New YouTube Video Shows Ridiculousness of Stereotypes About Women in Technology

Reshma Saujani, Founder, Girls Who Code

In 2015, only 25 percent of all computing jobs in the U.S. went to women. It's called the "gender gap" and it is found in all STEM jobs (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). It's nothing new, but one non-profit organization decided to use humor to highlight just how ridiculous gender gaps really are.


Girls Who Code tries a humorous approach

Girls Who Code is a non-profit organization created in 2012 by Reshma Saujani to inspire, educate and provide young girls with the tools they need to pursue careers in the STEM fields. According to Girls Who Code, 74 percent of girls in middle school have an interest in pursuing STEM courses, but by the time they get to college, only 1 in 5 computer science majors are women.

Making fun of stereotypes

The organization's new video makes fun of stereotypes, featuring young girls making comments such as “I’ve tried to get into coding but my cleavage is just so distracting,” and “When I’m not menstruating, I’m ovulating, so there’s no time to code at all.” Although presented with humor, the video clearly shows how ridiculous gender stereotypes are against women in computer science.

The company's goal is to “...spark a much-needed conversation about the messages we send our young women and what we can do to create a more inclusive, well-rounded image of a programmer.”

Watch the video below: