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{\sp{\sn shapeType}{\sv 20}}{\sp{\sn fFlipH}{\sv 0}}{\sp{\sn fFlipV}{\sv 0}}{\sp{\sn lineColor}{\sv 2}}{\sp{\sn lineWidth}{\sv 12192}}{\sp{\sn fLine}{\sv 1}}
{\sp{\sn posrelh}{\sv 0}}{\sp{\sn fLayoutInCell}{\sv 0}}{\sp{\sn fLayoutInCell}{\sv 0}}}{\shprslt{\*\do\dobxmargin\dobypara\dodhgt8193\dpline\dpptx0\dppty0\dpptx9360\dppty0\dpx0\dpy9\dpxsize9360\dpysize0\dplinew19\dplinecor2\dplinecog0\dplinecob0}}}}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 Abstract
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid7238297 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 Like other post-secondary institutions in North America, {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname PlaceType}
}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname PlaceType}}Athabasca{\*\xmlclose} {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname PlaceType}}University{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose}
 has not been successful in either recruiting or retaining women to its Computing and Information Science programmes.  The gradual decline in women\rquote s participation has generally been attributed to the hostile masculine \lquote culture\rquote 
 of the discipline.  The current study, through indepth interviews with 19 female and 19 male computer science students, explores notions of the computing \lquote culture\rquote  and its perceived impact on women\rquote 
s place in computer science as well as its effects on the discipline.    
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\qc \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\rtlch\fcs1 \ab\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \b\f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 Presentation}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
\par My interest in women\rquote s role in computing science began several years ago when I was evaluating one of {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname PlaceType}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname PlaceType}}Athabasca{\*\xmlclose} {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname 
PlaceType}}University{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose}\rquote s }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9053156\charrsid2298199 introductory computing science courses.  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
At the time of the review, the completion }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9053156\charrsid2298199 and pass }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 rates for }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 the introductory computing course}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  course }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9053156\charrsid2298199 were}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9053156\charrsid2298199 similar for both men and women (i.e., 30%).  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
Although women represent close to 40% of enrollments in introductory CS courses, by fourth year women\rquote s participation drop}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7364300\charrsid2298199 s}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 and }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9053156\charrsid2298199 account}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 s}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9053156\charrsid2298199  for }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 less than 10% }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 of the passing registrations.
\par 
\par The project that I\rquote m going to talk }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9053156\charrsid2298199 briefly }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 about today was designed to assess factors affecting women\rquote 
s choices to continue their studies in }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 AU\rquote s}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  computing science programme. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 There has been a lot of recent interest in and consequently}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  studies looking at problems of both recruitment and retention in traditional educational se
ttings, }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 but }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 nothing }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 to date }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 describing women\rquote s experiences }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7364300\charrsid2298199 with distance delivered computing}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
 science programmes. 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 Camp and her colleagues}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199  are one group of researchers}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7364300\charrsid2298199 
 that have been }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 interested in the problem.  They}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  coined the term \lquote the incredible shrinking pipeline\rquote 
 to describe women\rquote s declining participation in }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 undergraduate and graduate }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9053156\charrsid2298199 CS}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  programmes}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 .}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199   }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9053156\charrsid2298199 
Figures suggest that in {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname PlaceType}}Canada{\*\xmlclose} }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 women }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 are currently }{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 earn}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 ing}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 less than}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9053156\charrsid2298199 20%}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
 of all bachelor\rquote s degrees in this discipline. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9053156\charrsid2298199 But the }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 problem is}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid9053156\charrsid2298199 n\rquote t}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  just that women are }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 currently }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 under-represented, the concern is that}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199  over the }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7364300\charrsid2298199 several }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 decades,}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  each year fewer and fewer women are choosing computing science as their major area of study.
