My review of the article “I Can be a Super Sleuth: Promising Practices of Engaging Adolescent Girls in Cybersecurity Education” points out why there are not many girls in the cybersecurity field. The study shows some of the reasons why girls are not engaged in the cybersecurity field. It is basically the same reason girls are not usually into video games. It is stereotypically viewed as nerdy and nonsocial. It also explains the need for women in cyber security and how diversity is essential so every avenue of cyber security can be implemented. Since there are so few females in the cyber security field, girls lack role models that help get them interested in computer science careers. Studies have shown that girls have lowered feelings of belonging in the computer science field; as a result, very few women seek a career in computer science. In class, we have discussed that women were less inclined to be in a computer science field due to certain factors, mainly that they have a disinterest in them for one reason or another and this article’s studies support that. They also found that in cyber security, there were misconceptions about who is entitled to participate. This acted as a barrier for women to get into the cybersecurity field. They also found out they had almost no data about what adolescent girls perceived of the cybersecurity Field. So, they had a study for just 38 adolescent girls to help research that answers two questions how girls perceive cybersecurity and what practices can engage girls in cybersecurity. They also found that girls blame their lack of ability and self-efficacy for not going into the field. These reasons are why girls would withdraw from the field. They also found out that girls enjoy puzzles and solving real-world problems. Because of this, girls can be interested in computer forensics. The study of the 38 girls was done in a summer program, and it went over cyber security basics and had teachers that took their time with each individual student to help them understand the material. As a result, the girls enjoyed working on the cyber security assignments and said they would not mind a career in the cyber security field. So, the study showed that having good teachers and the class is only for girls helped raise girls’ interest in the subject because they did not feel intimidated by boys. After all, there were none. The teachers were patient with them and made them feel comfortable with the material, and they didn’t have the feeling of being pushed down or overshadowed like they would in a co-ed setting. So, eliminating some stereotypes could help more girls choose to be in cyber security. The studies also mention that there needs to be more studies on girls with no prior interest in computer science. These studies could help fill the gender gaps in cyber security. I think this article hits on key points, and they need to find better ways not just to get girls interested in the field but have a way, so boys don’t give girls a feeling of being pushed down or overshadowed.






