By Jissela Cabrera
News Reporter
In a male-dominated field, Girls Who Code is dedicated to supporting and empowering women in computer science and STEM.
According to the official Girls Who Code website, the gender gap in computing is widening. In 1995, women made up 37% of computer scientists; today, that number has dropped to just 24%. Without action to address the gender gap in technology, this percentage is expected to continue declining.
Girls Who Code welcomes students of all majors, though most current members are from STEM programs, with the majority studying computer science. One officer is pursuing a major in civil engineering.
Maria Renee San Esteban, a computer science senior, serves as co-president of the Girls Who Code organization at Texas State. She says that Girls Who Code is a national initiative with chapters at high schools and colleges across the country.
“The purpose of our branch here at Texas State is to create a community for women in computer science, as it is well known that computer science is a male-dominated field,” said San Esteban.
“It’s common for women in computer science to struggle with finding a sense of belonging, both inside and outside the classroom. That sense of belonging is what we aim to provide through Girls Who Code, along with building friendships and discussing computer science and other interests.”
San Esteban adds that Girls Who Code also equips members with the skills needed to secure jobs after graduation.
“It’s often the case that many computer science programs at universities don’t fully cover everything needed to succeed in the industry. For example, a technical interview is essential to become a software engineer, and practicing for these interviews is one of many resources we provide here,” said San Esteban.
“We want to provide as many resources as possible. Since women are the minority in the field, we want our members to be as prepared as possible.”
The organization offers a variety of activities including weekly meetings, personal projects, social events, post-graduation preparation, workshops, speaker seminars and résumé-building sessions.
For speaker seminars, Girls Who Code invites recruiters from various companies to share insights about their organizations. Past speakers have represented companies such as Google, Charles Schwab and USAA in San Antonio. These seminars provide valuable information about the companies, roles within the organizations and offer students the chance to ask questions and gain professional development.
Additionally, the group holds weekly meetings where members participate in workshops covering skills relevant to computer science but not typically taught in their coursework. Once a month, the officers host an optional social event for members to relax and connect. Recently they held a Valentine’s Day social where members made friendship bracelets, colored, enjoyed snacks and watched a romantic comedy movie together.
Priyanka Karki, a computer science sophomore, is in her second year as a member of Girls Who Code. She says the organization has provided her with a supportive community.
“This organization supports both women and non-binary people in tech. When I first joined, I didn’t have many friends, and going to the meetings helped me meet upperclassmen in computer science,” said Karki.
“It’s very helpful when we have meetings about how to build different types of websites, and the instructions and materials provided are useful for the future.”
Karki also says she has gained valuable social and communication skills and built strong relationships with others. She reflects on the positive experiences she’s had with Girls Who Code and encourages others to join based on her own journey.
“Last year, I went to a conference with Girls Who Code at UT Arlington. It was an amazing experience to meet people, network, and learn about various opportunities,” said Karki. “It’s great to have people around me who share the same passion for computer science.”
To learn more about the Girls Who Code national organization, visit https://girlswhocode.com
To learn more about the Texas State Girls Who Code chapter, visit their Instagram @txstate_gwc
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