and potentially open to the changes
we seek. This means we aim to continue to pay close attention to the issue, provide institutional support, a
willingness to act, and flexibility to enable change. The CMU approach recognizes that ultimately diversity and
inclusion benefit the school, the community, and field of computing.
References
1. Adams, J. Bauer, V. and Baichoo, S. An expanding
pipeline: Gender in Mauritius. In Proceedings of the
2003 ACM SIGCSE (Reno, Nevada, 2003), ACM Press,
New York, 59–63.
2. Alvarado, C., Dodds, Z., and Libeskind-Hadas, R.
Increasing Women’s participation in computing at Harvey
Mudd College. ACM Inroads, 4 (Apr. 2012), 55–64.
3. Blum, L. and Frieze, C. As the culture of computing
evolves, similarity can be the difference. Frontiers 26, 1
(Jan. 2005), 110–125.
4. Blum, L. and Frieze, C. In a more balanced computer
science environment, similarity is the difference and
computer science is the winner. Computing Research
News 17, 3 (Mar. 2005).
5. Frieze, C. et al. Where are you really from? Mitigating
unconscious bias on campus. EasyChair Preprint no.
531 (2108); https://doi.org/10.29007/345g
6. Frieze, C. and Quesenberry, J.L. Kicking Butt in
Computer Science: Women in Computing at Carnegie
Mellon University. Dog Ear Publishing, 2015.
7. Frieze, C. and Quesenberry, J.L. From difference to
diversity: Including women in The Changing Face of
Computing. In Proceedings of the 2013 ACM SIGCSE
(Denver, Colorado, 2013), ACM Press, New York,
445–450.
8. Frieze, C. et al. Diversity or difference? New research
supports the case for a cultural perspective on women
in computing. Journal of Science Education and
Technology 21, 4 (Apr. 2011), 423–439.
9. Galpin, V. Women in computing around the world.
ACM SIGCSE Bulletin–Women in Computing 34, 2
(Feb. 2002), 94–100.v
10. Gray, J. Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus.
HarperCollins, New York, 1992.
11. Margolis, J., and Fisher, A. Unlocking the Clubhouse:
Women in Computing. MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 2002.
12. Othman, M. and Latih, R. Women in computer science:
No shortage here!” Commun. ACM 49, 3 (Mar. 2006),
111–114.
13. Stephens-Davidowitz, S. Google, tell me. Is my son a
genius? The New York Times (Jan. 18, 2014).
14. Veilleux, N. et al. The relationship between belonging
and ability in computer science. In Proceedings of the
44th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science
Education (2013), 65–70.
15. Zweben, S. and Bizot, B. 2016 Taulbee Survey.
Computing Research Association 29, 5 (May 2017),
3–51; https://bit.ly/2STxBeJ
Carol Frieze ( cfrieze@cs.cmu.edu) is Director of
Women@SCS and SCS4ALL, organizations that build
community on campus, provide leadership and networking
opportunities, and promote diversity in computer science,
at the School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon
University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Jeria L. Quesenberry ( jeriaq@andrew.cmu.edu) is an
Associate Teaching Professor of Information Systems in
the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences at
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
This column is derived from the authors’ book Kicking
Butt in Computer Science: Women in Computing at
Carnegie Mellon University;
6 the authors’ next book, Global
Perspectives on Women in Computing (working title), will
be published in early 2019 by Cambridge University Press.
The opinions expressed in this column are the authors
alone and do not reflect the opinions of the Carnegie
Mellon University or any other employee thereof.
Copyright held by authors.
CS major. Are men and women getting
similar opportunities for such things
as leadership, visibility, networking,
mentoring, and advocacy? Are women
involved and given a central voice in
shaping the culture?
While a good academic life is critical for success, students also need to
feel like they belong socially14— this
will enhance their sense of academic
fit. Indeed college life is best viewed
holistically. Do not underestimate the
value of student organizations, and of
social events where information is exchanged, friendships and communities are formed, and where everyone
gets a chance to be included in the latest student discussions.
The persistent gender gap in CS
is well documented, but there is less
sharing of the success stories. By telling the CMU story we hope to illustrate
a successful approach, one that can
help the field of computing become
more inclusive.c At the same time, we
cannot become complacent. Gender
balance at the undergraduate level
is not an end in itself and our efforts
need to continue. Success with gender
diversity is one important step in developing strategies to be more inclusive of all who are underrepresented
in the field of computing. In doing so
we believe the CMU approach, with a
focus on culture is particularly advantageous because culture is mutable
c We recognize that women and men are not
single separate categories and yet we are as
guilty as anyone for using the term “women”
and “men.” We are all shaped by complex
identities and experiences and a multitude of
determinants are involved in our choosing or
not choosing to study computer science.
The persistent
gender gap
in computer science
is well documented,
but there is
less sharing
of success stories.
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