The effectiveness of social media for inclusion of women in computing

ABSTRACT

Despite the projection of an increase in the number of jobs in the computer science (CS) field by 13% from 2020 to 2030 in the United States (as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics), the representation of women, especially women of color, in the field remains low. Lack of representation for women in computer science negatively impacts the growth of this demographic as it becomes harder for prospective individuals to envision themselves in the field when they do not see others like them already succeeding in CS. Studies have found that the retention of women in the field is stronger when the representation of women is evident in their environment, however, it is hard to come by considering the low population of women computer scientists. While new prospects may find fewer women in their CS departments in their college experience, or at their workplaces, there is a plethora of social media personalities and communities for them to engage in and find like-minded individuals.This full research paper investigates the experiences of women, or lack thereof, in CS communities centered around social media and how it contributes to their sense of belonging in the CS field at large. It is evident that there is limited scope in the existing literature that studies the impact social media participation has on CS women. This literature review distinguishes the narrow scope of literature focused on women's experiences with open-source software communities in CS from women's experiences with more generic widespread platforms such as Twitter, or Instagram. It argues for the expansion of knowledge for the effects of CS women's participation on such platforms and provides insight into approaches, such as photovoice, that may be utilized to study this space. The outcomes of this review reveal the potential of utilizing online platforms in retaining women in the CS workforce effectively. Considering the current status of many organizations that have switched from in-person to remote engagement due to COVID, this review contributes to the analysis of the effective use of technology and its impact at a critical time. © 2022 IEEE.