History and Occupational Identity

So how did we get here?

To understand why Computer Science and the tech industry look the way they do now and why they still struggle to diversify, it's important to look at the larger historical context. The United States has a long history of oppression and discrimination, with the majority of education and higher paying jobs reserved for White Christian men from families with plenty of financial resources. Particularly when it comes to People of Color, any advances in status have been followed by periods of violent backlash.

This history is complex and could easily occupy the rest of the space we have in this course. Though it is not practical to explore it in any depth in this context, we strongly encourage you to explore it on your own. Here are a few resources we recommend if you are not already familiar with this history:

• A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn

• Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez

• How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith

• Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans by Ronald Takaki

• Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi

Thinking about the history of racism and sexism in the US, and given the current stats on diversity in tech, you'd think that things are better now than they were in the early days of computing, but...

An Evolving Occupational Identity

Watch this video for a brief overview of how the gendered narratives about who can program changed over time:

The Impact on Today's Potential Computer Scientists

While elements of both the "highly trained, elite professional" and the "eccentric nerdy genius" remain in public perceptions of computing work, the image of the "secretary who programs" or "programming is so easy that anyone can do it" is long gone. 

Many people studying or working in Computer Science related fields who do not fit the dominant image of the White male programmer report experiencing imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is an inaccurate and sometimes debilitating belief that one's successes are the product of luck or deception rather than skill, often accompanied by a fear of being "found out" as a fraud.

Often framed as a lack of confidence, imposter syndrome is generally thought of as an internal psychological struggle that an individual has to overcome themselves. However, knowing the history of how perceptions of computing work evolved and were intentionally manipulated, it might be more accurate to frame this experience as a feeling of not belonging in a field that was intentionally positioned to appear elite and for the "naturally brilliant". The problem is rooted in the external image, though that image can still be deeply internalized and lead to self-doubt and harsh judgement of one's own performance.

We'll talk more about this impact as we talk about Belonging and why it matters in a learning environment. For now, it's worth remembering the role that vulnerability plays in learning, and reflecting on how feeling like an outsider might affect your ability to be vulnerable.