Why are so few women programmers?

  We all know that, nowadays, there is no such things as „jobs for women” or „jobs for men”. The feminist movements and the actual economic realities are opening doors for women when it comes to working in a field they like. 

However, there are still some fields that seem to be run by men(especially when it comes to the scientific area), while women stay away from them (for no rational reason).  

Recent studies show that, although we live in an era where women can do anything, there are more men programmers than women, and nobody has found an explanation for that.
We even have hystorical proofs that women can be great programmers and inventors. For example, did you know that Ada Lovelance was the first person who wrote an algorithm for a program? What if I told you that she manage to do that before the computers were even invented?Yes, it is true. Also, the first compiler for an electronic computer was invented by a woman, on her name Grace Hooper. 

Now, that we know that the first computer programmer was a women and it is proved that women can be great in this field (look at Sarah Northway, who creates video games and really enjoys programming), we can move on to the next question: 

Why women should be more interested in becoming a programmer?  

First of all, our whole life revolves around technology. No matter of what fields are we talking about ( medicine, teaching, games and even agriculture) the technology is present. Knowing how to create and develop a program or a machine will definitely improve your lifestyle. This field is too important to be left for only a part of the population. 

Secondly, it takes a woman to understand women. Men usually develop applications and programms that fulfill their needs and meet their expectations. Since there are more men programmers than women programmers, we have more applications for men than for women, and even though some men also develop programs for women, then can’t always understand women’s needs.  

If in the future women will be more interested in this field, there will be more applications that will help them improve their lives, fulfill their needs and meet their expectations. 

Do women nowadays have the opportunity to learn to code?  

Of course! More than ever, actually. Not only that you can go to a University where you can learn to code and then deepen your knowledge, but you can also learn it by yourself. There are many online courses where you can enroll (you will have to pay for them, but you can also find some of them for free) and learn from home, while you are also working or staying home with your new born child.  

Learning how to code makes you employable, even when the economical situation is unstable. A programmer’s salary is double comparing to other jobs. In fact, it makes you more than just employable, it gives you the opportunity to be a freelancer or open your own business. All you have to do is dare!

 I'm Ovidiu RUDI and I'm a traveller, software developer and IT Trainer and I write on Invatam Programare. I write about programming, how to learn programming and travelling. Here on Steemit you may stay updated by following me @djvidov.