Gender Inequality in Computer Science Higher Education: A Case Study

Abstract

Following the reduced number of female students at ISTEC Porto computer science and engineering courses, we tried to find out what are the factors that might be causing this fact. This gender inequality was found looking back at the data from the last 15 years, clearly showing the gap between male and female students managing to conclude the degree. To point out the reasons and probable explanation a literature review was made to figure out conceivable paths to change this status quo. The article concludes that gender inequality resides on cultural differences as well as in the lack of information about the real role played by women in technology companies, particularly IT companies.