Barriers For Women in Computing

The way that computing is presented and taught in schools has a major impact on girls? third level choice and can motivate them to either choose computing or reject it as a career choice. Girls? interest in communication, group work and social usefulness needs to be stimulated by presenting computing as a communication too and emphasising its social dimensions, as well as its technical possibilities, within the educational curriculum. This book aimed to identify barriers to women?s participation and progression in computing and to highlight positive factors that influence women?s career choice and academic success. It indicates that the problem of women?s underrepresentation does not lie in women?s lack of ability or interest, or their false perception of computing, but rather in the academic and cultural environment which is inherently, as well as stereotypically masculine.