Computer Science: Still Perceived as a Man's World
Source: Max Miceli

Most everyone thinks girls are less interested and less likely to be successful in learning computer science than boys, according to the results of a Gallup and Google study released Tuesday. And even more depressing: It's not even close.

From parents to teachers to students themselves, the consensus is that males are more interested in computer science, and it shows in the attitude of students regarding the topic.



151118_compscigallupgraph

The discrepancies run deeper than just interest in the subject, too. Students, teachers and parents all believe boys are more likely than girls to be successful in learning computer science.



151118_compscigraph2

And of female students between the seventh and 12th grades surveyed in 2014, only 18 percent said they were very likely to learn more about computer science in the future. Meanwhile, 35 percent of male students had the same response.

Only one-third of females believed it was "very likely" they would ever have a job that required computer science skills; 42 percent of male students felt similarly.

In a separate study published in Psychological Science, researchers suggested that math anxiety could be passed down from parents to children. Gallup's results suggest that a similar mentality could be getting passed down when it comes to women in computer science.

The Gallup findings also dovetail with data from the most recent U.S. News/Raytheon STEM Index that show male students scored higher than female students in all STEM �C science, technology, engineering and math �C Advanced Placement exams.