Less than one percent of girls are studying computer science and even less are actually in the field. To change this, Google’s ‘Made With Code’ initiative helps inspire young girls to code in 2014. They are aiming to close the gender gap in the tech industry and show girls that coding is in all the things that they love. Coding isn’t just for boys who love computers.
Google is trying to show girls that coding is in everything from the smartphone apps, fashion, to movies. The company invested $50 million for three years and now that their initiative is more established, it has become successful in encouraging young girls to reach their goals with code.
On their website, www.madewithcode.com, girls are presented with a fun, colorful, and welcoming environment to show them all of the things that they can do with code. The website includes fun applications to help girls learn the fundamental basics of coding and how it can be fun by using their favorite cartoon characters or fashion inspirations. The ‘projects’ tab is filled with a ton of fun ways to start learning.
The initiative also pulls in different mentors who are incredibly successful women who have made it in their professions using code. Each video shows girls what each individual’s career is about and how they incorporate code into their day-to-day lives. People like DJ, Ebony “Wondagurl” Oshunrinde, to Animator, Danielle Feinberg, are featured on the site to provide a plethora of examples of different career routes girls could take with coding.
The most important aspect of the initiative is the female coding community that Google has started. They have every social media account you could imagine are constantly spreading the word about the importance of having women in computer science.
Google has also provided the means for older women to inspire young girls by giving them the resources to host events, parties, and projects. Many girls are taking advantage of these opportunities and are reaching new heights that they never thought they could reach, so let’s thank Google for continuing and succeeding with this initiative to push young women in directions that we have never been before.
