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Abstract
This study investigates factors that influence young women’s decision to major in computer science (CS). While there is a rapid increase of scientific advances being made in the United States and the importance of scientific fields for societal, economic, and personal advancement are expanding, women are still underrepresented among college students pursuing degrees in scientific fields. This is particularly the case in CS. Prior research identifies multiple factors that inhibit or foster women pursing CS. These include cultural stereotypes of computer scientists, sense of belonging, role models, family, peers, school curricula, informal activities, self-efficacy and confidence as a CS learner. However, this literature is largely correlational in nature. It lacks sufficient research using the actual words and explanations from women themselves majoring in CS. In-depth interviews with ten female college students about their undergraduate experiences majoring in computer science at a public 4-year college institution in the South provide the voices of young women in computing. Using a combination of social cognitive career theory (SCCT) and gender schema theory as lenses to analyze their interviews, this research describes the influences that shaped women’s participation in CS. Findings of this study provides insights based on the undergraduate experiences of female students who have declared a CS major. Results may illuminate factors contributing the gender gap in CS undergraduate majors and possible avenues to address it.