Gender Differences and Computing in Course Choice at Entry into Higher Education

Abstract

A sample of beginning students (387) who had just entered Higher Education were asked why they had made their course choices, and what their views were of the situation where low numbers of females were entering computing and technological areas. Whilst males in general were more instrumental in their course choices than females, computing students of both sexes appeared attracted by extrinsic awards perceived to go along with computing, and tended to deny that they were especially suited to study in their area. Potential female students of computing appeared to be put off by the prospect of harassment in predominantly male groups, and by problems linked to images of unfemininity. Whilst it was generally thought that females had the ability to study computers, school teachers were widely criticised for putting schoolgirls off technological subjects.