Marissa Mayer should be an inspiration to women in tech Women are clearly interested in computer science; but a number of factors are pushing them out of the field. Studies repeatedly surface the same reasons: male-dominated classrooms create less supportive environments for female students. Women are much harder on themselves, and quicker to think they're not good enough at the subject. The starting level varies because more men than women study computer science before entering university. And as there are already few women in computer science, there are few role models, and no critical mass. Mentoring programmes, tutoring in calculus (advanced mathematics tend to be other barrier to entry for female students), widening the curriculum to include computer science's creative applications, and hiring more female professors and tutors have all proven to increase the female contingent in the sciences. But critical mass must build from somewhere, and that place is secondary school. David Cameron is happy to bemoan the state of GSCE scores, demand a greater female presence on boards and extol the virtues of London's Silicon Roundabout. So it's time his education system put these priorities together. Preparing and encouraging women to pursue the sciences doesn't only address gender disparities; women deserve to be part of a fast-growing, highly profitable business too, and the education system should nurture that opportunity. Not all women who study computer science want to be managers and CEOs. But we owe it to ourselves to support those who do, and to create a community for all the others who think they have a knack for the trade, but lack the confidence to pursue it.