Comments on: Why Are Women Dropping Out of Computer Science? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/11/17/why-are-women-dropping-out-of-computer-science/ A blog about science, politics, and how to let each help the other without compromising them both. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:53:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Uncle Al http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/11/17/why-are-women-dropping-out-of-computer-science/#comment-3991 Uncle Al Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:18:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/11/17/why-are-women-dropping-out-of-computer-science/#comment-3991 Hire by brains not genitalia. Google exclusivly hires the Profoundly Gifted no matter what the packaging. Intelligence does exist, it can be measured, it does make a difference. Now, the distaff side of the argument: YOU did it! YOU weren't happy making babies and driving black cars with stick shifts. YOU wanted pastels and automatic transmissions. YOU wanted to vote, YOU wanted to be in the workplace, YOU wanted to be in the military. YOU wanted Equal Rights, Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, diversity, compassion, and daycare. You've gotten it lady, trumped in spades redoubled. Work your butt off, abandon any thoughts of family, and watch as real experts in whining being carried in sedan chairs beat you to the finish line every time. Nobody dares hold you dearly for fear of being drawn and quartered by "social activists" and their pro bono legal representation. The best you can hope for is to get laid. The rub with victimology and rule of the disempowered is that there is always somebody even less qualified, a worse victim, and more screwed up than you are. You wanted a break for being a woman? Okay, but you're a White woman and just got euchred out of that position by a Chicana two-fer. She finds herself competing against a sexually harassed Black lesbian single mother intravenous drug addict with AIDS doing the Macarena in a wheelchair. They are all pushed aside by Sarah "Moose Jewel" Palin and her exercise in Trig-onometry. Hire by brains not genitalia. Google exclusivly hires the Profoundly Gifted no matter what the packaging. Intelligence does exist, it can be measured, it does make a difference. Now, the distaff side of the argument:

YOU did it! YOU weren’t happy making babies and driving black cars with stick shifts. YOU wanted pastels and automatic transmissions. YOU wanted to vote, YOU wanted to be in the workplace, YOU wanted to be in the military. YOU wanted Equal Rights, Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, diversity, compassion, and daycare. You’ve gotten it lady, trumped in spades redoubled. Work your butt off, abandon any thoughts of family, and watch as real experts in whining being carried in sedan chairs beat you to the finish line every time. Nobody dares hold you dearly for fear of being drawn and quartered by “social activists” and their pro bono legal representation. The best you can hope for is to get laid.

The rub with victimology and rule of the disempowered is that there is always somebody even less qualified, a worse victim, and more screwed up than you are. You wanted a break for being a woman? Okay, but you’re a White woman and just got euchred out of that position by a Chicana two-fer. She finds herself competing against a sexually harassed Black lesbian single mother intravenous drug addict with AIDS doing the Macarena in a wheelchair. They are all pushed aside by Sarah “Moose Jewel” Palin and her exercise in Trig-onometry.

]]> By: malwae http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/11/17/why-are-women-dropping-out-of-computer-science/#comment-3967 malwae Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:30:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/11/17/why-are-women-dropping-out-of-computer-science/#comment-3967 There's a discussion of this over here - http://granitegeek.org/2008/11/16/why-dont-women-like-computer-science/ My take is that the definition of "computer science" is too narrow, and unlike 20 years ago, now refers to a small segement of the software industry. The cool jobs, while all involving coding skills, aren't strictly CompSci anymore. Also, with object oriented programming having morphed into something so well structured and easy to use, CompSci doesn't have that weird genius mystique anymore. Code is built by people who are very, very good at using existing tools and prebuilt code modules. I see plenty of women with highly technical, powerful positions within the Software industry. I think the NYT article is a bit of a red herring, looking at who enrolls in a very small subsection of the majors that deal with computers. There’s a discussion of this over here - http://granitegeek.org/2008/11/16/why-dont-women-like-computer-science/

My take is that the definition of “computer science” is too narrow, and unlike 20 years ago, now refers to a small segement of the software industry. The cool jobs, while all involving coding skills, aren’t strictly CompSci anymore. Also, with object oriented programming having morphed into something so well structured and easy to use, CompSci doesn’t have that weird genius mystique anymore. Code is built by people who are very, very good at using existing tools and prebuilt code modules.

I see plenty of women with highly technical, powerful positions within the Software industry. I think the NYT article is a bit of a red herring, looking at who enrolls in a very small subsection of the majors that deal with computers.

]]> By: chuko http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/11/17/why-are-women-dropping-out-of-computer-science/#comment-3965 chuko Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:37:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/11/17/why-are-women-dropping-out-of-computer-science/#comment-3965 Could it be that women are underrepresented in engineering vs science? After all, CS is mostly seen as an entry into software engineering, making it more parallel to engineering majors than science majors. Could it be that women are underrepresented in engineering vs science? After all, CS is mostly seen as an entry into software engineering, making it more parallel to engineering majors than science majors.

]]> By: Lynn http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/11/17/why-are-women-dropping-out-of-computer-science/#comment-3964 Lynn Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:53:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/realitybase/2008/11/17/why-are-women-dropping-out-of-computer-science/#comment-3964 It's all about the money (mostly, anyways). By the time you're out of school with whatever degree you have, more then likely you'll be thousands and thousands of dollars in debt. You gotta pay if off as soon as you can so it doesn't hang over you, threatening your furture prospects. Yes, I am a girl, and I'm currently going to University, and I have considered nursing as a career. It’s all about the money (mostly, anyways). By the time you’re out of school with whatever degree you have, more then likely you’ll be thousands and thousands of dollars in debt. You gotta pay if off as soon as you can so it doesn’t hang over you, threatening your furture prospects.

Yes, I am a girl, and I’m currently going to University, and I have considered nursing as a career.

]]>