New Enactments of Activism and Support: Women of Color in Computing Education and Careers

• In Event: Roundtable Session 14
  In Roundtable Session: Female Experiences and Perspectives on Education

Abstract

In this paper we present themes from our NSF-funded project, Computing Beyond the Double Bind: Women of Color in Computing Education and Careers. The findings come from 14 interviews of faculty, staff and students who are active in a real-world computing community. Our study contributes a critical analysis of how the intersection of gender and race affects career and education experiences in computing. The findings both support existing literature on women of color in STEM, as well as bring to light two new, emergent issues: computing technology for activism and the spectrum of support. This research will increase knowledge about success strategies for women of color—widely considered an untapped source of domestic talent to fill America’s scientific workforce needs.

Authors

• Apriel K. Hodari, Council for Opportunity in Education

• Lily Ko, TERC

• Maria (Mia) Ong, TERC

• Rachel R. Kachchaf, Smarter Balanced