Gender & Technology:Gender & Technology:Is it Biology or Society?Is it Biology or Society?

Samantha Richards and Eric Samantha Richards and Eric SchmidtSchmidt

To give you an idea…To give you an idea…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b

HOIDGIP-ZMHOIDGIP-ZM

The basis for our research…The basis for our research…37 percent of bachelor's degree recipients 37 percent of bachelor's degree recipients

in computer science were females in 1985.in computer science were females in 1985.

In more recent years (2004 and 2005), In more recent years (2004 and 2005), only 28 percent of CS majors were only 28 percent of CS majors were females.females.

In most research universities, only 17 In most research universities, only 17 percent of CS graduates are women.percent of CS graduates are women.

The basis for our research…The basis for our research… This Pie Chart This Pie Chart

shows the majors shows the majors of all the female of all the female students in this students in this section of COMP section of COMP 380.380.

In this class alone, In this class alone, the majority of the majority of females are COMM females are COMM and JOMC majors.and JOMC majors.

Female Majors

BIOA COMM ELEMENGL EXSS JOMCMUSC PSYA PUPAUNDC

Why does this matter?Why does this matter?Between 1988 and 2001:Between 1988 and 2001:

the number of United States published the number of United States published papers in science and engineering rises by papers in science and engineering rises by only 13%only 13%

the number of Japanese papers increased the number of Japanese papers increased 67%67%

papers from East Asian countries… increased papers from East Asian countries… increased 492%492%

Number of CS Majors was 40% lower in Number of CS Majors was 40% lower in 2004 than in 20002004 than in 2000Dot.com BustDot.com Bust

Why does this matter?Why does this matter? In 2005, the United States produced In 2005, the United States produced

60,000 engineers.60,000 engineers.China produced close to a million!China produced close to a million!

The US economy will add 1.5 million The US economy will add 1.5 million computer- and information-related computer- and information-related jobs by 2012.jobs by 2012.The US will have only half that many The US will have only half that many

qualified graduates.qualified graduates.

Biology or Society?Biology or Society?Samantha says, “Women are equally Samantha says, “Women are equally

capable of excelling at math and capable of excelling at math and science but that their gender has science but that their gender has different ways of processing language different ways of processing language and information.”and information.”

Eric says, “The decrease in women in Eric says, “The decrease in women in the sciences (and specifically computer the sciences (and specifically computer science) is due to societal constructs science) is due to societal constructs that are hostile to females.”that are hostile to females.”

How to decide?How to decide?We compare the We compare the influence of society influence of society

and gender by and gender by discussing how both discussing how both

impact females impact females throughout their life throughout their life

span (from early span (from early education into the education into the

workplace workplace environment).environment).

Birth through Pre-teenBirth through Pre-teen Early education must take advantage of Early education must take advantage of

the curiosity of young children to spark an the curiosity of young children to spark an interest in math and science.interest in math and science.

While middle school provides opportunities While middle school provides opportunities such as math and science clubs, these are such as math and science clubs, these are less directed towards females.less directed towards females.

These clubs do provide a social These clubs do provide a social environment, but are stigmatized with environment, but are stigmatized with being nerdy and male dominated.being nerdy and male dominated.

Birth through Pre-teenBirth through Pre-teen Males & females process language and Males & females process language and

information differently due to organization information differently due to organization of each brainof each brain

Removal of…Removal of… -left temporal lobe: interferes with verbal -left temporal lobe: interferes with verbal skills (Women use this more than Males) skills (Women use this more than Males) -right temporal lobe: impairs nonverbal -right temporal lobe: impairs nonverbal skillsskills

Inferior-parietal lobe is larger in men than Inferior-parietal lobe is larger in men than women (manipulates spatial relationships)women (manipulates spatial relationships)

Birth through Pre-teenBirth through Pre-teenTypical Female brain development is Typical Female brain development is

to form close relationshipsto form close relationshipsex: playing house or with dollsex: playing house or with dolls

A typical boy brain is about the game A typical boy brain is about the game or toy, power, physical strength, etc.or toy, power, physical strength, etc.

Teenage YearsTeenage Years OVERALL PROBLEM… under qualified OVERALL PROBLEM… under qualified

teachers are finding themselves in science teachers are finding themselves in science and math classrooms.and math classrooms.

““Finding role models—both in materials Finding role models—both in materials and in person—that fit a girl’s image of a and in person—that fit a girl’s image of a successful woman helps break down these successful woman helps break down these barriers.”barriers.” Betty Shanahan, the Executive Director and Betty Shanahan, the Executive Director and

CEO of the Society of Women EngineersCEO of the Society of Women Engineers

Teenage YearsTeenage Years Females are trying to fit in with peers Females are trying to fit in with peers

(inner-self is telling them they have to feel (inner-self is telling them they have to feel attractive to be part of the “group”) attractive to be part of the “group”)

Males don’t have the same personality Males don’t have the same personality traits as females – they aren’t necessarily traits as females – they aren’t necessarily worried about what other people thinkworried about what other people think

Males are interested in more science Males are interested in more science classesclasses* It may be their advantage with spatial * It may be their advantage with spatial reasoning reasoning

How were your high How were your high school math and science school math and science

classes?classes?

