Deterrents to women taking computer science courses

The United States faces a shortage of computer scientists. Despite the current economic downturn, the most recent estimate indicates a labor force shortage of IT professionals. The shortage of IT professionals, and especially of computer scientists, provides impetus for increasing the representation of women in computer science (CS). We examine why so few students, and particularly few women, choose to enter the beginning phase of the CS pipeline by choosing to try out CS courses. Women are seriously under-represented at this early juncture of the CS pipeline. If we are serious about making CS a more inclusive field, we need to make an impact at this early juncture. This is not to belittle the laudable efforts to reduce attrition among women CS majors. However, for maximum effect, interventions to increase the flow of women into the CS pipeline also need to occur before women declare their major.