Everyone wins as girls study computer science, and other subjects once dominated by boys
Print Edition
For many years, the computer science classes in most schools have been predominantly made up of boys, and Shanghai Singapore International School has been no exception. However change is happening fast. I have noticed a trend for more and more girls to be signing up for such classes. I have also noted that these girls tend to do very well, in many cases outpacing their male classmates.
This year in Grade-10 computer science, Cheryl is the one girl in a cohort of five students. In Grade 9, there are four girls in a class of 20, and all of them are performing outstandingly well in a course which had previously been totally male dominated.
Take the Grade-10 student Cheryl, for example. She intends to study computer science as a degree option in university and when asked about being in a class of all boys, she said that it’s quite fun to be with the guys.
“The boys can be a bit crazy,” she commented, “but I also have one friend who knows almost as much as me and I can consult him when I need extra ideas, and the other boys often come and ask me for help too. My dad studied computer science at university, so I grew up with computers all around me. I’m deeply interested in discovering how computers really work at a code level and to understand the concepts behind the software.”
Cheryl is fairly typical of the new generation of female coders. They are not only increasing in number, but they tend to be very focused learners and serious about their work. What’s more, they generally out-perform their male peers. The boys, on the other hand, find that having girls in the class is a calming influence, and the girls provide them with role models and shake up the complacent attitude that boys naturally can do this stuff better. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.
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