Debunking Stereotypes Brochure - University of Washington

Why Stereotypes?They do exist.Many of us believe we have control over whether ornot we stereotype. Research has shown that thisisn’t always the case. Stereotypes are often:AutomaticOutside of our awarenessUnintentionalIn conflict with our conscious beliefsBecause biases are not consciously controlled, it isimportant to develop ways to combat stereotypes.Why address them?Stereotypes about academic fields prevent manystudents from pursuing these fields. Some of thebenefits of pursuing a career in computer scienceinclude:It’s rated among the best jobs in the U.S.Provides opportunities to improve societyby designing products that help peopleHigh status and lucrative salariesPotential for flexible hoursWork is dynamic and challengingComputer science is an exciting and important fieldwith the potential to attract more people if we acknowledgethe truth beyond the stereotype.“People are missing out onwell-respected, influential andflexible careers [in computerscience]”Women of the UW's Computer Science Engineering DepartmentUniversity of WashingtonDepartment of PsychologyStereotypes, Identity and Belonging LabUniversity of WashingtonDepartment of PsychologyBox 351525Seattle, WA 98195E-mail scheryan@uw.eduWebsite http://depts.washington.edu/sibl/Blog http://www.sibllab.blogspot.com/Kalwarski, Mosher, Paskin, and Rosato(2007) Supported by an National Science Foundation CAREER award (DRL-0845110)DebunkingStereotypesChanging the image ofcomputer scienceDr. Sapna CheryanDepartment of PsychologyUniversity of Washingtonhttp://depts.washington.edu/sibl/

Stereotype #1:All computer scientists are nerds.The truth is:Computer scientists are independent thinkers whoseinterests go beyond computers. They change theworld with their ideas and intellect.Stereotype #2:Computer science material isboring and hard to learn.The truth is:Computer science involves creative problemsolvingwhich keeps the work rewarding. It’s aboutbeing creative, using your imagination and havingfun. Think about all the cool things computerscientists have been responsible for creating:iPhone apps, 3-D movies and YouTube to namejust a few. The possibilities for computer scientistsare endless, and their potential impact is huge.Stereotype #3:Computer science environmentsare bland.The truth is:Computer science departments and companies receivea lot of funding, much of which is used to createcomfortable, fun and interesting environments.Marissa Mayer (shown above) is Vice President ofconsumer products at Google. She graduated fromStanford with an M.S. in computer science specializingin artificial intelligence. Marissa is renowned for styleand has been featured in fashion magazines, includingVogue.Computer scientists get to work with smart andinspiring people in and out of the field, such as designers,architects, doctors and entrepreneurs.They often do field work gives them the opportunityto travel all around the world to new and excitingplaces.The Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science andEngineering at the University of Washington hasmany features that make it a great place to study.Inviting computer labs and study areas are designedto encourage teamwork and collaboration. Balconieson the top floor (shown above) and an ultra modernconference room overlook all of Lake Washington.David J. Malan (shown above) is a professor of ComputerScience at Harvard. He was at one time a forensicsinvestigator and volunteers his time as an EMT forthe Red Cross.“Computer science is nomore about computers thanastronomy is about telescopes.”Edsger Dijkstra, computer scientistCompanies such as Microsoft and Google spend a lotof money improving their employees’ workspaces. Forexample Google provides its engineers with free onsitelunches, hair cuts, doctor’s visits and even laundryservice.