\par 
\par One might be tempted to ask, why the concern?  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7364300\charrsid2298199 T}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 he concern }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid7364300\charrsid2298199 seems to be}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199  threefold.  First, a}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 re women, in fact making \'93}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 real}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 \'94}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  choices to stay out}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 ?}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9529858\charrsid2298199   Or}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9529858\charrsid2298199 is }{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 there something about }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9529858\charrsid2298199 CS}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  programmes}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9529858\charrsid2298199  that are creating }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 barriers }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 to}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199  restrict }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 women\rquote }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9529858\charrsid2298199 s participation.  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 Second}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9665182\charrsid2298199  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 and of equal importance, }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 what }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 are }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 the}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9665182\charrsid2298199 
 effect}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 s}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  on the discipline }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 resulting}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  from women\rquote s absence}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7238297\charrsid2298199 ?}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199   }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 And finally, because of }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7364300\charrsid2298199 today\rquote s}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 
 emphasis on IT, a shortage in qualified computer scientists has been predicted}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7364300\charrsid2298199  \endash  increasing women\rquote s involvement is seen as part of the solution to this shortage}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 .}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
\par 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid2298199 \page }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 Several factors have been proposed in the literature to account }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 for }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7364300\charrsid2298199 t}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid10053442\charrsid2298199 he}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  decline}
{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid10053442\charrsid2298199  in women\rquote s participation}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 .  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 Two decades ago, }
{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 efforts to increase women\rquote s participation were based on notions that women feared computers, that they were avoiding math related subjects, and that }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 women}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7364300\charrsid2298199 therefore }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
lacked the confidence to pursue careers in computing.  More recently}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid10053442\charrsid2298199 , however,}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  researchers are suggesting that }{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 it is }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9665182\charrsid2298199 women\rquote s reticence}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid10053442\charrsid2298199  \endash  and not fear 
\endash  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 that is keeping them out and that their reticence }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid10053442\charrsid2298199 is largely based in}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199  the}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7364300\charrsid2298199 ir understandings of the}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199  CS \'93}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 culture}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 \'94}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 .  Ther}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 e}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid10053442\charrsid2298199 \rquote s}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  a wealth of evidence to support the view that women\rquote 
s under-representation is largely a result of the cultural development of the field.  Feminist researchers }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 have suggested}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  that the high-tech culture is a place in which masculinity is deliberately and actively reproduced}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199 .  As a consequence}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid10053442\charrsid2298199  the discipline has now }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 expanded into a system of inequitable gender differences}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid6428136\charrsid2298199  
\endash  both in}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  educational and workplace environments.
\par 
\par In addition to }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid13661774\charrsid2298199 effects of the \'93}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 culture}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid13661774\charrsid2298199 \'94}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid10053442\charrsid2298199  on }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 women\rquote 
s choices to enrol in and remain in computer science programmes, other factors have mitigated against women\rquote s success.  Women do tend to come into the discipline with significantly less computing experience}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 ;}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  a poorer basis in mathematics}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 ;}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  and}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199  weaker }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  science }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 backgrounds, }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 compared to }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid10053442\charrsid2298199 their male counterparts}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 .  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid13661774\charrsid2298199 It }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid10053442\charrsid2298199 stands to reason }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid13661774\charrsid2298199 then, particularly in light of the curriculum, }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid10053442\charrsid2298199 that because }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 of the}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid10053442\charrsid2298199  academic gaps in women\rquote s backgrounds}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 , t}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
raditional universities }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 tend to }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 admit fewer women. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 
And because of their backgrounds and the culture they }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 find themselves in}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 , many women who are}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  admitted }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 often}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  feel less }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 competent and }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 comfortable in the }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 programmes}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 . And many }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 women }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 are }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 also }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 less successful with first year computing science courses compared to men.  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 P}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 oor teaching practices }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid10053442\charrsid2298199 \endash  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
