Dot Diva: Changing the Image of Computing

From Anita Borg Institute Wiki

68% of college-bound high school girls think computing is boring, anti-social, and irrelevant.

Dot Diva wants to change this. Together, WGBH, the ACM, and NCWIT are working to transform this negative perception of computing. Dot Diva aims to reach professionals in computing, education, and career counseling; those of us who are thinking about our daughters’ futures; and high school girls themselves. We emphasize things that are important to girls to create an exciting and attractive image of computing.

We have extensively researched and tested messages, images, and approach and have developed a targeted communications and image campaign that highlights the benefits of computing, rather than the skills needed to do computing.

Key Messages Dot Divas have the power and the passion to make a difference. We believe in the potential of computing to build a better world:

 • Computing is creative. We unleash our imaginations to create music apps, movie animation, and fashion design software.
 • Computing connects people. We design social media to bring people together—for friendship, entertainment, or to mobilize  around a great cause.
 • Computing changes the world. We develop medical software that saves lives and design programs that track the environment to help protect our planet.

Become an advocate for women in computing by supporting Dot Diva. Visit dotdiva.org [1] to find out how.