EXPOSURE, TRAINING, AND ENVIRONMENT: WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN COMPUTING EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES AND INDIA

摘要

The number of women pursuing a degree in computing education has been declining in the United States, whereas it has been increasing in India. This article addresses how the participation of women in computing education varies between the United States and India. It is based on in-depth interviews conducted with 60 female students majoring in computer science and computer engineering in the United States and with 60 female students majoring in computer science in India. The findings suggest that although female students are not exposed to the computer in India, as compared with the United States, strong training in mathematics makes Indian female students feel confident about their computing skills in contrast to American female students. Most importantly, the image of computing is of a women-friendly field in India, whereas in the United States, it is of a masculine field.