Northern Ireland

Computer 'geek' stereotype puts girls off subject

   By Robbie Meredith BBC News NI Education Correspondent
--

   Computing is seen as "a male-oriented domain consisting of anti-social
   'nerds, geeks or hackers'," it said.

   The study looked at why comparatively few girls choose to study
--
   "This could explain female students' refusal to take up supposedly
   'male' subjects such as computing, as this would prevent others
   attributing them as 'geeks'," added the report.

   "It is the stereotyping of computer users as male, socially awkward and