At some point between pre-school and high school, many girls go from thinking they can be anything they want to be when they grow up to thinking some doors are closed to them.
Stopping that shift in thinking is part of the mission of Girls Who Code, an organization focused on inspiring and uplifting the next generation of female engineers by closing the gender gap in technology.
“We want the girls to think it is obvious that a woman could be a software engineer, it is obvious that a woman could design her own video game, it is obvious that a woman can run her own company, it is obvious that a woman can be a leader,” said Jillian Mueller, co-facilitator of a Girls Who Code club in Alexandria.
There are roughly two dozen Girls Who Code clubs in Northern Virginia, part of a nationwide network with clubs in all 50 states. Mueller’s club, which she instructs alongside Brittany Dixon and Dustin Weber, meets at the James M. Duncan Branch of the Alexandria Public Library on Thursdays from 5 to 6:45 p.m. There are also chapters at Bishop Ireton High School, Thomas Edison High School, and Hayfield Secondary School.
“The club continues to grow," said Mueller of the Duncan Branch club, which focuses on girls ages 10 to 14. "We have more girls than ever and we continue to get new girls weekly.”
Many of the young girls in the Duncan Branch club joined after watching the Golden Globe-nominated film Hidden Figures, which focused on the female scientists and mathematicians who contributed to NASA. Others joined because they have a desire to go into politics or video game development, among other disciplines.
Mueller emphasizes that it isn't necessary for the girls in her club to aspire for a career in computer science. "I want the girls to understand that coding can relate to any career field," she said.
Parity is Just the Beginning
The organization was founded in 2012 by New Yorker Reshma Saujani, with the aim to support and increase the number of women in computer sciences. In less than a decade, Girls Who Code has surpassed even Saujani's wildest dreams, growing into a movement that has reached nearly 90,000 girls nationwide.
The volunteer-run after-school clubs give 6th- to 12th-grade students the opportunity to code in a fun and friendly environment. The organization also hosts 2-week and 7-week immersion courses to give 11th and 12th graders computer science skills and exposure to tech jobs. The programs both teach girls to excel in their time management abilities, confidence, teamwork, communication, and programming skills from functions to variables, loops, conditionals and more.
The best part? They don't need any previous computer science experience to join.
Right now, women represent 47 percent of the workforce, yet only 12 percent of engineers are female. According to recent studies, as few as 18 percent of those who graduate with computer science degrees are women.
Saujani attributes the notable absence of women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields to messages that young girls hear about their ability to succeed in the tech industry.
"Most girls are taught to avoid risk and failure," Saujani’s 2016 Ted Talk, Teach Girls Bravery, Not Perfection, begins. "We're raising our girls to be perfect and we're raising our boys to be brave," she said.
Girls Who Code teaches young women about how to deal with gender inequality in the workplace, and also prepares them with the technical skills they need to succeed and to push themselves beyond what they believe they can do.
As mentors, Mueller and Dixon want to show the girls true, tangible examples of gender equality to reinforce the notion that women can and are doing all forms of work despite gender discrimination.
“We talk to the girls about females in the military, about female politicians, about female CEOs, female athletes,” said Mueller. “For us, we recognized that in order to help women actually get ahead, we need to push them to learn technical skills, push them beyond what they think they can do, and give them mentorship from women that is about more than just how to deal with men.”
One of Mueller’s favorite aspects of instructing has been the lightbulb moment she sees in young girls – the moment when they realize that women weren't able to do the things that they can now and that their possibilities are endless.
“My favorite part of the club is seeing the girls being creative and ambitious and believing anything is possible. When we teach the girls a skill, and then we brainstorm ways we can use that skill, the girls always come up with incredible ideas. Their ideas are often ways to make the world a happier and more beautiful place,” said Mueller.
Disrupting the Status Quo
As military veterans, both Mueller and Dixon have a unique understanding of the myriad challenges that go into achieving gender equality in a largely male-oriented profession.
After graduating college, Mueller served as a military officer for 4 years working with weapon systems. Since leaving active duty service, she has been working with the military to develop electronic warfare and cyber technology. Her recent proximity to electrical and software engineers motivated her to learn more about computer science and technology. By 2019, she is hoping to pursue a Master’s degree in software engineering. Similarly, Dixon's experience in the military helped to pique her interest in computer science.
Initially, Mueller and Dixon, as well as one of Dixon’s software engineer friends, Lauren, started the GWC club in Alexandria. It was their combined passion for increasing inclusivity in male-dominated and lucrative career fields that pushed the chapter to where it is today.
As an officer in the military, Mueller rarely worked with women and often experienced extreme gender disparity which created a number of challenges. “I had the job I loved, but had many tedious struggles that were completely unnecessary due to my gender,” she recalled of her time in the armed forces. The one thing that got her through these difficulties was the strong bond that she built with other women, something that she says Dixon accomplished as well.
A few years ago, Mueller would have never pursued a career in software engineering, and it wasn't until she befriended a woman in the field that she felt comfortable enough to act on her curiosity. “It just takes that one person to show you it is possible.”
It is this form of sisterhood and unity that Mueller hopes to foster in the young women of Girls Who Code. "When I was younger, there were 'boy jobs' and 'girl jobs,'" explained Mueller. "I was lucky as a kid because my mom looked at me and said, 'You would make a good soldier,' even though everyone else thought I was crazy."
"We want to look at these girls and say, 'You would make a good engineer' so they can feel empowered to pursue those careers that unfortunately are still male-dominated today."
How to Join
When Mueller asked her mentees what they would want people to know about Girls Who Code, they told her, “It’s super fun and we love hanging out with each other.”
To volunteer with Girls Who Code, or to sign up a student, go to girlswhocode.com/clubs.
To contact Mueller, email mueller.jilliank@gmail.com.
