Attributing the subject’s newfound (or perhaps, rediscovered) popularity among women to a more supportive environment, Eric Roberts, a Stanford professor emeritus of computer science who noticed the shift in female majors, said, “We’ve crossed that threshold where women feel supported and comfortable. What we need to do is not turn anyone away because they feel unsupported, and a vibrant core community with a critical mass is essential.” Currently, women at Stanford make up 49 percent of the student demographic, and computer science is the major of 20 percent of Stanford attendees.
Given that Stanford is practically the next door neighbor of the vibrant tech scene in Silicon Valley, it’s no wonder that the university often serves as a feeder into technical roles at a variety of startups. But of course, Silicon Valley has a rather unfortunate reputation of being decidedly homogenous, comprised almost exclusively of young, well-educated white men. And while not all of these adjectives can change simultaneously, many are hopeful that the rise of women in technical majors in schools will translate to the rise of women in technical positions at various companies.
So code away, women of Stanford. Silicon Valley needs you.
