Defying the Lack of Women in Computer Science

Computer science has remained a male-dominated field for quite some time. Years of statistics show how lack of representation and resources have caused an insufficient number of female programmers. With free computer science education at Codefy, we are firm believers in providing opportunities to inspire young girls to consider computer science as a career.

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You might believe that computer science has become inclusive and diverse with new applications in all kinds of careers. Unfortunately, that is far from the truth. Data collected over many years show the deficiency of women in computer science, and the numbers are even lower for female minorities. This problem is a direct result of the lack of representation and lack of resources available to young girls. Without many opportunities to consider computer science as a career, many women and minorities often disregard a future in computer science. 

Percentages of women in computer science have always been low, but what is more concerning is that the percentages have been decreasing. In 1985, only 34% of people who received a bachelor’s degree in computer science were women, but in 2017, only 19% were women. In regards to this downward trend, Sameeksha Garg, a director for the Python Basic classes, believes “it’s definitely really discouraging to see the percentage decrease so much”. The low numbers are not limited to college degrees either. In 2018, 26% of the computer science workforce were women, and 11% of those women were minorities of Black, Asian, or Hispanic backgrounds. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the percentage of women who earn a degree in computer science is the smallest compared to all other fields of study. How is it possible that women in computer science are almost rare?

Due to the lack of representation, women and girls often lose the confidence to enter the computer science field. Garg adds, “A lack of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) leads to a lack of role models for young girls to look up to, and it’s very discouraging when looking for potential careers.” Even with the right skills and passion, Garg ultimately believes that “Seeing more men than women in STEM inevitably leads to a mindset of ‘CS is not a career for me’”. With that mindset, women often give up without even trying. On the other hand, with men dominating the field, young boys have plenty of role models to look up to, therefore, they don’t get as discouraged as young girls. 

People who are not used to the computer science field, like underrepresented women, are likely to believe that they must write perfect code and can’t make any mistakes. However, computer science depends on trial-and-error, and building that confidence in programming skills, through more opportunities, is key to ensure a more diverse future in this field. 

Research continues to show that when women and minorities take introductory courses to computer science, especially at younger ages, they are more likely to pursue computer science as a career. These beginner-level, introductory courses show young girls that a career in this field is possible and that programming is open to anyone. These young girls are inspired and can start to see themselves coding beautiful websites and exciting games. Unfortunately, such courses can cost a lot of money or are not offered in certain parts of our country. This further highlights the importance of creating accessible and free resources.

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At Codefy, we hope to be that introductory class and more to many young girls around the nation. By providing a variety of free, online coding lessons, we aim to give opportunities to underrepresented people and diversify the field. By learning coding languages, young girls can feel inspired to pursue a computer science career. With just an internet connection and a computer, anyone around the country can gain access to quality lessons and personal mentoring with Codefy. Garg agrees that, “organizations like Codefy are contributing to increasing the percentage of women in STEM, and I have a feeling that in the future, we will see more diversity and positive change”.