User:Papalkayak/Diversity in computing

Lead
an actual lead, instead of the entire article in one paragraph

Factors contributing to underrepresentation
The main self-reported reason for not studying computing given by women and minorities is a lack of personal interest. A survey of students at University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Howard University, two historically black universities, found that the majority of students were not "counseled about computer related careers" either before or during college. The same study (this time only surveying UMES students) found that less women than men had learned about computers and programming in high school. The researchers concluded that these factors could contribute to lower numbers of women and minorities choosing to pursue computing degrees. The digital divide is also significant, as students who do not already have skills with computers upon entering college are at a disadvantage in computing majors, and access to computers is influenced by demographic data such as ethnic background.

Increasing diversity
One priority of those who want to making computing more diverse is increasing interest in the field amongst underrepresented groups. One organization working toward this goal is EarSketch, an educational coding program that allows users to produce music by coding in JavaScript and Python. Its aim is to spark interest in programming and computer science in a wider range of students and "to attract different demographics ... especially girls." The nonprofit Black Girls Code is working to encourage and empower black girls and girls of color to enter the world of computing by teaching them to code.

Another way to widen minority participation in computing is by increasing equality in access to computers. Students who use computers in school settings are more likely to use them outside the classroom, so bringing computers into the classroom improves students' computer literacy.