 inexperienced teachers, gender insensitivity}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid10053442\charrsid2298199 , assignments that }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 don\rquote t match course objectives\emdash al}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 so have a }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid10053442\charrsid2298199 stronger}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid10053442\charrsid2298199 e}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 ffect on women\rquote s }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid10053442\charrsid2298199 as compared to men\rquote s }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 success and }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 retention. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid10053442\charrsid2298199 On the other hand, c}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 ourses and curriculum placing technology in the context of its real-world uses}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 , although shown to increase women\rquote s ret}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7364300\charrsid2298199 e}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 ntion, is not yet a consistent strategy }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 that has been }{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 used by many CS departments in {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname PlaceType}}Canada{\*\xmlclose}.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  
\par 
\par Although the computing culture may be less overt in a distance compared to a traditional }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 university }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 environment, }{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 there is}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  still room for the culture to invade virtual and distance \lquote classrooms}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 .}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 \rquote  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199  T}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
hrough for example instructor}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 /tutor}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  expectations, poor }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 course design}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 , gender biased materials}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 , and curriculum that neglects women\rquote 
s interests. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3488533\charrsid2298199 So\'85that\rquote s a little bit }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 about what the literature proposes to account for women\rquote s under-representation. }
{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3488533\charrsid2298199  And now I want to talk a bit about the study }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 that we }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3488533\charrsid2298199 
conducted at AU}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 . I want to mention that the first phase of this project was conducted with Dr. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3488533\charrsid2298199 Pete}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199  Holt, who is a professor in the CS department.  And }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3488533\charrsid2298199 Julia}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 
 Johnson has been working on this project from the outset as our research associate.  She conducted all of the interviews and did all of the transcriptions.  She also co-authored a book chapter with Pete and myself, based on the findings from the women
\rquote s interviews.  I\rquote d also like to acknowledge that the research was funded by two separate Academic Research grants from {\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname PlaceType}}{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname PlaceType}}Athabasca{\*\xmlclose} 
{\*\xmlopen\xmlns2{\factoidname PlaceType}}University{\*\xmlclose}{\*\xmlclose}.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3488533\charrsid2298199 
\par 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 Overall, this project }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 is}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3488533\charrsid2298199  based on}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199  38 in depth interviews, 19 with }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 women }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 and 19 with men.  The students }{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3488533\charrsid2298199 that were}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199  interviewed were }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 enrolled }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 at leas}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7364300\charrsid2298199 t}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199  one}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 CS}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  course or }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 
had}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  very recently completed a course. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 It was a quasi-random sample \endash 
 but we did try to ensure that we interviewed students who had }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7364300\charrsid2298199 experienced }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 
success with their courses, as well as those who were less successful. S}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid9709359\charrsid2298199 everal graduates }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 
of the programme were included as well as several graduate students.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
\par 
\par In conducting this study, we used a semi-structured interview protocol adapted from an instrument developed by Margolis and Fisher in 2002 for }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3213045\charrsid2298199 their }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 study they carried out at MIT. Our interviews were done over the telephone and were taped with }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid3488533\charrsid2298199 student\rquote s}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  knowledge and permission.  The interviews ranged }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid1065856\charrsid2298199 in length }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
from an hour to an hour and a half}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7364300\charrsid2298199 . }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid1065856\charrsid2298199  (Note:  all of the women\rquote s data has been analyzed; I\rquote 
m still in the process of analyzing the men\rquote s transcripts}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7739307\charrsid2298199 \'85particularly for their }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7364300\charrsid2298199 detailed }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid7739307\charrsid2298199 suggestions on how to improve the programme}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid2298199 .}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\insrsid1065856\charrsid2298199 )}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
\par I\rquote m going to share some of the findings that relate to three of the questions that we}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid1065856\charrsid2298199 re}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  included as part of the interview}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid7739307\charrsid2298199 .  These questions were }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid7364300\charrsid2298199 designed }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 to }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid7739307\charrsid2298199 help us }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 explore this notion of \'93culture\'94.  The first asked }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid1065856\charrsid2298199 students}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  if they could describe an \'93atmosphere\'94
 that they may have experienced while studying at AU; the second expanded on this concept by asking }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid1065856\charrsid2298199 students to}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  describe }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid7739307\charrsid2298199 any }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 gender related experiences that might have contributed to an \'93atmosphere\'94; and the third asked }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid11142255\charrsid2298199 students}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  to reflect on reasons for women\rquote s non-participation in CS and }{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid7739307\charrsid2298199 for them }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 to suggest ways in which AU might facilitate women
\rquote s participation in the discipline}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid11142255\charrsid2298199  in the future}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 . 

\par 
\par By assessing the atmosphere \endash  or culture \endash  we wanted to see whe
ther or not AU was somehow replicating the same kind of gendered learning environments experienced by many women in traditional university settings. Our assumption, going into this project, based on }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid5597211\charrsid2298199 other }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 studies}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid5597211\charrsid2298199 ,}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid5597211\charrsid2298199 w}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 as that AU must in fact doing just that. 
After reviewing the data, it is clear that our assumption was }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid7739307\charrsid2298199 not }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 correct. 
\par 
\par Before I t}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid7739307\charrsid2298199 alk about \'93atmosphere\'94, for those of you not familiar with AU, you need to }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 keep in mind that all of the CS courses are offered in an individualized study mode, in an online format. So what this means is that students register }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16520897\charrsid2298199 at the beginning of any month, }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 throughout the year, }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16520897\charrsid2298199 they have 6 months to complete their course, }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
their progress is self-paced, and so they don\rquote t really have a cohort of students going through the cou
rses with them.  Although all students at AU have a tutor assigned to them and have the opportunity for scheduled weekly telephone contact, almost all student-tutor contact occurs via email. Also, although virtual conference boards and chat rooms have bee
n set up to enable students to interact with one another, for a variety of reasons there is, in fact very little online interaction between students. 
\par You kind of get the picture of students working to a large extent \endash  with the exception of some email contact \endash   in isolation of }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid11142255\charrsid2298199 both t}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 heir instructors and }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid11142255\charrsid2298199 of }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 one another. 
\par 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid11142255\charrsid2298199 So, now I\rquote d like to talk a little bit about }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16520897\charrsid2298199 our}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12209311\charrsid2298199  findings in relation to }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16520897\charrsid2298199 a computing \'93culture;\'94
 student}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12209311\charrsid2298199 speculations as to why so few women enrol in CS
; and}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199  some of the solutions they proposed.  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16520897\charrsid2298199 
Remarkbly, in relation to these three issues, }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 the responses from the men and women we interviewed were very similar}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16520897\charrsid2298199 .
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12209311\charrsid2298199  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid11142255\charrsid2298199 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 N}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16520897\charrsid2298199 ot surprisingly \endash  given the nature of AU\rquote 
s delivery system \endash   participants}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  had some difficulty describing any kind of an atmosphere.  Mostly }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16520897\charrsid2298199 they talked about}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 it}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16520897\charrsid2298199 as }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 being non-existent or being very individual, suggesting that \'93it\rquote 
s what you make it.\'94 \'93It\rquote s just you and your computer.\'94  Many }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16520897\charrsid2298199 of the students}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  acknowledged that because \'93atmosphere is a measure of interaction\rquote \rquote  and most felt quite \lquote unconnected\rquote }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16520897\charrsid2298199 ,}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  it was impossible for them to discern }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16520897\charrsid2298199 or describe }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16060022\charrsid2298199 any}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16520897\charrsid2298199  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 environment within the department.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16520897\charrsid2298199   And consequently, the notion of \'93culture\'94 seemed rather foreign to our distance students.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
\par 
\par We probed th}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid5597211\charrsid2298199 is issue further,}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  asking }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16060022\charrsid2298199 our women }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
participants whether at any time in their studies did they feel that }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 to be}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16060022\charrsid2298199 ing}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199  a}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  woman was an issue}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16060022\charrsid2298199 
; and similarly we asked our male participants whether they felt that women would have a more difficult time in the programme}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
. The response to this question }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16060022\charrsid2298199 pretty much}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  unanimous. }{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 Students could identify}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
 no evidence of sexist or discriminatory practices}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 .  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
For most of the women, it never crossed their minds, prior to }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 us }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 asking the question, that their gender would be an issue. Gender wasn\rquote t seen as an obstacle or a disadvantage and most }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid10231845\charrsid2298199 women }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 felt that their experiences in the department could be no different than men
\rquote s experiences. Many mentioned that the course materials \endash  study guides, textbooks, assignments \endash  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 seemed}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  gender neutral; that the tutors and }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16060022\charrsid2298199 professors}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 , although }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16060022\charrsid2298199 predominantly}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  male, were open-minded, friendly and encouraging. Some of the }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16060022\charrsid2298199 students \endash 
 men and women \endash  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  commented that the online environment naturally tended to eliminate the potential for gender bias because often }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16060022\charrsid2298199 students}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  were unaware of the gender of the }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid5597211\charrsid2298199 people}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  they were interacting with. 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16060022\charrsid2298199 
\par Our male participants }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid10231845\charrsid2298199 felt that women\rquote s experiences in the programme would be no different }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 than their own}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid10231845\charrsid2298199  \endash  although one participant }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 questionned}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid10231845\charrsid2298199  that although \'93
the experience is the same [for men and women], do [women] enjoy that experience?\'94  By \'93experience}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 ,}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid10231845\charrsid2298199 \'94 th}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 at particular}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid10231845\charrsid2298199  student was referring to }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 computing}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid10231845\charrsid2298199  being a solitary pursuit, one requiring independent}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199  work}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid10231845\charrsid2298199 , and one }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 that }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid10231845\charrsid2298199 necessitat}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 ed}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid10231845\charrsid2298199  delving into technical detail.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid5597211\charrsid2298199 In summary}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 , }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 all participants \endash  men and women \endash  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid5597211\charrsid2298199 reported }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 no overt evidence of }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 a}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  \lquote male computing culture\rquote  and as such, this did not a}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16060022\charrsid2298199 ppear to be a factor affecting }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 women}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16060022\charrsid2298199 \rquote s participation and success}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  in the CS programme at AU.
\par 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16060022\charrsid2298199 When}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid5516299\charrsid2298199  asked }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 to }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 share their views on why women generally aren\rquote t drawn to the discipline}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12610357\charrsid2298199 , it\rquote s important to keep in mind that all}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
 of the women we }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 were talking to, were}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
 in fact quite committed to computing science in particular and to studying at AU in general. So, in many ways we were asking the women to step outside }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12610357\charrsid2298199 of }
{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  their own experiences and to separate themselves from the majority of women who do}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 n\rquote }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 t choose CS as a discipline of study. This kind of separating }{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 self}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  from others was evident throughout many of the}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid10231845\charrsid2298199 ir}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12610357\charrsid2298199  narratives \endash  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 when they talked about their own backgrounds and interests in science and how they felt their upbringings were not typical of how many other women had been brought up. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12610357\charrsid2298199 T}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 he }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 women }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 we talked to }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 had }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid16279927\charrsid2298199 very }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 strong backgrounds in sciences or in computing and they all mentioned that as young women they were encouraged in these pursuits}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid5516299\charrsid2298199  and all seemed}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
 very confident about their approaches to the discipline and their ability to succeed in CS}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12610357\charrsid2298199  studies and careers}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 .  
