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What Has Driven Women Out of Computer Science?
NY Times ^ | November 16, 2008 | RANDALL STROSS

Posted on 11/15/2008 8:33:25 PM PST by neverdem

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To: Myrddin

HEY-———

I worked at Unisys (Sperry/Uinvac) and developed the IC for the 1100 (Micro 1100) in the Semiconductor Division in Eagan, Mn......

Where were you...??


141 posted on 11/16/2008 4:51:30 AM PST by LiveFreeOrDie2001 (It's not Obama, it's O-bey-me !!!)
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To: rbg81

My grandson just started college in software engineering. Reading this thread to this point has given me the jitters.


142 posted on 11/16/2008 5:02:15 AM PST by Conservativegreatgrandma
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To: neverdem
What Has Driven Women Out of Computer Science?

Same as men: the jobs have been outsourced.

143 posted on 11/16/2008 5:03:03 AM PST by GingisK
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To: buccaneer81

Spinsters with attitude


144 posted on 11/16/2008 5:05:27 AM PST by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Save America......... put out lots of waferin)
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To: neverdem

My son is grqaduating with a degree In Management Information Systems.
Anybody know much about that? What is the job outlook for that field?


145 posted on 11/16/2008 5:05:57 AM PST by DainBramage
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To: rbg81
Honestly, that is total BS. I have heard the “outsourcing” claim thrown around for years.

It is obvious that YOU are not in the field. Ten years ago, there were 5,000 jobs advertised in Atlanta alone for "hard core" software. (Not web related.) Today there are precisely four advertised. Book stores used to have large sections brimming with CS books, now there are only a couple of shelves with "ho hum" computer books. (No demand.) Ten years ago the software trade journals were plentiful and very thick. Now most of them don't exist and the surviving rags are but a few pages and mostly content-less.

I entered this career in 1972, graduating with top honors. It was easy to find a job. Now, it is nearly impossible.

146 posted on 11/16/2008 5:13:51 AM PST by GingisK
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To: CodeToad

LOL! That is not too darn far from the truth.

Frankly, I miss the ones I worked with. Most, not all, were not jerks. The technical testosterone was something to behold. They were an interesting breed.


147 posted on 11/16/2008 5:15:37 AM PST by Ladysmith
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To: neverdem

It’s simple “Outsourcing”. They are just a step ahead of the curve


148 posted on 11/16/2008 5:41:18 AM PST by grb
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To: neverdem

Who cares what the cause is, what is important is the solution, and that is to kick 5 out of every 6 males out of computer science so that we can achieve the desired result.

It’s the hope and change that America needs.


149 posted on 11/16/2008 5:52:23 AM PST by RFEngineer
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To: neverdem

The short skirts on the Star Trek TOS uniforms.


150 posted on 11/16/2008 5:58:39 AM PST by GAB-1955 (Kicking and Screaming into the Kingdom of Heaven!)
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To: neverdem

What has driven women out of computer science?

By The way I just read all the comments to check and make sure it hasn’t been said

One word.....

Porn.


151 posted on 11/16/2008 6:02:46 AM PST by usmcobra (Go ask Obama for your change, and don't bug me!)
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To: billorites

I went to an (almost) all day Grace Hopper speaking/training engagement once. I still have the “nano-second” she gave me. What a gal! The Admiral really knew her stuff, and was an excellent teacher.

I teach IT now at Auburn University, and often remember her and try to emulate her style.

I have about 5/1 ratio guys to gals in my classes. They’re certainly welcome, so I can’t explain it.


152 posted on 11/16/2008 6:02:47 AM PST by Alas Babylon!
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To: neverdem

Most of ‘em grew up and became managers.


153 posted on 11/16/2008 6:11:30 AM PST by Doohickey (The more cynical you become, the better off you'll be.)
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To: milestogo

Yeah, but who DIDN’T look like that in the mid-70s? It was a very ugly decade.


154 posted on 11/16/2008 6:12:57 AM PST by dfwgator (I hate Illinois Marxists)
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To: GingisK
It is obvious that YOU are not in the field.

Yeah, whatever. [/sarc]

Actually, it is obvious YOU are not in the field. A few minutes of research would show that your personal observations don't match up against reality. But don't take my word for it: BLS Stats

Common sense also tells you that the amount of software our society uses is increasing, not decreasing. That software does not write itself. Also, I am not sure what you mean by "hard core" software. While I agree that web site design (HTML) is not software development, creating websites still requires a massive amount of software development expertise (JavaScript, XML, datbabases, PHP, ASP.NET).

A lot of companies advertise for developers now thru the web, not via newspapers. Most big defense companies are begging for software developers 'cause their existing employees are retiring and no one wants to work for them (not cool enough and too much paperwork).

A lot of people have also left the field because software development is so much harder now than it used to be. When I graduated, all you really needed to know was Fortran and assembler. Now you need to know Java, C++/C#, web programming, security, OOP--its very daunting. Of course, the development environments are a lot better (almost no debuggers in 1980), so that evens the playing field some.

155 posted on 11/16/2008 6:40:33 AM PST by rbg81 (DRAIN THE SWAMP!!)
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To: GingisK
The one thing I will grant you (and maybe this is where you're coming from) it that companies do tend to want the younger kids fresh out of school or those with experience under 30. For those software developers over 40, the ones that tend to thrive are the consultants who have a lot of current experience doing different things. Developers who stay at one company tend to move into management and get obsolete. When it comes time to change jobs, they are at a definite disadvantage.

Most companies know that older people tend not to code as well or as intensely as younger ones. Its just the way it is.
156 posted on 11/16/2008 6:52:18 AM PST by rbg81 (DRAIN THE SWAMP!!)
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To: usmcobra

Porn


Huh? I think a few words of explanation are needed here. Given that any computer with a browser and an Internet connection has access to porn, not sure what you mean.


157 posted on 11/16/2008 6:55:05 AM PST by rbg81 (DRAIN THE SWAMP!!)
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To: LiveFreeOrDie2001
I work with a woman Engineer and I mentioned something that is 36 inches. She asked: “How many feet in 36 inches...?”

Domestic or foreign? I could see someone who lived with metric not knowing our system. It would be similar to me going to Britain and staring blankly when they say something weighs so many stones (I googled it and a stone 14 pounds, which is just short of $21).

158 posted on 11/16/2008 7:30:16 AM PST by KarlInOhio (11/4: The revolutionary socialists beat the Fabian ones. Where can we find a capitalist party?)
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To: Melas

WINNER!


159 posted on 11/16/2008 7:38:05 AM PST by mad_as_he$$ (Nemo me impune lacessit.)
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To: Gone_Postal
Is that an elevator control box or a bomb?
160 posted on 11/16/2008 7:39:21 AM PST by mad_as_he$$ (Nemo me impune lacessit.)
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