WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico 1 The Effect of the Internet on Women in...

WEPAN 2002 Conference June 10th San Juan, Puerto Rico

1

The Effect of the Internet on Women in Science and Engineering My interest in this topicMy interest in this topic

Superior female participation in my on-line Superior female participation in my on-line class forumsclass forums

Higher grade averages for females than for Higher grade averages for females than for males in on-line coursesmales in on-line courses

Papers that I had collected on the topicPapers that I had collected on the topic Internet as impacting on negative factors in Internet as impacting on negative factors in

female educationfemale education Can I get others involved?Can I get others involved?


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The Issue

The representation of women in the field of computer The representation of women in the field of computer science is lowscience is low Several factors have been proposed as discouraging Several factors have been proposed as discouraging

female participationfemale participation Internet mechanisms may mitigate these specific factorsInternet mechanisms may mitigate these specific factors

Distance learning, in particular, may be a positive Distance learning, in particular, may be a positive factor for women (and minority groups) in computer factor for women (and minority groups) in computer science educationscience education

Yet representation in mathematics, medicine, and science Yet representation in mathematics, medicine, and science has improved regardless of those factorshas improved regardless of those factors


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Taulbee SurveysPercentage of Percentage of women:women:

1988-1988-19891989

1999-1999-20002000

2000-2000-20012001

Doctorates Doctorates Earned in CSEarned in CS

17.5%17.5% 15%15% 16%16%

Assistant Assistant ProfessorsProfessors

9%9% 14%14% 14%14%

Associate Associate ProfessorsProfessors

8%8% 13%13% 14%14%

Full ProfessorsFull Professors 2.7%2.7% 8%8% 8%8%


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Taulbee Surveys

1983-1985 36% of CS bachelor’s degrees 1983-1985 36% of CS bachelor’s degrees awarded to womenawarded to women

2000-2001 20% of CS bachelor’s degrees 2000-2001 20% of CS bachelor’s degrees awarded to womenawarded to women


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Current Estimates

In CS, parity with males will not be reached In CS, parity with males will not be reached until 2087-2088 using current trendsuntil 2087-2088 using current trends

In science and engineering in general, In science and engineering in general, women should reach parity in earned women should reach parity in earned doctorates by 2007-2008doctorates by 2007-2008

– Computing Research News; May 2002Computing Research News; May 2002


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Discouragement versus the Internet

Cultural biasCultural bias Education is for males Education is for males

since they are the since they are the “family support”“family support”

Immigrant cultures are Immigrant cultures are sometimes biasedsometimes biased

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And yet, this bias is And yet, this bias is

true for other sciences true for other sciences where women have where women have mainly overcome itmainly overcome it

The Internet can help:The Internet can help: The Internet exposes The Internet exposes

families and students families and students to a wider cultural to a wider cultural viewview

Females now total Females now total more than 50% of more than 50% of Internet usersInternet users

Web sites advertising Web sites advertising opportunities and opportunities and women in the field can women in the field can target parents and girlstarget parents and girls


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Discouragement / The Internet

Sexual harassmentSexual harassment Gender disparagementGender disparagement

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And yet, women have And yet, women have dealt with these in dealt with these in other sciencesother sciences

Gender can be hidden Gender can be hidden on the Interneton the Internet

Harassment and Harassment and gender disparagement gender disparagement are less likely because are less likely because of software (paper) of software (paper) trail that will be lefttrail that will be left


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Discouragement / The Internet

Lack of role modelsLack of role models

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And yet, women have And yet, women have dealt with this in other dealt with this in other sciencessciences

The Internet provides The Internet provides a large geographic a large geographic area from which to area from which to obtain role modelsobtain role models

MentorNet and other MentorNet and other virtual communities virtual communities provide role models provide role models and helping handsand helping hands


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Different communication styles / The Internet

Males are generally more Males are generally more aggressive in their speech aggressive in their speech

