Changing majors

[differenceblog]

While women are enrolling in traditionally male majors in increasing numbers, this doesn't address whether they persist in these fields. Beyer et al (2005) found that attitudes towards gender differences in Computer Science changed over time in CS majors and non-majors of bothe sexes. On the other hand, Huang et al (2000) found that women, once enrolled, were more likely to complete a science/engineering degree than their male counterparts, and that the factors that influence a student's entry into science/engineering did not differ between the sexes. Nauta et al (1999) concluded that, after controlling for ability, attributional style was the major predictor of women's persistence in engineering. Linn and Hyde (1989) found that differences in career access in mathematics were more robust and stable than differences in ability.

My initial major in college was mathematics. In six months, I changed to theatre. I don't think this had anything to do with negative attitudes towards women in mathematics. If anything, I was rebelling by dropping out of math. I'm trying to remember who in my social circle changed majors; but I'm not thinking of anyone else offhand. However, everyone I knew who dropped out of college was male.