\par 
\par The reasons }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12610357\charrsid2298199 given}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  for other wo
men not being drawn to the discipline were largely based }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid5516299\charrsid2298199 on stereotypes.  They talked about }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 gender differences in cognitive skills and abilities, }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12610357\charrsid2298199 in }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 learning styles, communication patterns, and }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12610357\charrsid2298199 in }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 social needs. So for example }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12610357\charrsid2298199 our}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  women suggested that other women would find computing too hard; }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12610357\charrsid2298199 would}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  to gravitate towards less substantial careers; tended not to understand math concepts; }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid5516299\charrsid2298199 were}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  less logical, more emotional}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid5516299\charrsid2298199  or that}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
 other women had different social needs, tending to want more communication and social interaction than they perceived CS would offer.  And all of these factors, they felt, mitigated against women\rquote s involvement in CS.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid10231845\charrsid2298199 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid13256470\charrsid2298199 In much the same way the men suggested that the \'93field just isn\rquote t interesting to }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid4795267\charrsid2298199 women}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid13256470\charrsid2298199 \'94; it \'93doesn\rquote t appeal to the female character;\'94 \'93
women are more social, more caring, more nurturing;\'94 \'93anything dealing with computers is sort of cold, hard, factual, straight logic \endash  perhaps females are drawn to more creative things;\'94  \'93women are different; they think differently;
\'94 \'93most women enjoy talking to people, more than machines;\'94  \'93women are more emotional than logical;\'94 }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12610357\charrsid2298199 and }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid13256470\charrsid2298199 \'93it\rquote s less socially acceptable for them.\'94}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid10231845\charrsid2298199 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid4795267\charrsid2298199 T}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 he women we interviewed acknowl
edged that the male domination of the discipline discourages some women from pursuing degrees and careers in computing, including what they described as the \lquote image problem\rquote 
 associated with the discipline (i.e., men interacting only with their computers) and a fear th}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid4795267\charrsid2298199 at because it\rquote }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 s a male dominated area that women }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12610357\charrsid2298199 would }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 be unable to secure positions once they graduate.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid13256470\charrsid2298199   }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5597211 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12610357\charrsid2298199 It was interesting that}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  a number of the women we interviewed}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12610357\charrsid2298199  \endash  and not the men \endash  }{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  suggested that the reason more women don\rquote t go into com
puting is because women are not willing to put up with the commitment and volume of work required by a number of the courses. And this is not because }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12610357\charrsid2298199 
they felt that }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 women were incapable of doing the work, }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12610357\charrsid2298199 
but}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  because they choose not to. They simply have to
o many other responsibilities to balance in their lives. In discussing the number of hours required by some of the courses, one of our participants stated:  \'93Well, quite frankly I don\rquote 
t think anybody should be that committed, and perhaps women have some sense when they avoid it}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12610357\charrsid2298199 \'85}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 I do believe in having a healthy, well balanced lifestyle.\'94  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid2298199 
\par 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 And it would seem that women perceive that a career in CS will make it difficult, if not impossible, to maintain balance in their lives. \lquote 
Lifestyle choice\rquote  was seen as a central reason for women\rquote s reluctance to engage in a CS career.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid5597211\charrsid2298199   And some of the men expressed the view that 
\'93Sure [men and women] have the same intellectual capacity, but that doesn\rquote t mean we enjoy doing the same thing\'85don\rquote t get too focussed on dragging w
omen into computer science rather than encouraging them because you offer the best programme.  [CS] is still a male-centric world\'85I\rquote m not sure it can be made female friendly.\'94
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
\par When our }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid12610357\charrsid2298199 participants}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
 were asked to pose solutions to the problem of women\rquote s under-representation their responses fell into two broad categories \endash 
 those addressing issues of recruitment and those of retention.  Most acknowledged that the problem of recruiting women into CS was a broad societal problem and could only be solved \endash  in the longer term \endash 
  by preparing young women academically through encouraging the early pursuit of mathematics and science. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid1519583\charrsid2298199  As one male participant noted: \'93Girls don
\rquote t do math.  I think that\rquote s what would have to change.\'94}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
\par 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid5597211\charrsid2298199 P}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 articipants also felt that the imag
e of computing needed to be changed and that the industry itself has to change to adapt to women\rquote 
s realities.  One man suggested that, although stereotypes persist, they are not an accurate reflection of what CS and the people involved in CS are really all about.  and that \'93
the whole field has to be attractive to everyone in general, before it can be attractive to women.\'94
\par 
\par In terms of retention}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid5597211\charrsid2298199 ,}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  a number of suggestions were made. 
