Inspiring Women in Technology: Educational Pathways and Impact
Larissa F. Rodrigues Moreira, Liziane S. Soares, Adriana Z. Martinhago
TL;DR
Problem: Women remain underrepresented in computing despite progress in STEM diversity. Approach: The Meninas++ Project coordinates activities at UFV for high school and college students, including lectures, exhibitions, conversation groups, workshops, and a Hackathon, complemented by Ada Lovelace Day events to showcase female role models. Findings: Quantitative enrollment analyses show low female participation in Information Systems and a $t$-test on annual growth rates yields $t \approx -0.56$ with $t_{crit}=2.048$, indicating no significant gender difference, while qualitative data from Ada Lovelace Day reveal a substantial computing-interest gap but strong engagement and visibility of role-models, such as alumnae speakers. Contributions and significance: The study provides a comprehensive, mixed-methods evaluation of targeted outreach programs and yields actionable insights for scaling and sustaining women's participation in computing in Brazil and similar contexts.
Abstract
This paper presents initiatives aimed at fostering female involvement in the realm of computing and endeavoring to inspire more women to pursue careers in these fields. The Meninas++ Project coordinates activities at both the high school and higher education levels, facilitating dialogue between young women and computing professionals, and promoting female role models within the field. Our study demonstrated the significant impact of these activities on inspiring, empowering, and retaining female students in computing. Furthermore, higher education initiatives have fostered engagement among both women and men, promoting inclusivity, entrepreneurship, and collaboration to enhance women's representation in the computing field.