Women in computing

Encyclopedia : W : WO : WOM : Women in computing

With the advent of the information age, concerns specific to the present and future role of women in computing have gained increasing importance. These concerns can be seen to be motivated by a general concern for gender equality on the one hand, as computers gain increasing influence in society, and as a reflection on information technology on the other, and on perceived sexism therein.

Contents

1 Famous women in computing
2 Issues regarding women in computing (USA)
3
4 Organizations for women in computing
5 See also
6 External links
7 Footnotes

Famous women in computing

Ada Lovelace, promoter of Charles Babbage's analytical engine.
Grace Hopper, the first programmer for the Mark I Calculator.
Jean E. Sammet, mathematician and computer scientist; developed FORMAC programming language
Sally Floyd, most renowned for her work on Transmission Control Protocol (see [link])

Issues regarding women in computing (USA)

In the United States, the number of women represented in engineering and information technology peaked in the late 1980s. Since then, the percentage of women in the computing profession declined from 35.2% in 1990 to 28.4% in 2000. ^{[#endnote_glass]} In computer science in particular, there has been a dramatic drop in women earning bachelor's degrees. A report from the Computing Research Association indicated that the number recently fell below 20%, from nearly 40% in the mid 80s. ^{[#endnote_crn]} Research has shown that many misperceptions about computing persist and may discourage women. ^{[#endnote_clubhouse]}.

A recent book titled "Athena Unbound" ^{[#endnote_Athena]} provides a life-course analysis (based on interviews and surveys) of women in science from early childhood interest, through university, graduate school and the academic workplace. The thesis of this book is that "Women face a special series of gender related barriers to entry and success in scientific careers that persist, despite recent advances^{[#endnote_Athena]}".

Organizations for women in computing

Association for Computing Machinery Committee on Women
Association for Women in Computing
Computing Research Association Committee on the Status of Women in Computing research
National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT)
IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE)

External links

[Invisible Women of Science and Technology] By Susmita Barua
[The Book List: Computer Science Books by Women Computer Scientists] compiled by Susan Landau
[Homeward Bound] By Linda Hirshman: on women, their choices, and their careers, and "NOT SETTLING FOR LESS OR BIDDING DOWN!", please try to "weather" the first part of the long article (which, like Maureen Dowd's New York Times article from October 2005, was actually very "sad" and enraging for many to read...) and go on to the final part of the article, where at least the author proposes some "To Do" things, and enlightens whoever cares to listen with the "Why Do We Care?" section... The most important "Glass Ceiling" that yet has to be broken, seems to lie within the "family" not only within the company...

Footnotes

↑ Lancaster, Hal, Career Journal: Women Try to Break Tech-Glass Ceiling, Wall Street Journal, Brussels, August 14, 2001.
↑ Vegso, Jay, May 2005 edition of Computing Research News, Vol. 17, No. 3, May 2005.
↑ Margolis, Jane; Fisher, Alan, Unlocking the Clubhouse, SIGCSE Inroads Bulletin, Vol 34, No. 2, June 2002.
↑ Etzkowitz, Henry; Kemelgor, Carol; Uzzi, Brian, ATHENA UNBOUND - The advancement of women in science and technology, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 052178738, 2000.