In the academic year 2021/2022 in Spain, a report from the Ministry of Education revealed that there were very few women studying Computer Engineering. Only 14.1% of the students in this program were women. This isn’t surprising because women are often not well-represented in science and technology fields.
But what happens once women are in the classroom? Do they perform differently from men, and do they choose different areas of study?
Different paths
These questions were looked into by a group called EduSTEAM, which studies learning at universities. They found that women who start a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering tend to have more previous education than men. They also perform a bit better and choose different paths in their studies.
Many studies have looked at the gender gap in Computer Engineering, but not many have looked at how well women do in the program. The EduSTEAM researchers found that women and men have different backgrounds when they enter the program. Women often have a university degree already, while men usually come from a different kind of training program. This affects the paths they choose.
The researchers think that women’s prior education makes them better prepared when they start the Computer Engineering program. Women usually get better grades, especially in more theoretical areas, and they graduate a semester earlier. This is partly because they get credit for courses they’ve already taken.
New pathways
The study also found that the difficulty of the courses doesn’t affect women’s choices much. What does make a difference is how many courses they still need to take because of the credits they’ve already earned, and the challenges women face in getting top positions in organizations like Information Systems. Because of these factors, women tend to take fewer courses aimed at getting managerial positions and more responsibility at work.
The research also shows that male and female students choose different paths. Most women prefer software engineering, which is about creating solutions that help people. Men, on the other hand, have more varied interests, but they generally lean towards Information Systems.
According to the researchers, women often go for courses that focus on creating applications and interacting with users, starting from the user’s perspective and moving outward. Men, on the other hand, are more into hardware and systems development, starting from the inner workings of the computer.
Challenging beliefs
This study challenges two common beliefs: that women aren’t good at Computer Engineering and that they don’t enjoy programming. The researchers believe that by highlighting these findings, we can promote fairness, diversity, and innovation in universities.
“Quantifying and identifying barriers, biases and disparities enables us to create a more inclusive environment with equal access opportunities for men and women,” the researchers explain. “Furthermore, addressing gender differences helps establish models to be followed, propose policy changes, achieve global competitiveness and create a society that is fairer and more equitable.”
The gender gap in science and technology programs is a complex issue rooted in societal values tied to gender roles and stereotypes. These values are instilled in men and women through different socialization processes.
In our society, men are often expected to be assertive, competitive, and even aggressive. They may be encouraged to focus on objects and things. In contrast, women are often expected to express their feelings, show an interest in people, and find fulfillment in caring for others in society.
The UOC study uncovers differences between men and women in their choices, but it doesn’t delve deeply into the specific reasons behind these decisions. This leaves the door open for future research to shed light on the causes of this inequality, with the hope of addressing and perhaps eliminating these disparities.
