Still a stranger here

Abstract

Numerous studies have examined the possible explanations for the paucity of women with computer science majors in undergraduate studies. Much of this work has focused on the undergraduate years themselves. We present results from a survey of American secondary school students in advanced mathematics and computer science classes. We conclude that both male and female students continue to see computer science as a primarily "male" field and to make their career choices accordingly. We suggest two means to combat this perception - single-sex summer workshops for secondary school girls and mother-daughter computer science clubs for elementary school girls.