Why are so many transwomen computer programmers/engineers/IT?

[Cindi Lane]

On the original question:
  Based on my personal experience and the discussions I've had with others in the community, I believe that the "wiring" in the brain of transwomen (MTF trangender) is sufficiently different from the statistical male or female norm that our approach to solving problems is also notably different.

I expect this is the case for transmen too.  I have not had an opportunity (yet) for any in-depth conversations with transmen.

Long before I had a vocabulary to describe what was going on inside of me, yet knowing I was different than the other people around me, I found interacting with people on a technical level to be more comfortable than typical social interactions. Exploring and problem solving in electronics and computers just felt better than dealing with people.
To this day, I still solve problems differently than most cis-gender males and differently than most cis-gender females.  One of the benefits of being transgender.

In my case, math (up through beginning calculus), electronics, programming and mechanical systems all seemed very natural when I was young. I gravitated towards software and where software and hardware interact. I started working in High-Tech in the late 70's, long before the Internet was popular (more than a decade before the HTTP protocol was invented).

-Cindi

[A]

In my mind, though, programming and maths are pretty far away from each other in terms of what you need to do to complete the task. And even farther away from electronics and mechanical systems... oo'

I barely get anything about electronics or electrical stuff as a whole, am far from the best in math (integrals were just so hard I don't know if I could've passed the course if I hadn't gone on sick leave) and completely SUCK at physics and anything mechanical... yet my teachers are all impressed at how easy programming is to me compared to the rest of the class.

Though I, too, feel like my way of thinking is very different from anyone else's. I don't see it as an advantage, though. Causes me issues, mainly.

[ZoeM]

In my mind, though, programming and maths are pretty far away from each other in terms of what you need to do to complete the task. And even farther away from electronics and mechanical systems... oo'

I barely get anything about electronics or electrical stuff as a whole, am far from the best in math (integrals were just so hard I don't know if I could've passed the course if I hadn't gone on sick leave) and completely SUCK at physics and anything mechanical... yet my teachers are all impressed at how easy programming is to me compared to the rest of the class.

Though I, too, feel like my way of thinking is very different from anyone else's. I don't see it as an advantage, though. Causes me issues, mainly.

Pretty much this. Programming is logic and creative thinking - the computer does This, then This, then That. Math is ... Math. No creativity. Just numbers.

Or perhaps, programming is the act of creating a system. Math (and physics et al.) is the act of describing a system.
They appeal to different people.

I do wonder - do you have an advantage on standardized tests? Maybe that is a side effect of our particular thought processes.

[Anna++]

I don't worry about math too much.  I can program the computer to do math for me

[Misato]

When I was going into preschool my mother was told, "I'd carry around a calculator like women carry around a purse." which is now so funny for so many reasons.

It depends on what you're doing.  When I was doing low level graphics, there was a lot of math there with Matrices and Vectors.  My Computer Security professor warned us about there being "math there" in the advanced cryptography class which I didn't take.  Lots of math in report generation I've created too, mostly stats.  Heck, Machine Learning seems to be mainly a lot of stats though I'm not an expert in that field.  Now that I've done a bunch of web development, not so much math there though.  More just how data relates to each other.

Given where I stared with Math, being held back and all, and where I am now now I have a serious case of, "If I can do it just about anyone can".  For me I needed to change how the math looked, falling back to lattice multiplication and Austrian Subtraction http://www.sonoma.edu/users/w/wilsonst/courses/math_300/groupwork/altsub/aust.html cause the standard way I was taught in school freaked me out too much.  Lattice multiplication takes longer, but at least I get the right answer so I end up being faster!

[Anna++]

When I was doing low level graphics, there was a lot of math there with Matrices and Vectors.

I remember that... I had a lot of trouble following all of it in class!

Graphics == hard
Operating systems == easy

[A]

Graphics? How is there even the slightest amount of maths in graphics?

That, and...

I do wonder - do you have an advantage on standardized tests? Maybe that is a side effect of our particular thought processes.

I don't understand what you mean.

[Joanna Dark]

On the original question:
  Based on my personal experience and the discussions I've had with others in the community, I believe that the "wiring" in the brain of transwomen (MTF trangender) is sufficiently different from the statistical male or female norm that our approach to solving problems is also notably different.

I expect this is the case for transmen too.  I have not had an opportunity (yet) for any in-depth conversations with transmen.

Long before I had a vocabulary to describe what was going on inside of me, yet knowing I was different than the other people around me, I found interacting with people on a technical level to be more comfortable than typical social interactions. Exploring and problem solving in electronics and computers just felt better than dealing with people.
To this day, I still solve problems differently than most cis-gender males and differently than most cis-gender females.  One of the benefits of being transgender.

I don't or didn't as they case is have this experience at all. I have always related to and interacted better on a social level and even feel more female then trans, whatever that means. I'm not just saying this to justify something or making things up in my memories. I have an exceptional memory and an extensive vocabulary. I graduated head of my class in communications and was the only male ever to do so. Or so they think.

[Misato]

Graphics? How is there even the slightest amount of maths in graphics?

Being able to write a pixel shader and get the desired effect often takes math.  Calculating surface normals.  Applying transformation matrices in the right order so you get the desired output.  Trig so meshes are positioned and built as required in relation to the camera and each other.  Calculating view to screen coordinates.  I've had all kinds of fun in 2D and 3D.  Oh, arcs and the SVG spec.  I recall THAT was a fun one to implement in GDI+.

Then there is just understanding what math is "going on under the hood" so you know what you need to do to have smooth animations.  Hit that a couple of times.

[Cindi Lane]

I remember that... I had a lot of trouble following all of it in class!
Graphics == hard
Operating systems == easy

I had the same kind of thing for me.

Graphics == Hard
Crypto == Hard and Mind Twisting

Operating Systems == Easy
Device Drivers == Easy

[Cindi Lane]

In my mind, though, programming and maths are pretty far away from each other in terms of what you need to do to complete the task. And even farther away from electronics and mechanical systems... oo'

I barely get anything about electronics or electrical stuff as a whole, am far from the best in math (integrals were just so hard I don't know if I could've passed the course if I hadn't gone on sick leave) and completely SUCK at physics and anything mechanical... yet my teachers are all impressed at how easy programming is to me compared to the rest of the class.

Though I, too, feel like my way of thinking is very different from anyone else's. I don't see it as an advantage, though. Causes me issues, mainly.

Pretty much this. Programming is logic and creative thinking - the computer does This, then This, then That. Math is ... Math. No creativity. Just numbers.

Or perhaps, programming is the act of creating a system. Math (and physics et al.) is the act of describing a system.
They appeal to different people.

I do wonder - do you have an advantage on standardized tests? Maybe that is a side effect of our particular thought processes.

For me, solving problems differently did give me some issues early on when I was young.
I was fortunate that both my close friends and those older and wiser that I looked up to were able to assure me that different was not "wrong".
In a odd way , this was the most important lesson that I'm still trying to fully embrace.

The vast majority of the transgender people I've met have one or more exceptional talents. Sadly, many of them can't see how beautifully special they are.

Growing up doing mechanical things made Electronics easier to understand for me.
Understanding Algebra made programming easier for me.