Photo Courtesy of Kode WIth Klossy (mentioned later in post)
Programming is Freedom
No one can stop me from building software. Well okay thats not fully true, someone could easily steal my computer right now... something could happen to my internet... but lets forget about the real world for a minute and lets talk about one that is easy to write about.
No one can stop me from building software. With my computer and my mind, I can take the things people think and do, and translate them into something a machine can understand and complete.
That's right, I speak to machines, and no one can stop me. The crazy part (if that isn't crazy enough) -- the words spoken to the machines can be billed... by the word. By that I mean software is incredibly lucrative since you are effectively replacing Mythical Woman Hours.
if (Printer.PaperTray.hasPaper) Printer.print("USD", "ALL OF THEM")
Though this might not have been my first*
program, it might as well have been with
how lucrative this industry is.
Demand for software is high
There is a lot of money being thrown at building software. Getting a very well paying job is very likely. Even if you think your job has nothing to do with programming, I'd bet that if you learned what you could do in your job with programming, you will make a lot more money. I don't know how exactly, but you will.
Lack of gender diversity
Why is it such a sausage fest in here? I have had very few female colleagues both in work and in academia. It is a cause for concern among many, and there are active groups trying to solve this issue.
Programming is now officially cool
I think that one of the most effective solutions to the problem has been in giving programming a better image. Programming doesn't have to bring the idea of dark caves and no sleep into the mix. A great example of a high power initiative is Karlie Klossy's coding camp and scholarship for girls who want to learn how to program. I think that these types of efforts can be extremely effective, but just learning to code isn't enough.
Most people just want to use what they already know to be successful
People in general just think programming is hard. It really isn't any different than most things, you just actually have to try to learn it. To quote a good friend's post:
- Pick a project you're passionate about
-@superfreek/how-to-become-a-self-taught-programmer.
This has to be the most important thing in learning to code. I think lack of mentors that can help girls materialize the things they are already interested in as a means to learning to code is a big reason we see less girls in software jobs. To say that the world needs to stop having girls taught that makeup is cool and that they should like barbies or whatever is obvious, but also never going to happen. Too much money involved. Instead, we need people that can make a difference right now by showing girls the amazing things that software and code can enable them to do within the domain of things they find interesting. This is different for every kid, but if you understand how software works, with relative ease you can suggest projects to take on that they will find rewarding to complete.
Learning just plain code on its own isn't fun for most. The fun is imagining what you are assembling as if it was real and tangible. When you create something that you show your friends and they think its amazing, I assure you this moment will be exhilarating.
Let me know what you think, Why are there so few women in software engineering?
Thanks for the love and comments, you guys rock!!
V