View Point

Saturday, December 5, 1998

Girls must
master computers

By Betty White

WHILE girls have been closing the gender gap in math and science, the American Association of University Women notes a new one opening up in computer science. In its Oct. 14 report, "Gender Gaps: Where Schools Still Fail Our Children," AAUW refers to technology as the new "boy's club" in our nation's public schools, since girls make up a significantly smaller percentage of students in computer science classes.

Boys write and use programs which problem solve, while girls use computers primarily for word processing and data entry -- the 1990s version of typing.

This latest AAUW report is being touted as a wake-up all for parents, educators and all who are concerned with gender stereotypes. As technology becomes a daily part of our lives, a competitive nation cannot afford to allow girls to be on the outside looking in on tomorrow's world.

As technology changes the workplace and all facets of society, we have a tremendous opportunity to confront the gender gap and eliminate its counter productive and debilitating nature. Schools must work smarter and harder to ensure that girls graduate with the knowledge and abilities needed to compete and succeed in the 21st century.

Women constitute 51 percent of the population and 46 percent of the labor force, but only 22 percent of scientists and engineers. According to the National Center for Education, in 1997, five times more men than women earned master's degrees in computer sciences and engineering.

Furthermore, the National Science Foundation estimates that by 2011, one quarter of all careers will be technologically oriented. During the early years of the new millennium, the number of computer programmers, engineers and systems analysts is expected to grow by 90 percent.

Clearly, the new work frontier is technologically based, and women must be trained to take part. Failure to be competitive in equal numbers with their male counterparts will create a technological employment gap for women which will have serious consequences in their professional and economic futures.

Consider these tips:

Close the gender gap. Don't assume girls are not interested in technology. Research shows that in their early years, girls have just as much interest in science and technology as boys. This interest needs to be encouraged at school as well as in the home.

Take technology outside a laboratory setting. Remind girls that high tech plays an important role everywhere in life, from arcade games to architecture, and even in pop music.

Consider where the home computer is located. If sons and daughters share a computer, put it in a common area where everyone has equal access, rather than in one child's room.

Seek out role models. Use contacts in the school and business community to invite women scientists and engineers to serve as Internet pen-pals with female students.

Train teachers to address the ways in which girls approach and use technology, which will ensure a more inclusive technological future for all students.

Keep parents and counselors involved in course selection. Girls must realize the important connection between studying math, science and technology, and achieving successful, lucrative and interesting careers. Women can no longer assume that their jobs are fall-back positions and that their income is an add-on for the extras in their families.

Be quick with answers. When girls ask, "Why take more math, science and technology?," answer simply: "That is where the money and jobs are!"

Let us not allow silent female voices and demure responses to the technology explosion to foster the gender lag. Everyone has an equal and tremendous opportunity to be on the ground floor of the technology revolution.

Education and active participation in technology by girls at home and school will bring about an exciting and productive society that is more "gender gap-less" than ever before.

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Betty White is principal of Sacred Hearts Academy.