My memory of that time in the UK was that being "into" computers marked you as a greasy-haired "Anorak" (maybe that translates to "Dirty Mac", in American. I suppose the slur is based on stereotyping computer enthusiasts who would often peruse computer magazines at the newsagent, rather like some other "enthusiasts" who might be browsing other, usually graphic, magazines, possibly wearing a "Mac").

Though the term is "Nerd", now, and it's become possibly respectable, in those times, especially in high school, it really wasn't cool at at all, and seemed to attract more derision that being into StartTrek or even D&D.

I don't think the majority of girls wanted to be seen dead in such circles, though not because of "bro" culture, far from it. girls were more than welcome.

Possibly things have changed now, I don't know, but I'll note also that back then there didn't seem to be much discussion of gender ratios in either industry or in education.

I don't know if that's because of heightened general awareness now, or simply that anything IT has become even more lucrative, and (probably as a result) much cooler. What is the gender ratio in coal mining?