Gender and Race Differences in Computing Attitudes and Experience

Abstract

A gender and race/ethnicity gap exists both m computer experience and computer attitudes. The fact that computer-related activities are seen as white and male may influence and discourage women and minorities from making an academic commitment to careers for which high-technology skills are essential. Through these societal perceptions of computers as white and male, and through related instructional biases in our schools, we may be creating a technological underclass. To understand these differences and to help to try to alleviate them, this study was designed to determine how individuals' attitudes toward computing differ, what roles computers play in their lives, and what issues negatively affect their participation and attitudes. A questionnaire was administered to students at a large public urban university. We found that (i) men have more computer experience, (2) men have more favorable attitudes toward computers—women had significantly less favorable attitude scores, (3) persons of different races or ethnicities have differing computer experience—whites had the most years of experience, Hispanics had the fewest years of experience; (4) attitudes toward computing differ by race and ethnicity Several implications for instruction are drawn from the results. Keywords computers, attitudes toward computing, race/ethnicity differences, gender differences, computing experience.