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Ms. Carr is a professor at St. Vincent College who teaches several classes such as Database and Assembly Language. In this interview, she shares some of her experiences, insights, and opinions about the role of women in computing. Interview with Ms. CarrQ: What types attitudes discourage women from pursuing a career in computing? Ms. Carr: From a young age, most girls are not given mechanical things to do. Programming from an early age discourages girls to show interest in computers, and beginning in junior high, some girls have negative views about being too smart or too aggressive. Girls are influenced by cultural perceptions that they should not be good at math or science. Subtle prejudice clues also influence all of our decisions, not just those of girls who consider computing. Girls need to have positive reinforcement from an early age to show interest in computing and it also helps if they have a friend who also shows this interest. Q: Why did you choose to pursue a career in computing? Ms. Carr: For many women it doesn’t sink in that they need to get serious about their career. When you go through hard times, you need a fallback, a good career. There were times when I didn’t know what I would do if I didn’t have this job. I was able to make a better life for myself by having this career. Q: Is there anything about computing which might appeal specifically to girls? Ms. Carr: If a girl is competent, she will get the job offers, because there are so few women in the field. Good communication skills are often more important for getting hired than QPA, and many women have a natural talent for communication skills. Q: How is your profession or the field in general personally fulfilling? Ms. Carr: My husband has a very hands-on job where he builds physical things. You get the same feeling when you make a computer program; you are creating a product. For example, I once had to make a spellchecker as a school project. When I tested it with a particular word, the spellchecker told me over and over again that the word was incorrect. I thought that something was wrong with my program, but after awhile I reexamined the word and realized that in fact I was spelling the word incorrectly. It seemed as if something I had written was smarter than I was. It’s a neat feeling to create a machine that can “think” and do great things. Also with databases, you can pick out trends in data that you can only see with an automated tool. These trends could be impossible to find on your own. The ablity to do “data mining” instantaneously is incredible. Q: What advice or suggestions would you give to girls who are considering or currently pursuing a major in information technology or computer science? Ms. Carr: Sometimes the material is very difficult to learn, but you need to stick with it. When you get out, you will be able to get a job. Other majors might be easier or seem like more fun, but you will have a difficult time finding employment when you get out of school. That’s why I chose electrical engineering over art when I was young. It goes back to what usefulness you can actually get out of the major. |
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