Women in computing

The world is changing and the demographics of the workforce are changing with it. At one time there was hope that our exciting new field of computer science would not only revolutionize the technical world in which we live, but break new ground in professional access and equity for women. This optimism has given way to pragmatism. If we want the best and the brightest women to participate fully in our profession, we must take a long hard look at our professional practices and conventions. The goal of this special section is to provide computer professionals with the information to understand the issues that women confront in their workplace and with the resources to successfully diversify their workplace. I hope you will save this issue of Communications as a reference for many years to come. I also hope that, as opportunities for women in computer science expand, the need for the specialized resources and programs we described here diminishes.

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