Forbes

Stanford University president John Hennessy's speech at Intel Capital's recent annual summit focused on four barriers he says are preventing gender equality in the technology industry and his proposed solutions for each. Hennessy says, "our system is broken somewhere between middle school and high school," noting that in elementary school girls do slightly better than boys in math and science, but they fall behind in early adolescence. Hennessy recommends finding better role models and inspiration for girls. Hennessy also criticizes the rise of the "gamification culture," which he says puts a heavy emphasis on killing. Although boys may like these types of games, he says most girls do not find them attractive. However, he notes the problem may be fixing itself as today's computers now provide a gateway to social media, which has high levels of engagement by girls. Hennessy's third concern is the "isolation effect" at universities, especially for female students who may end up being the only woman in a high-level math or science course of 30 people. To read further, please visit http://www.forbes.com/sites/georgeanders/2014/11/04/stanford-president-has-4-ideas-for-boosting-women-in-tech/.