Conservatives:Academia::Women:Computer Programming

One possible reason for the decline in women majoring in computer science is the belief that the field as a whole is hostile to women. Similarly, one possible reason for the lack of conservatives in academia is the belief that the career as a whole is hostile to conservatives. The existence of a corner or two that really is hostile doesn't mean that hostility is found all over.

On the other hand, attempts to respond to perceived hostility can create real hostility.