Where do all the geek girls go?

ROSE Blog: Rikki's Open Source Exchange
Jeffrey Elkner has taught computer science for 13 years and shares some of his experience with teaching girls on his blog post: Where do all the geek girls go? Over the summer he taught two week classes on "Creative Computer Exploration with Scratch" (4th-6th graders) and "Games Programming with Python and GASP" (7th-9th graders).
Jeffrey writes, "The number of 'geek girls' in the Scratch class (11 of 30) is much higher than in the Python class (4 of 30), suggesting that the geek girls drop out somewhere between 5th grade and 7th grade." He also notes that the young girls are every bit as geeky as their male counterparts and great programmers. For example, this program was created by a 4th grade girl who'd used Scratch for 3 days. Nice!
Jeffrey asks, "Why don't they continue building on their enjoyment with Scratch to go on to higher levels of computer programming?" Although he admits that he doesn't have all the answers, he thinks that Scratch might help open new opportunities for girls. He also notes that cultural expectations and sexism still play a part in turning girls off of programming. He'll be teaching the same topics in El Salvador this summer, so I'll be sure to check back on his blog to read more about his observations.
Thanks goes out to Jeffrey for sharing his experiences and to Mel Chua for sending me this link!
Comments
comments powered by DisqusSubscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.
"Unlocking the Clubhouse"