"Why Am I Even Doing This?": The Experiences of Female Students in CS from an Insider Perspective

Abstract

This project interprets, with a narrative approach, female students in CS and their individual experiences from their academic environment and motivation in their studies. Five students were interviewed and asked about their relationship to CS, stereotypes, confidence in CS and their academic experiences. As female students in CS ourselves, we have an in-depth understanding of the students' experiences. Therefore we were able to provide an insiders perspective through this project. Our analysis resulted in key characteristics that portray the students' individual experiences in their academic environment, experiences with stereotypes and underlying factors in their motivation. We could recognize common factors among the female students such as low confidence in CS, differences in treatment in their academic environment, difficulties regarding the stereotypes and the need for external support. This project gives insights of female students individual experiences in a CS environment and provides an understanding of the situation of female students in CS.