Males appear to be more Males appear to be more self confidentself confident

Females appear to be more Females appear to be more differential in their speechdifferential in their speech

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And yet, women have dealt And yet, women have dealt with this in other scienceswith this in other sciences

Female writing skills are Female writing skills are typically bettertypically better

Participating off-line (not Participating off-line (not real time) lets women real time) lets women check their work and thus check their work and thus have more confidence in have more confidence in their entriestheir entries

On-line courses can On-line courses can guarantee “turns” in guarantee “turns” in communicationscommunications

We require forum We require forum entriesentries


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Time and safety concerns

Females still do the bulk Females still do the bulk of care-givingof care-giving

Travel during late evening Travel during late evening studies and work is more studies and work is more dangerous for womendangerous for women

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And yet, women have And yet, women have dealt with this in other dealt with this in other sciencessciences

Much Internet work Much Internet work can be completed as can be completed as time is availabletime is available

No geographic No geographic limitationslimitations

No travel is required No travel is required on the Interneton the Internet


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Discrimination versus the Internet

Studies at MIT, for Studies at MIT, for example, show that example, show that women are not awarded women are not awarded equal salaries, space, equal salaries, space, honors, resources as menhonors, resources as men

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Although women have not Although women have not

surmounted discrimination surmounted discrimination in sciences and business, in sciences and business, that has not prevented that has not prevented their strong entrance into their strong entrance into other fields.other fields.

Internet support Internet support groups can provide groups can provide some assistance to some assistance to women in these women in these strugglesstruggles


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Is Computer Science for Women? Computers are used as Computers are used as

toys by boys but as tools toys by boys but as tools by girlsby girls

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And yet, in 1983-1985 And yet, in 1983-1985

there was a larger there was a larger percentage and absolute percentage and absolute number of women in number of women in undergraduate CS even undergraduate CS even though the material was at though the material was at a less abstract level.a less abstract level.

Is mathematics for girls? Is mathematics for girls?

Fisher – customize Fisher – customize curriculums, aided by curriculums, aided by Internet instructorsInternet instructors


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Is Computer Science For Women? Perhaps girls who look for Perhaps girls who look for

careers consider CS to be careers consider CS to be incompatible with raising a incompatible with raising a familyfamily

Perhaps CS is not Perhaps CS is not considered rewarding considered rewarding enoughenough

CS has the reputation of CS has the reputation of tekkies staying up all night tekkies staying up all night

Many CS jobs do have Many CS jobs do have crazy hourscrazy hours

Media gives CS a bum rapMedia gives CS a bum rap

The Internet allows work The Internet allows work from home – specifically from home – specifically appropriate for women appropriate for women with small childrenwith small children

Contrast working at home Contrast working at home for CS to medicine, for CS to medicine, nursing, elementary nursing, elementary school teachingschool teaching

These opportunities must These opportunities must be publicizedbe publicized


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Enhance traditional courses using the Internet

The web is a resource for obtaining materialThe web is a resource for obtaining material Research can be done in available timeResearch can be done in available time

Email is a powerful communication toolEmail is a powerful communication tool Women are more willing to ask a question by Women are more willing to ask a question by

email than in classemail than in class Answers should generally be forwarded to Answers should generally be forwarded to

entire classentire class The Internet is useful for team communicationThe Internet is useful for team communication


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Enhance traditional courses using the Internet Class material, such as syllabi, slides, etc. can be Class material, such as syllabi, slides, etc. can be

posted on web sitesposted on web sites Notes can be easily obtained if classes are Notes can be easily obtained if classes are

missedmissed Material from educational mailing lists can be Material from educational mailing lists can be

forwarded to classes as relevantforwarded to classes as relevant If we can get professors in different fields to use If we can get professors in different fields to use

Internet enhancement, women might get interested Internet enhancement, women might get interested in the field (back door)in the field (back door)


