Being A Woman In Computer Science
As a woman, I have always believed that women should obtain equal rights as men for we are all human. I do not seek to become superior to men; I just ask to be equally represented with equal opportunities, while also gaining respect so I can live and work to my full potential. As a Computer Science major, I feel a great responsibility to encourage other women to expand their horizons and take STEM courses such as Computer Science. Solving global problems takes knowledge, drive, persistence, and risk-taking which are all character traits that are not commonly associated with women. I feel that I am here for a purpose to set an example for other women because “you can’t be what you can’t see. ” In Too Heavy a Load, Mary Church Terrell, a national activist for civil rights and suffrage, had said that “We must go into our communities and improve them; we must go out into the nation and change it. ”
With my education combined with the important quality of determination and courage, these traits would give me a greater awareness of my strengths and capabilities, allowing me to break stereotypes as well as enjoy a fulfilling and accomplished life. I was extremely overwhelmed and intimidated when I first stepped foot into my computer science classroom as a senior in high school. To my surprise, I was one of two girls in a class of 28 students. The biggest challenge that I had faced was that most students in my class did not believe I was capable of succeeding in a field comprised of math, science, and engineering — all which are dominated by males. In computing, you often work as a collaborative team, however, I was never viewed as an authority figure equal to my male partner due to the negative social bias regarding women in leadership positions.
I strongly believe that the stigma “there are no women in computer science” could be erased if we had the support of men in leadership positions who are willing to speak about this form of gender oppression and who are willing to make a difference. E. L Park, the dean of men at Howard University, spoke with respect to the treatment and protection of black women. He claimed that “young black men showed ‘a lack of thoughtful respect for the personality of young women, ’. . . only when they respected each other would black men and women ‘advance together in the highest and noblest development. ’” In that respect, I believe that this correlates to men showing recognition of women in the computer science and engineering fields so that we as a team can work together to advance and progress in our society. I have always felt very out of place in my STEM courses because they all lacked a female-friendly environment. I was constantly excluded from my classmates conversations regarding abstract algorithms and their expertise in coding because they made the assumption that it was “too technical” and masculine for me to know anything, and therefore I wasn’t allowed to participate. I found this type of isolation to be very frustrating and disheartening because I was just as talented, educated, and hardworking as my male counterparts though they still discouraged me from entering the field. Instead, men alongside women, need to recognize our capabilities, speak up, and encourage women to take STEM courses because men are currently represented in this field.
My STEM classes at Penn State looked no different than the ones I had taken in high school. However, I was very pleased to see that the school of engineering had recognized the lack of participation of women in STEM fields. I now have the privilege of joining an abundant source of clubs that act as support groups and encourage women to rise to the challenge. Specifically, SWE (Society of Women Engineers) has allowed me to form connections with female engineers from all over the world. Their mission statement is to “stimulate women to achieve as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity. ” Similar to sororities founded by African Americans, SWE recruits women leaders that have programs put in place to help other women succeed. Both clubwomen and SWE seek to find role models that engage in public service while promoting gender equality. Clubs like these provide opportunities and open the door for women like me to become leaders and speak out for change. Still, I found a great dilemma within the leaders of the club. If we remained true to the traditional feminine stereotype of being too soft and emotional, men would not view us as adequate leaders capable of authority. However, if we abandoned these stereotypes, men view us as too tough with very masculine traits. Men have been criticizing clubwomen for adopting a masculine leadership style for a long time now. Too Heavy a Load, states that “to accomplish their goals they had to act in ways that most contemporary American, including back men, considered unfeminine. ”
There is a massive problem with defining femininity in regards to masculinity. Our hopes and dreams are not associated with the “typical women” image our society has encouraged which is why they are thought to be flawed. At Penn State I have been able to discover my true self-image as a computer scientist that I had not been able to find in high school. I may not have chosen to continue my computer science career if it wasn't for Penn State's programs where I have been able to find like-minded friends who have accompanied me on my path to learn and grow. In high school I was always very disconnected from both my teacher and peers and I am now relieved that I no longer have to watch my male classmates collaborate as I struggle to complete tasks alone.
