rowdy_oliphant t1_j74leya wrote on February 4, 2023 at 12:52 AM

Female, graduated with a Comp Sci degree from the U of Manitoba in 1992. There weren't many of us in the graduating class (count on one hand). Disappointed that the situation hasn't improved since then.

ar243 t1_j7565h2 wrote on February 4, 2023 at 3:41 AM

It's not for lack of trying.

hswerdfe_2 OP t1_j76lavl wrote on February 4, 2023 at 1:54 PM

It is disappointing. I think more women should be in computer science. But, by the same token I am worried about the number of men going into healthcare and education. It would be nice if there was gender representation going both ways.

cellus5000 t1_j7lbmw5 wrote on February 7, 2023 at 5:04 PM

Hey, Im a man in healthcare. I am worried you're asking for equality for the sake of making things equal but not necessarily equitable. Speaking from my side, there are literally 0 barriers to entry as a man into health, and from what I know about comp sci careers, there are no large barriers there either. (Although, this is obviously from anecdotal stories from my mother, who had a comp sci degree and from my peers of any gender who have gone into comp sci).

There is clearly a descriptive disparity, but not a normative one. That is to say there's no harm being caused by different people pursuing different vocations. From my perspective, I ask the question "Would patient outcomes be any different if there were more male nurses" and the answer is a resounding no, as male and female nurses are identical in quality, in general, aside from a few niche cases like transporting large patients, and even then only some men would be better than some women at that specific task.

People's interests are their own, and so long as no one is disallowed from pursuing their own interests, I don't think any harms being done. In fact any attempt to equalize this normal distribution could come at a cost of limitting peoples natural interests

hswerdfe_2 OP t1_j7lyuj6 wrote on February 7, 2023 at 7:35 PM

Thank you, for your clearly articulated and polite comment!

> I am worried you're asking for equality for the sake of making things equal but not necessarily equitable.

To clarify, I don't want equity as in 50-50. I think we should think a little bit about what the effects having large disparity could have on society in any given field, and If the disparity has negative effects we should attempt to minimize the negative effects possibly by encouraging entry into that field.

> I ask the question "Would patient outcomes be any different if there were more male nurses"

So this an effect that does happen:

Example, My father in-law has serious issues currently, he can't stand, change himself, and wears a diaper. This morning he needed 3 females to help change him and get him into a wheel chair. His pride was hurt by having to be naked in front of these women, in a way that does not happen when I am there to assist him alone. If enough male assistants were available he would feel much better about it, also he is not large as in your example so it is mainly in this case a pride issue.

> People's interests are their own, and so long as no one is disallowed from pursuing their own interests, I don't think any harms being done. In fact any attempt to equalize this normal distribution could come at a cost of limiting peoples natural interests

I agree people should pursue there own interests and never be forced into anything. I even think that encouragement should be limited to cases where there are larger nock on effects, that are identified.