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On-line courses

Class material is posted on web sitesClass material is posted on web sites Required forum entries is chief tool of Required forum entries is chief tool of

communication between teacher and studentscommunication between teacher and students Males are limited in “hogging” discussionMales are limited in “hogging” discussion Students post entries as time permitsStudents post entries as time permits

Useful for care giversUseful for care givers Students have more time to think over the Students have more time to think over the

material and their answersmaterial and their answers


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On-line courses

There are few geographic or time restrictionsThere are few geographic or time restrictions It is easier to have multiple faculty members teach It is easier to have multiple faculty members teach

classesclasses In particular, top women faculty can be In particular, top women faculty can be

included in part of multiple high level coursesincluded in part of multiple high level courses It is easier to tailor courses to female strengths and It is easier to tailor courses to female strengths and

interestsinterests


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Grade distribution in 15 FDU web courses

GradeGrade WeightWeight #women#women # men# men Weighted-Weighted-

womenwomen

Weighted –Weighted –menmen

AA 44 2222 4040 88.0088.00 160.00160.00

A-A- 3.653.65 66 1313 21.9021.90 47.4547.45

B+B+ 3.333.33 44 1717 13.3213.32 56.6156.61

BB 33 66 77 18.0018.00 21.0021.00

B-B- 2.672.67 33 77 8.018.01 18.6918.69

C+C+ 2.332.33 11 55 2.332.33 11.6511.65

CC 22 00 55 0.000.00 10.0010.00

C-C- 1.671.67 00 11 0.000.00 1.671.67

FF 00 00 3 3 0.000.00 0.000.00

TotalsTotals 4242 9898 151.56(3.6)151.56(3.6) 327.07(3.3327.07(3.3))


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Distribution by classesClassClass #women#women GPAGPA #men#men GPAGPA

Intro to CS(7/01)Intro to CS(7/01) 33 4.04.0 55 4.04.0

DB DB (1/98,1/01,7/01)(1/98,1/01,7/01)

99 3.593.59 2323 3.113.11

Dist. DB (9/01)Dist. DB (9/01) 55 3.873.87 88 3.663.66

Competitive Competitive Adv.(1/02)Adv.(1/02)

11 4.004.00 33 3.663.66

File Sys (12/01)File Sys (12/01) 11 4.004.00 44 2.742.74

MIS (1/97,9/98)MIS (1/97,9/98) 55 4.004.00 99 3.963.96

MISII(9/97,1/01)MISII(9/97,1/01) 66 3.393.39 1313 3.363.36

Networks (9/98, Networks (9/98, 9/99,9/00,9/01)9/99,9/00,9/01)

1212 3.303.30 3333 3.183.18


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The Internet and Multiculturalism

Factors that favor women generally assist Factors that favor women generally assist minoritiesminorities Virtual support groupsVirtual support groups Geographically diverse teachersGeographically diverse teachers Written participation rather than oralWritten participation rather than oral

Time factorTime factor Diverse Internet reference material, perhaps in Diverse Internet reference material, perhaps in

a foreign languagea foreign language A web class as a virtual communityA web class as a virtual community


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Areas of necessary research

Gather on-line course statistics for:Gather on-line course statistics for: Other on-line programs at FDUOther on-line programs at FDU Other schoolsOther schools Traditional classroom programs, to Traditional classroom programs, to

compare with on-line programscompare with on-line programs Questionnaires to women about what is Questionnaires to women about what is

encouraging/discouraging about on-line encouraging/discouraging about on-line coursescourses


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Areas of necessary research

Utilize the Internet for dissemination of Utilize the Internet for dissemination of opportunities and advantages of CS for opportunities and advantages of CS for womenwomen Web pages on women scientists that Web pages on women scientists that

stress advantages of CS – work from stress advantages of CS – work from home, job satisfaction, family lifehome, job satisfaction, family life

Advertise internet enhancement tools for Advertise internet enhancement tools for traditional coursestraditional courses

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