Biological Sex, Sex-Role Identity, and the Spectrum of Computing Orientations: A Re-Appraisal at the End of the 90s

Abstract

Biological sex and psychological masculinity and femininity are related to computer comfort (the inverse of anxiety), engagement, and over-use. The study shows both greater masculinity and femininity to be related to greater computer comfort, greater masculinity to be related to greater engagement, and greater femininity to be associated with lesser over-use. While there are no sex differences in computer comfort and engagement, males appear more prone to over-use, but this is not mediated by sex differences in femininity. It is concluded that both femininity and masculinity are now propitious for the development of positive computer orientations, and that greater female negativity toward computers is waning. The expansion of computer applications into non-male dominated areas, such as inter-personal communication, is cited as a major explanation for these observations. The findings imply that some reduction of sex asymmetries in computing course enrollments should be expected, although it is speculated that this might only be marginal. Over-usage is identified as a major area of future concern.