming.” Code a New Career |
ComputerScience.org, 22 Dec. 2022, https://www.computerscience.org/resources/women-
in-computer-science/.
Sanders, Elyssa. “Texas Tech Today.” TTU, https://today.ttu.edu/posts/2021/09/Stories/why-is-
computer-science-unpopular-among-women.
Cheryan, Sapna. “There Are Too Few Women in Computer Science and Engineering.” Scientific
American, Scientific American, 27 July 2022,
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/there-are-too-few-women-in-computer-
science-and-engineering/.
Peer review for Jack by Liza:

I really enjoyed reading your article and I thought you made a lot of great points throughout. You gave
great examples on both why women are underrepresented in computer science and why this is an issue.
For example, when you talked about the homogenous culture that can arise with lack of representation
and the fact that this can make talented women feel unwelcome in the field was a great perspective to add.
In addition, adding about how pushing girls away from STEM can start very early and the gender
stereotypes that we have are programmed into us much sooner than we think was a great thing to touch
on. In addition, adding solutions like early intervention to give girls the opportunities if they're interested,
and IT companies promoting inclusivity was a great way to give the readers ideas on how to promote
gender equality in the workplace in general.

One recommendation I would make, and I know this is a local concern, is to make sure you put your
sources hyperlinked in the text. There is none currently so it's an issue throughout. After the line “One
important factor is the lack of computer education and access for girls and women” I would recommend a
statistic or source of some kind that portrays this lack of information. You’re telling me that there is a
lack of computer education and access for girls and women but how is that different from boys and men
and why? Is it a poverty issue or a cultural issue that many girls don’t feel like as a girl they can be
interested in computers? I would also recommend that you separate the first paragraph into two separate
paragraphs and end the first paragraph with “As a woman studying computer science, I have experienced
firsthand the importance of representation and how it can motivate and inspire more women to enter the
field” and starting a new one with “the underrepresentation of women in computer science is not only an
ethical but also a practical problem.” Finally, I think it would benefit your OP-Ed to add maybe one or
two more studies and examples, not necessarily even from a new source. I took a look at your current
sources and saw that one mentioned that they found “that young children and adolescents in the U.S., like
adults, believe that girls are less interested than boys in computer science and engineering.” You could
include this study and then expand on why this is, which you already kind of did but I think adding this
before could make your argument stronger.

Overall I really don’t have many suggestions and thought you did a fantastic job!

Peer Review for Jack by Laila:

Your article is written very well and professionally. We used just about the same topic for our papers, the
underrepresentation of women in our respective disciplines, which was really helpful for me to compare
my own writing to. I think your strongest points throughout the paper are your introduction of the topic
and the suggested solutions preceding your conclusion. I think your personal account of being a woman in
the field is interesting and would love to see you expand on your individual experience.

The points you have are strong, but I might suggest incorporating more specific examples throughout.
When you are talking about the lack of support for women entering the field, you could include the
specific barriers holding them back, like real-life instances of harassment in the STEM field or a personal
blog of someone that experienced hardship/left the field. I think this would help readers who are not a part
of computer science to envision what exactly these women have to overcome. I would suggest this in
your conclusion as well, by discussing a specific plan of action to improve diversity and support within
the discipline, to make the solution seem attainable and involve the consideration of your audience. Also,
make sure to cite your sources within the text. Overall, your paper holds my attention and provides an
adequate overview, but more details would help my understanding of the urgency of the issue.

In agreement with Liza’s review, it is a solid essay and there are not a ton of suggestions I can come up
with. Good job!

Reflection:

The feedback from my peers was incredibly valuable in shaping my project about women in computer
science. Initially, I found it challenging to incorporate first person perspective into my writing, as
academic essays usually require a strictly objective tone. However, after reading my peers' opinions and
seeing how they effectively integrated their own voice into their writing, I felt more comfortable doing
the same in my work.

Moving forward, I would like to approach my rough drafts with a more open mindset and allow myself to
freely express my opinions, even if they may not be entirely academic. This will enable me to strike a
better balance between factual evidence and my own perspective. Additionally, I would consider
shortening my future pieces, as I now realize that a lengthy op-ed could potentially deter some readers.
This project has taught me a lot about my writing style and weaknesses, particularly in my ability to write
conversationally while still presenting facts and evidence. I recognize that this skill will be increasingly
important in my field, where less academic writing is common. Though I acknowledge that there is still
room for improvement in my writing, I am grateful for the opportunity to explore a new genre and to
better understand the citation style used in my discipline. Throughout the process of researching and
writing about women in computer science, I also gained a deeper understanding of the importance of
diversity and representation in the field. I realized that many barriers, such as gender biases and lack of
resources and support, exist for women pursuing careers in computer science. It was eye-opening to learn
about the experiences of women who have faced these obstacles and how they have overcome them. .
Overall, I have gained valuable insights from this project that will undoubtedly aid me in future writing
endeavors.

Category and Goals Points Student Comments

Genre: 4/5 Overall, I feel that I put a lot of effort into my

● Demonstrates project about women in computer science and I
anticipation of genre am proud of the final result. In terms of genre, I
and audience had to learn how to write in an informative and
expectations in your persuasive style that was new to me, but I believe I
own writing. was able to successfully anticipate the
● Demonstrates careful expectations of the genre and incorporate creative
research on the and critical thinking.
genre chosen.
● Demonstrates
understanding of
genre of Op-Ed
and/or informative/
persuasive
interpretation.
● Demonstrates
creativity and critical
thinking
● Is sufficiently
developed.
● Shows effective use
of citations in
hyperlinks.
Rhetoric: 5/5 In terms of rhetoric, I aimed to inform my
● Demonstrates audience about the challenges faced by women in
understanding of computer science and I believe I effectively
rhetorical situation appealed to them using emotional and logical
and audience needs appeals. I also made sure to build my credibility by
specific to the providing sufficient evidence through scholarly
 platform/venue. research and citations.
● Demonstrates aim
that adds to the
conversation and
informs the audience
of something they
might not know or
have thought about
in that way
● Appeals to audience
effectively using
emotional, logical,
and ethical appeals
● Builds credibility
effectively through
citations
(hyperlinked where
appropriate), logical
structure, and ethos.
Research: 4/5 In terms of research, I conducted careful analysis
● Uses sufficient of sources and made sure to use sufficient textual
textual examples and examples to support my claims.
provides sufficient
evidence for claims
including scholarly
research
● Demonstrates
analysis of genre,
author/s, purpose,
audience, context,
sources, content
level, format,
language and visuals.
● Uses sufficient
textual examples.
● Shows effective use
of citation
conventions
(hyperlinks and
works cited at the
end in field’s format)
Labor/Process: 5/5 in terms of labor and process, I participated in
● participated in good drafting, peer review, revision, and reflection in a
faith in the drafting, timely manner and made sure to incorporate
peer review, revision, feedback from my peers to improve my project.
 and reflection While there is always room for improvement, I am
process and proud of my project and the skills I developed
submitted in a timely throughout the process.
manner
TOTAL:
18/20

Some good work here, Jack! Your topic is certainly interesting and important. I tend to agree with your
self assessment insofar as the genre could have appealed more directly to the audience and the piece
needed hyperlinks for credibility and source citation.

Best,

Dr. W