Computers and Girls

Abridged Story

From a news story by
CNN San Francisco Reporter Don Knapp

October 13, 1998

Boys and girls in this sixth grade class both can use the school computers. Studies show that in high school girls use computers less than boys. This causes a technology gap.

"Girls tend to be less comfortable than boys with the computer. They use it more for word processing rather than for problem solving..."

The studies show that girls make up only a small part of students in computer science classes. Girls usually say they have less computer ability than boys do. They are less sure when using computers. They use computers less often than boys outside the classroom.

"Boys are not so afraid they might do something that will harm the computer... girls are afraid they might break it somehow."

Six years ago, the software company Purple Moon found girls used computers less than boys do. They found the number one reason girls don't like computer games is because the games are so boring."

Girls want games with people like them and stories about what is going on in their own lives. The studies show there is no real reason why girls wouldn't want to play on a computer.

The sponsor of the study says the technology gap must be closed. Otherwise women will not have a fair chance in the job market in the 21st century.

Additional Notes:

The teachers working to develop this web site are very interested in helping students, female and male of all ages, become more computer literate. We hope that you will have time to explore some of the other web sites that we found on this topic.

• No Girls Allowed! This is an article by Melissa Koch from TECHNOS Quarterly For Education and Technology, Vol. 3, No. 3, Fall 1994

• Getting Girls Interested in Computers with a related article by the same author

• Science and Engineering Bachelor's Degrees Awarded to Women Increase Overall, but Decline in Several Fields: This is a report with statistics from the National Science Foundation.
• Gender Issues and Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL)
• Equity and Technology
• AAUW (American Association of University Women) has Gender Gaps Fact Sheets in Math, Science, and Technology

Here are some web sites from special programs working to improve access to technology.

• Girls, Inc. Operation SMART science, math and relevant technology
• Equals and Family Math - EQUALS programs at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California at Berkeley, provide workshops and curriculum materials in mathematics for teachers, parents, and community members.

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