“Most important, with a positive attitude, women can make the most of their situation.” Ellen Spertus, Why Are There So Few Female Computer Scientists? (http://people.mills.edu/spertus/Gender/pap/pap.html)

This report, an internal study by MIT about why women avoid computer science, is the perfect starting place for my article. They recognize the problem but the solution is just beyond their grasp. The suggestions about how to attract more women to the profession make no recognition that it may be the profession that needs to change. It’s just going to be tough for women because they aren’t as good at math as men so they’re naturally going to have to work harder. The report seems to be more about harassment. It does acknowledge that women have different styles of thinking and that there should be a place for their type of programming. But that doesn’t really come out in the final recommendations. How convenient that it is written by a woman.