}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid9380044\charrsid2298199 From our women participants, s}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
ome of these suggestions were based in notions, again, of other women\rquote s needs being different from their own.   Other suggestion}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid9380044\charrsid2298199 
s were reflections of the}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  women\rquote s own experiences \endash   things that would have made their own studies in the programme more appealing.}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid9380044\charrsid2298199 
  And the men, who in general were less critical of the existing courses and curriculum, made suggestions largely based on their stereotypical understandings of women as well as from factors that motivated them to pursue their studies in CS \endash 
 like early involvement in \'93gaming\'94. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
\par 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid30868\charrsid2298199 The idea that women are}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  more social than men}{\rtlch\fcs1 
\af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid30868\charrsid2298199  informed many of the solutions}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 . While }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid9380044\charrsid2298199 students}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  we interviewed had very little interaction with their fellow students, }{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid30868\charrsid2298199 students recommended }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 facilitating communication an
d developing a sense of community spirit. In this regard, some of our participants also suggested developing and circulating a newsletter, highlighting women\rquote s accomplishments in the field. 
\par 
\par Interaction and community could also be created through enhancing the profile of the existing online conferences (i.e., mandatory participation; more team work); creation of study groups (online and offline) and }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid30868\charrsid2298199 by }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
instituting occasional weekend face-to-face conferences for upper-level students. A number of students suggested setting up a mentoring system \endash 
 one that would pair new students with women already established in the programme. In a similar vein a number of the }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid9380044\charrsid2298199 participants}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  felt that hiring more women tutors }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid30868\charrsid2298199 and faculty }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 would go a long way towards increasing women\rquote s retention.
\par    
\par For themselves, the women we interviewed emphasised overall the need to adapt the curriculum and courses to reflect women\rquote s interests and women\rquote s realities. From this perspective suggestions focussed on adapting the context in which m
any of the current courses are offered. }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid30868\charrsid2298199 This }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
included making courses and assignments more socially relevant through, for example, encouraging links between computing and relationships and }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid30868\charrsid2298199 
other disciplines; }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 through the promotion of team work; by changing applications and examples to focus on women\rquote s interests; }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid30868\charrsid2298199 and }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 by offering more courses dealing with the social and human aspects of}{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid30868\charrsid2298199  computing}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 . }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid2298199 
\par \page }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 Some of our participants suggested that CS would appeal to larger numbers of women if it were to be offered as part of a split-degree \endash 
 a programme that would encourage women to apply their computing knowledge in creative ways to other academic contexts (e.g., Business administration and systems design; Accounting and data base administration; Psychology and web-space design). }{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid9380044\charrsid2298199  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid1511655\charrsid2298199 
\par Students also }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199 felt that in order for CS to retain women the workloads associate}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid1511655\charrsid2298199 d with individual courses need}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid2298199  to be revised and  made more realistic \endash 
 in effect tailored to the multiple roles women studying at AU are carrying.
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\nowidctlpar\wrapdefault\faauto\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid2298199 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid8414911 I\rquote m going to }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid1511655\charrsid8414911 end}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid8414911  here by saying that although }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid1511655\charrsid8414911 our participants}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid8414911  reported no overt evidence of a \lquote male computing culture\rquote 
 in their experiences at AU, the focus of their suggestions to increase retention in the CS programme all revolved around the need to adapt the programme to fit with women\rquote s interests and realities. This would suggest that the }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 
\ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid1511655\charrsid8414911 our participants}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid15813393\charrsid8414911 
 still perceive CS as meeting male, as opposed to female needs.}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid1511655\charrsid8414911   The majority of our participants \endash  although }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid30868\charrsid8414911 a few of the men were }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid1511655\charrsid8414911 quite committed to the notion that men and women  are \'93hard-wired
\'94 to think differently \endash  suggested that the solution has to come from early socialization practices at home and in the schools. In the final analysis a gender balance and equity in the field}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid30868\charrsid8414911 , was seen as enhancing}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid1511655\charrsid8414911  the discipline}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 
\f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid30868\charrsid8414911  and thought to be a positive and necesssary change to the CS as it currently exists}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid1511655\charrsid8414911 . }{
\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \f38\lang4105\langfe1033\langnp4105\insrsid1325953\charrsid8414911 
\par }}