I don’t wanna sit in front of a computer all
day- Carter 2006
Lack of Information and MisconceptionsComputer science is what?
Programming? Excel, Word?
Few students, parents, or teachers know what computer scientists do
Too many sources misinform and reinforce stereotypes
Men chose for games
Women chose for use of the skills
Too Little Support & Encouragement
Peers and authorities » You’re studying what?
» Women need to explain their choice of CS
…but men don’t- Cohoon 2006
Isolation» Feeling like you do not
belong- Kissinger et al. 2009
And Stereotypes Are Bad … They can lead to mistakes, or miscategorization
African Americans
with modification by Cohoon 2012
Stereotypes Aren’t Just About Gender
Aronson, et a. 2999; Steele & Aronson 1998
Race, age, body mass, … all have associated stereotypes
E.g., Who scores higher on math tests?
White male engineering students?
Asian male engineering students?
Fear of confirming negative beliefs about my group …
» Hinders performance» Affects choices and
aspirations» Leads to harsh
personal standards, opting out if not met
Stereotypes can feel threatening
Correll 2004; Chasteen et al. 2005
Stereotype Threat: Easy to Trigger; Affects Motivated StudentsSome triggers
Gender imbalance in room
Stereotyped physical space
Attention called to gender
Stereotype Threat Masks Ability
Remove threat and women test better» Advanced calculus
course with 100 male, 57 female students
» No gender difference in course grades
» Significant difference in test performance without threat
Good, Aronson, Harder, 2008
Stereotype Threat Reduces Learning and Persistence
» Note-taking skill reduced by stereotype threat
» Feelings of belonging impaired
Appel et al. 2011; Good et al. 2012
» Don’t speak up in groups or classes
» Reluctant to take leadership roles
» Discount their performance
Stereotype Threat has subtle negative effects too
Avoid triggering stereotype threat
Gender balance in room
Create a welcoming physicalspace
Do not call attention to gender