According to a recent study, the reason there are not more women in the IT sector is that they’re put off by the ubiquitous cans of Coke and science fiction posters:
There’s more research out this week on the vexed question of why there aren’t more women in the field of computing and IT. According to the latest study, such seemingly harmless habits as putting up sci-fi posters or leaving cans of Coke about can be much more offputting than one might think.
“When people think of computer science the image that immediately pops into many of their minds is of the computer geek surrounded by such things as computer games, science fiction memorabilia and junk food,” says Sapna Cheryan, a junior trick-cyclist at the university of Washington, America. “That stereotype doesn’t appeal to many women who don’t like the portrait of masculinity that it evokes.”
Cheryan and her colleagues arranged multiple experiments and surveys among hundreds of non-computing-subjects students at Washington uni. Questionnaires were filled in in different rooms — one previously prepared with a science fiction poster, games kit and Coke cans; one instead with “nature” and “art” wall graphics, books and coffee cups. This stage dressing was ostensibly not part of the tests, but nonetheless it had a powerful effect on decisions by the ladies taking part.
I hate to break it to them, but sci-fi posters, role playing game kit, and scattered Coke and Red Bull cans do not present a portrait of masculinity. I guess, though, that this article has been peer reviewed and the science is settled, so there’s no denying it.
Clearly, this article rates a good, solid B+.
Comment by Lickmuffin — December 15, 2009 @ 10:12
Nice meme-work there, Lickmuffin.
Comment by Nicholas — December 15, 2009 @ 10:45
I’d originally written the introduction According to a recent
dubiousstudy, but I figured the word “dubious” was superfluous.Comment by Nicholas — December 15, 2009 @ 10:48