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April 30, 2005
How to interest more girls in tech careers
Jacquelynne Eccles, a University of Michigan psychologist, says that girls steer away from careers in math, science and engineering because they view them as solitary pursuits: "In order to increase the number of women in science, we also need to make young women more interested in these fields, and that means making them aware that science is a social endeavor that involves working with and helping people."
See: Why Women Shy Away from Careers in Science and Math (via Mind Hacks)
Posted by Foe at 09:36 AM in Research | Permalink
Comments
Programming is a solitary pursuit, one that is not particularly suited to any person that thrives on human interaction. That said there are many times when being good at human interaction will assist you in being a better programmer. I think we should make sure opportunities exist for women pusue careers in math, science and engineering, make sure they are able to make informed decisions about their career choices. I am against any form of coersion that encourages people into careers that don't suit there personality. Essentially I don't believe there is anything wrong with fewer women than men entering these professions as long as it is down to informed choice and not barriers to entry. This is just my viewpoint and I would like to hear others.
Posted by: Charlie Barker at May 13, 2005 5:32:26 PM
Although, I will agree that most women will shy from the technical field,
at the same time, there is no need for us to do so. It goes back to the
whole right brain, left brain psychology.
It would do everyone an inner reflection to examine where they sit in the left brain,
right brain psychology.
Historically speaking, it is well know that women and men have separated
themselves into into the occuptations of right-left brain tendencies.
The choice of our jobs is vital to our happiness.
Most women will push themselves to the norm of the ways of the world,
instead of our own natural inclinations, that will not only inhibit us, but
set us in a rut that will reap only unhappiness in our lives. I believe that more females are more prone to a 50-50 female-male balance and yet, they set themselves into a societal goal to any occupation that is non-left brain oriented. Personally, I have been tested. I am more of a perfect balance. I believe that most women are sided to being non-sided. We use both sides, hence, we see both sides of the problem. Most women, in my own humble opinion, can look at a problem on both sides of their mind. Here is the logical perspective, here is what should be produced and how I improve upon what is produced. Perfect use of both hemispheres of the brain. Too often then not, most women forget that there is a balance in the way they rationalize problems and logic, yet they tend to conform to the more submissive result, rather than the full idealogy that can be produced.
Posted by: Pam McCratic at May 16, 2005 12:23:02 AM
