Computing skills are the most sought-after realm in the U.S. job market, yet research shows that the share of women in the computing workforce has declined from 37 percent in 1995 to 24 percent today.
In 2012, Saujani recognized this growing gender disparity and founded the national non-profit organization Girls Who Code to inspire, educate, and equip girls with the computing skills to pursue 21st century opportunities.
Also launching is and The Friendship Code, a Penguin Workshop, for ages 8-12. With the books, Saujani aims to teach girls the fundamental principles of coding and allow budding female coders to see themselves reflected in our cultural narrative.
“When I first started Girls Who Code, I realized that there was a need for books that described what it’s like to actually be a girl who codes,” says Saujani in a statement. “I always say, ‘You can’t be what you can’t see.’ And that’s true for books, too. We need to read stories about girls who look like us in order to be inspired to try something new.”
Reshma kicks off her national, eight-city book tour on August 22 with a Women in Tech rally at Union Square, followed by a book launch at Barnes & Noble, Union Square in Manhattan.