CollegeCollege One study showed that girls actually receive better One study showed that girls actually receive better

math grades than boys, but parents of daughters math grades than boys, but parents of daughters were more likely than parents of sons to report were more likely than parents of sons to report that math was more difficult for their child.that math was more difficult for their child. Daughter success=hard workDaughter success=hard work Son success=talentSon success=talent

Rise in popularity equaled rise in the class size.Rise in popularity equaled rise in the class size. Eliminates students uncomfortable or marginalized in that Eliminates students uncomfortable or marginalized in that

environment… not necessarily the worst students.environment… not necessarily the worst students.

Females are not worse in science but less Females are not worse in science but less comfortable in the environment geared towards comfortable in the environment geared towards males.males.

CollegeCollege Since females have 2 ‘X’ chromosomes & a male Since females have 2 ‘X’ chromosomes & a male

has 1..Male brain fills with testosteronehas 1..Male brain fills with testosterone (Testosterone kills cells in the communication (Testosterone kills cells in the communication

centers centers leads to less communication by males) leads to less communication by males)

Females are better at verbal skills Females are better at verbal skills -Use 20,000 words per day-Use 20,000 words per day-Men use approximately 7,000-Men use approximately 7,000

Asperger’s Syndrome Asperger’s Syndrome -Eight times more common in males than -Eight times more common in males than females females

Work PlaceWork Place ““Compared with men, women [CS] faculty Compared with men, women [CS] faculty

members are generally paid less and members are generally paid less and promoted more slowly, receive fewer promoted more slowly, receive fewer honors, and hold fewer leadership honors, and hold fewer leadership positions.”positions.” National Academies reportNational Academies report

The report further says… “These The report further says… “These discrepancies do not appear to be based discrepancies do not appear to be based on productivity, the significance of their on productivity, the significance of their work, or any other performance measures work, or any other performance measures

Work PlaceWork PlaceBiology influences a female when Biology influences a female when

choosing between a career and a familychoosing between a career and a familyTakes 5-6 years to earn doctorate Takes 5-6 years to earn doctorate post-post-

doc years doc years search for a tenure position search for a tenure positionPrime childbearing yearsPrime childbearing yearsTaking time off for a maternity leave may Taking time off for a maternity leave may

disqualify females from a tenure positiondisqualify females from a tenure position60+ hours/week isn’t practical when 60+ hours/week isn’t practical when

trying to balance bothtrying to balance both

ConclusionConclusionWhile some biological differences do While some biological differences do

exist between men and women, exist between men and women, these differences do not keep women these differences do not keep women out of the field of computer science. out of the field of computer science.

Rather, the way that society Rather, the way that society responds to these differences has the responds to these differences has the

greatest affect on women pursuing greatest affect on women pursuing science.science.

SourcesSources Are There Differences Between the Brains of Males and Females?Are There Differences Between the Brains of Males and Females? Renato Renato

Sabbatini. 1997. State University CampinasSabbatini. 1997. State University Campinas Excerpt: The Female Brain-Learn What Women Really Think.Excerpt: The Female Brain-Learn What Women Really Think. 7 Aug. 2006. 7 Aug. 2006.

ABC NEWS, Washington, D. 31ABC NEWS, Washington, D. 31 Hendrick, Bill. “Scientists Mine the Gender Gap.” Hendrick, Bill. “Scientists Mine the Gender Gap.” Cox News ServiceCox News Service 17 Sep. 17 Sep.

20062006 Brownlee, Shannon, and Monika Guttman. "Having Children Poses Threats Brownlee, Shannon, and Monika Guttman. "Having Children Poses Threats

for Female Scientists." for Female Scientists." U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report 131.11 131.11 Bombiardi, Marcella. “In computer science, a growing gender gap.” Bombiardi, Marcella. “In computer science, a growing gender gap.” The The

Boston Globe 18 Dec. 2005. 18 Sept. 2006 Boston Globe 18 Dec. 2005. 18 Sept. 2006 http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/12/18/in_computer_scienchttp://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/12/18/in_computer_science_a_growing_gender_gap/e_a_growing_gender_gap/

Shanahan, B. “The Secrets to Increasing Females in Technology.” The Shanahan, B. “The Secrets to Increasing Females in Technology.” The Technology Teacher 66.2 (Oct. 2006) 22-24.Technology Teacher 66.2 (Oct. 2006) 22-24.

Honawar, V. “U.S. Leaders Fret Over Students’ Math and Science Honawar, V. “U.S. Leaders Fret Over Students’ Math and Science Weaknesses.” Education Week 25.3 (14 Sept. 2005) 1. 30 Oct. 2006. Weaknesses.” Education Week 25.3 (14 Sept. 2005) 1. 30 Oct. 2006. <http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/09/14/03threat.h25.html><http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/09/14/03threat.h25.html>