RETRACTED ARTICLE: Gender Reputation Differences on Online Programming Q&A Communities

Abstract

Women are underrepresented in the software development labor market. Many women utilize online programming Q&A communities to gain access to technical fields. They serve as a knowledge base for informal learning and provide opportunities for individuals to exhibit credible, verifiable expertise for career advancement. However, they are often male-oriented and create barriers for women to participate and earn reputations. We develop an understanding of how male and female developers participate in the online Q&A communities and how their participation impacts their successfulness regarding reputations. Using the data from the Stack Overflow, we quantitatively examine the differences in behavior and outcomes between men and women. The results reveal significant differences in how men and women participate and how successful they are, for example, women have lower reputations on average which are mostly resulting from women and men's differences in their activities. We further discuss designing an alternative gender-neutral reputation mechanism.