Cognitive Distance and Women in Software Engineering: An Empirical Study in the Context of Bangladesh

Abstract

For a long time, the global software industry has been attempting to address the issue of female underrepresentation. Several studies have looked into the barriers that women face when entering the industry. However, none of the studies investigated women’s undergrad experiences from the perspective of cognitive distance, which is the distance faced by peers from different backgrounds. This study addresses this gap through an interview and survey-based approach in the context of Bangladesh. It demonstrates the impact of cognitive distance on female participation in software engineering. It also demonstrates how the intensity of this distance varies throughout the undergraduate years. It also identifies the barriers to cognitive distance mitigation. This study confirms that a good internship experience can help to reduce the cognitive distance felt and increase inclusion. Finally, this study proposes six strategies for creating a more inclusive environment for women in software engineering, such as increasing awareness, fostering cooperation, the intervention of the authority, and implementing other intervention programs such as internships.