[cousin_it]

If you want to prove that fewer women than men become programmers because of obstacles, it's not enough to point out the obstacles faced by women, you also need to argue that the obstacles faced by men are less severe. I think you'll have a hard time arguing that, considering how nerdy guys are treated in school by both girls and other guys. Girls who go into programming don't take such a big hit in attractiveness.

[wpietri]

Why would I have to prove it?

Given that "fewer women become X because of societal obstacles" has been proven true for many professions over the last couple of centuries, I think the burden of proof is on somebody who wants to claim that programming is some strange special exemption.

[cousin_it]

I don't think programming is an exception, it's probably similar to many other jobs where we haven't proved that societal obstacles are the reason.

[jacalata]

They don't? Can you prove that?

[H4wk_cz]

I would say women who study computer science get a huge boost in attractiveness. Every year there are around 100 boys and 2-5 girls in first year of computer science at my university. As a computer science student you don't see many other girls, so after a while the girls can choose whoever they want. To be honest it's really sad, there are girls who realized that they can date two guys at the same time. The guys know about each other.