I'm pretty sure this will get downvoted and deleted in 2 seconds, but i'm honest to god not trying to troll, just state some of my personal experiences.
I'm currently working at a pretty small company with women coworkers, and most of them are at least as smart as some of the men i've worked with and one is way smarter than most people i've met. Having said that, in my experience both in college and at work (been working about 6 years now), on average the girls were less capable and smart at CS and programming. From my experience it seemed A LOT like they just didn't commit at nearly the same level as the guys. For most men who are programmers it's almost a way of life - I have never met a woman for whom the same could be said. The one woman I know who is vastly better at her job than anyone I've met, even she is simply a extremely dedicated professional for whom it is just a job, not truly a passion.
I'm not saying this means guys get the right to be assholes, I'm just saying I don't think this is entirely because there are so few girls or because of stereotypes, i think there is more to it than that, there is a statistically discernible difference in skill - from my limited personal experience. Please proceed with the downvote into oblivion :).
People who make computers their life are doing life wrong.
There's no doubt that computers serve as a solitary outlet for many lonely, ostracized, and anxious people. The fact that computers become the only good thing in their life is not a positive and it's usually not a choice. It's something thrust on them by their psychological circumstance.
The real tragedy is that there is an entire cohort of people doing computer programming because they suffer from anxiety disorders and programming is capable of affording them a solitary way of making money as well as giving them something to escape into.
Anyway these people are not really helping themselves or the industry. They do sub-standard work, they suffer from depression and anxiety, they find collaboration difficult and uncomfortable and they accept being underpaid due to low self-esteem. The low self-esteem causes them to lash out against others when they have a chance, like insulting people who don't know something.
It would be better for everyone if these people got therapy and came to enjoy the other things that life can provide. Warm and fulfilling relationships being the big one.
Life is about a lot more than just working. If this applies to surgeons and Presidents and astronauts, it should apply to computer scientists as well. Never judge someone negatively for having a life.
You could say also that 'people who make mathematics/science/art their life are doing life wrong'. Almost all the great mathematicians, physicists, etc are doing it wrong? Maybe.
At least this is how they get into the field. Programming was the life for me until I met my wife and had 2 children. With a family, things are different. But our topic is mostly about how people get into the field. True and early passion for programming, and social-acceptance ignorance is more rare (although existing) amongst women. In my opinion this is the real difference between women and men and not that women are not intelligent enough.
I'm currently working at a pretty small company with women coworkers, and most of them are at least as smart as some of the men i've worked with and one is way smarter than most people i've met. Having said that, in my experience both in college and at work (been working about 6 years now), on average the girls were less capable and smart at CS and programming. From my experience it seemed A LOT like they just didn't commit at nearly the same level as the guys. For most men who are programmers it's almost a way of life - I have never met a woman for whom the same could be said. The one woman I know who is vastly better at her job than anyone I've met, even she is simply a extremely dedicated professional for whom it is just a job, not truly a passion.
I'm not saying this means guys get the right to be assholes, I'm just saying I don't think this is entirely because there are so few girls or because of stereotypes, i think there is more to it than that, there is a statistically discernible difference in skill - from my limited personal experience. Please proceed with the downvote into oblivion :).