Asks why computers are more attractive to boys than to girls and offers a cultural framework for explaining the apparent sex differences. Speculates that computing is neither inherently difficult nor uninteresting to girls, but rather that computer games and other software might have to be designed differently for girls. (Author/ABB)

Recent technological developments in interfaces, programing philosophy, and artificial intelligence may invite the participation of women programers, who find a concrete, intuitive, and informal style of programing more congenial than the hierarchical, rule-driven style heretofore pervasive in computer culture. (DM)

Discusses the University of Wisconsin's Women and Science program which is a four-year program aimed at addressing the underrepresentation of women and minorities in mathematics, science, and engineering. Discusses extra challenges in computing, encourages faculty to share concerns with students, and offers some solutions that can be applied in…

Finds that computer and mathematics avoidance among women is the result of attitudes, expectations, and discrimination. Present-day creative computing relies upon skills not limited to those with a math and science orientation, and should prove a rewarding occupation to women. (DM)

Explored the relationship among cognitive style, performance, gender, and communication among computer students. Found a significant relationship between performance and cognitive style; students whose cognitive style scores indicated a preference for analytical thinking had better performance scores when entering college than those with a…

Describes biographical/life story methods used to explore the underrepresentation of women in computing courses in the United Kingdom. Explains how interviews were structured and conducted and illustrates the method of transcription used. (SK)

Presents preliminary findings from the "Second National Survey of Instructional Uses of School Computers." Areas explored include how many teachers regularly use computers with students, what subjects computer-using teachers teach, who gets to use school computers (boys or girls), and other areas. (JN)

Two studies--conducted in 1987 and 1988 in high schools in the Madison, Wisconsin, Metropolitan School District--investigated the existence of gender related differences in high school elective computer courses and factors affecting the differences. In the first study, a two-part survey was administered to the total population of students enrolled…

Surveyed the entire middle school population of a rural-suburban school district to determine the general attitudes of students toward computers. Findings are reported for differences in general attitudes toward computers between boys and girls, seventh and eighth-graders, and those who had computers and those who did not. (JN)

This study analyzed the enrollment of two computer classes at a public high school in northern Indiana to see if there was any computer inequity. The two classes examined--an introduction to computers course and a computer programming course--were studied over a period of four years. The sample consisted of 388 students in four years of the…

This examination of computer equity argues that current educational trends--which emphasize teaching applications of computers rather than programming--will limit the computer skills of students. Added to this difficulty is the argument that some students (often minority and female students) need not be pushed to learn programming if they don't…

Examined effects of beginning computer programing instruction, sex, and home computers on the attitudes of fifth-grade students (N=49). Results of this pilot study showed higher attitudes following instruction and no differences between the sexes or between those who had computers and those who did not. (JN)

A study of 115 female and 87 male college students in an introductory computer science course surveyed student attitudes in relation to gender, experience, and parental encouragement and determined that females were less interested in computers and less confident than males and that males were more experienced. After the one semester course,…

The ways in which women tend to be disadvantaged in computing courses are examined. The apparent technology-centeredness of computing, the emphasis accorded mathematics as well as narrow problem solving skills and the undervaluing of broadly based problem solving and communication skills are discussed. (Author/MLW)

Describes a study of undergraduates at Bolton Institute (England) that investigated biological sex, psychological masculinity and femininity, computer comfort, computer engagement, and computer over-use. Discusses the role of applications in determining sex differences, and explains findings that imply that some reduction of sex asymmetries in…