Gender in Computer Science and Classics: College Admission Essay Sample

In September 2015, I found myself in what was, for me, an unprecedented situation: the boys in my Computer Science class outnumbered the girls. The difference was not a significant one – six boys to four girls – but consider this. Of the 180 students in my year, only around 20 are boys, a fact that makes the gender composition of my class even more troubling. I have had a very fortunate upbringing; I never felt my gender held me back, having attended same-sex schools until Sixth Form. The gender gap was simply not something I considered when making my IB subject choices. It was not until this moment that I began to understand that I am unusual in both computer science and in classical studies; unusual because of my gender.

For the two subjects I am most passionate about to be lacking a female voice is disappointing, not just in terms of the obstacles this may create for me, but what the fields are losing by having predominantly male input. A one-sided perspective in classics hinders our understanding of female authors, such as Sulpicia, and how women lived in the ancient world. The lack of diversity in computer science is resulting in a failure to account for female perspectives, both when creating software for the public (the hyper-sexualisation of women in gaming is a blatant display of this) and, worryingly, in the development of artificial intelligence. With regard to the former, it frustrates me that women are being overlooked on a regular basis. Apple’s Health app did not track menstrual or reproductive health until 2015; Apple’s technology workforce is still only 23% female (a fact that Apple's marketers display with apparent pride on their website). Such companies continue to stubbornly create blind spots for themselves. Why?

Given that computer programming was considered a women’s job for many years, I find the issue of gender in computing particularly interesting. Many of the barriers women face occur even before they reach the workplace; I have been lucky enough to bypass many of these, but even so I have experienced the overwhelming feeling of being an anomaly in a male environment. I believe this is what plays the greatest part in turning girls away from computing at an educational level. For this reason, I believe organisations such as Girls Who Code and Kode With Klossy have great potential, as they introduce young women to software development at a time when they are most insecure and most likely to be discouraged from pursuing it. I was especially inspired by the latter, and the way Karlie Kloss used her influence as a model to reach a fan base of girls who perhaps had never considered computer science as a prospect.

Women of the generation above mine are eager to bring more gender diversity to their fields; I am already feeling the same. I have endeavoured to use my role as Latin Subject Leader and leader of STEM club to promote classics and computer science respectively to younger students. Perhaps if the gender gap is ever to narrow, this is the key. Rather than the previous generation encouraging the next, we as young women should be providing the support girls need. We are not the role models of the future; we are already role models, ready to play our part.