I am a computer scientist because my family encouraged me.
My father buoyed my confidence by introducing me to basic computer skills. When
my sisters failed to install a program or locate a file, I helped because my
father had taught me how. As I grew older, my father supplied me with
complicated software along with expensive scanners and pen tablets. His actions
showed me that I was a competent and intelligent computer user. My
brother solidified my decision to become a computer scientist. I enrolled in my
first computer science class because my brother expressed confidence in my
abilities. When I become discouraged, he shared his own experiences and difficulties.
My family showed me that I was capable before I recognized my own abilities. Build
up a computer savvy girl by showing her she’s capable.
When I read that lack of confidence was a barrier to women in computing, I didn't give it much thought. Your personal experience gives some validity to this idea that women may just need some encouragement. Good for you for overcoming the barrier.
ReplyDeleteI can see why some girls are deterred from STEM. Whenever I learned of a girl doing engineering I would think "wow, she must be REALLY smart" but meeting a guy doing engineering did not result in the same awestruck reaction. I think the stereotype I've fallen victim to is that girls can only succeed in STEM if they are at the tip top of their class (which you were...). So if you hadn't been at the top of your class, would you still have been encouraged? Obviously I'd like to think so since it was our own family encouraging you :)
ReplyDeleteI wonder if some people don't choose to go into computer science because they lack encouragement, not only from family, but from society at large. Do you think a lack of encouragement has deterred women specifically from computer science? If so, what could we do as a society to combat that?
ReplyDeleteI do think lack of encouragement has deterred women specifically from computer science. I'm not sure what we as a society should do about it. But I do know what I think we should do as families. I think it's important to help our families to stretch past what they see as possible. For example with drawing... I think there's a point in everyone's life where they get the idea that they can't draw. Then they become a self fulfilling prophecy by never drawing and thus never getting any better. We treat programming as if it was the same way, that either you have it or you don't. But I think the talent portion has a lot less impact on success than proper instruction and practice.
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