Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer students' sense of belonging in computing

Abstract

The field of computing is rapidly developing, requiring a strong and diverse labor force. The current work assessed the relationship between Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) students' sense of belonging in computing and thoughts about leaving the field. The results of two studies indicated that among undergraduate students (Study 1) and graduate students (Study 2), thoughts about leaving one's computing program were associated with feeling a low sense of belonging in the computing community. These findings suggest that in order to capitalize on talent and perspective offered by the LGBTQ community, the field of computing should make greater strides towards inclusivity.