kim potter kihlstrom westmont college

Men Are From the Server Side, Women Are From the Client

Side: A Biblical Perspective on Men, Women,

and Computer Science

Kim Potter Kihlstrom

Westmont College

ACMS 2003 Kim Kihlstrom 2

The Dilemma Percentage of women in computer science is

small and has actually decreased over the last 20 years

Why, when CS is a wonderful field with many opportunities?

Examine scriptures to understand male and female differences

Disclaimer: general tendencies, not absolute


Creation: The BlessingGod blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it ... I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.”

– Genesis 1:28-29


Two Aspects of the Blessing1

Human fertility (reproduction) Land fertility (food)

1 J. H. Walton. Genesis. The NIV application commentary. Zondervan, 2001.


Creation of Man... no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground ... the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

–Genesis 2:5-7


Creation of WomanThe LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” ... Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

– Genesis 2:18,22


Man and the Fall“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you...”

– Genesis 3:17-18


Woman and the Fall“I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

– Genesis 3:16


Man and Woman Adam

Purpose: till the soil (functional) Material: dust of the ground (inorganic) Fall results: work oriented

Eve Purpose: man not alone (relational) Material: rib of Adam (organic) Fall results: relationship oriented


Man and PowerGird your sword upon your side, O mighty one; clothe yourself with splendor and majesty. In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds. Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet.

– Psalm 45:3-5


Woman and BeautyThe king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord ... All glorious is the princess within her chamber; her gown is interwoven with gold. In embroidered garments she is led to the king...

– Psalm 45:11,13-14


Man and Woman King

Exercising power Splendor of maleness2

Princess Creating beauty Beauty of femaleness2

2 D.B. Allender and T. Longman. Intimate Allies. Tyndale House, 1995.


Hypothesis We come to CS differently because of

basic male/female differences Men tend to be more oriented toward

function and women toward relationship Men want to exercise power and women

want to create beauty Neither approach is better nor worse;

both are essential!


Men: Function and Power Enjoyment of the computer itself Write programs Play computer games Experiment, push it to limits, see what it

will do Tinker with the machine Example: remote control


Women: Relation and Beauty Care for people Work together Be in relationship with others Link CS to social concerns, applications Help people solve problems Create beauty, order, elegance Example: dorm room


Dorm Room


Women and the Whole Person “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in

favor with God and men.” –Luke 2:52 The narrowly focused “geek” versus the ideal of

growth and strength in all areas Many female students do not identify with the

“geek” image Many female students think about marriage and

family life and how this will fit with their career


Women and Self-Confidence Men seem to have more confidence and women

seem to need more reassurance Concerns for women:

Lack of prior programming experience Not comfortable with machines May be more comfortable with mathematical

foundations, concepts, and applications Intimidated by jargon Vulnerable to inhospitable teaching environments


Changes to Our Curriculum Three-semester introductory sequence CS 5: Fundamentals of Computing

Introduction to CS: History, overview, algorithms, logic, abstraction; applications such as web development

CS 10: Introduction to Programming Lego robots for early programming assignments Use CMU graphics library for final project (C++)

CS 30: Data Structures Group programming projects that include graphical user

interface (Java)


Building Community Women in CS/math support group Weekly dinners with faculty/students (cookies!) Regular social events (BBQs, hot tub, etc.) Weekly time of faculty prayer for students Grace Hopper and SIGCSE student attendance Individual mentoring of students Identifying and encouraging leaders Faculty attendance at school-wide student events Future goal: community service projects


Faculty Service and Calling Active recruitment of students Brochure about computer science Sense of calling Teaching as an act of worship Spiritual gifts used to minister to students Transparency Nurturing and caring for students

kim potter kihlstrom westmont college

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