Transcript of ONE MORE TIME
- 1. Alli Travis
AmSt 522 Research Proposal
- 2. Idaho Big Labor Pool, Small Talent Pool
The state of Idaho is currently experiencing record unemployment.
Yet, despite a large labor pool of applicants to pick from,
technology related businesses are having trouble finding qualified
individuals to fill their voided positions. The amount of
experienced, specialized high-tech workers is dismal, which could
hurt Idaho's ability to compete nationally and globally in a
booming field. "In 2009, the computer programming field generating
an estimated 395 job openings in Idaho, yet the state produced only
24 graduates in the field." Likewise, the information technology
field opened up roughly 929 positions and had only 162 graduates to
fill those spots (Sewell 2).
Even more astounding than the low overall number of Idahoan's in
the technology field is the extremely small proportion of women
involved. Women leaders in the field of technology are few and far
between in the state of Idaho. In fact, the Idaho Technology
Council and the Idaho Innovation Council have a combined six women
out of a group of fifty-four council and board members.
- 3. So What?
This is where my curious mind wants to know more
Why is there such a lack of women studying/interested in technology
in Idaho?
What social, cultural, and economic factors play in to this lack of
female representation?
- 4. Research Questions
What social, cultural and economic factors inhibit or create
possibilities for computer access by young women in southern
Idahoand how does this affect the development of their future
careers in technology related fields?
What is the male to female ratio of Idaho students pursuing careers
in IT and computer science and how can any large gap between
genders be explained?
- 5. Sub-Questions
I came up with a number of sub-questions stemming from my two main
research questions:
What opportunities do women have for access to computers?
What are the family norms surrounding children/teen computer use,
and how does this differ between genders?
How does the Idaho school system delegate computer access and the
types of programs being used by students?
What emphasis are being placed on math and science in the school
system? Are males being led towards these disciplines more than
females?
Is use of the computer considered to be masculine or
feminine?
Does this inhibit one gender in any way?
- 6. Sub-Questions Cont.
How is womens access to the computer VALUED.what types of access
(or lack of access) have they had to technology in the past?
What are the social/cultural structures surrounding females and
their use of the computer?
What social constraints might exist that cause women to stay away
from computers related careers?
What are women interested in studying? Is computer science/IT
appealing for women? Why or why not?
- 7. Empowerment
Access
Computers
Technology
Connectivity
Careers with Computers
Masculine vs feminine
Social Norms
CulturalNorms
Economic Circumstances
Access
Gender biases
Education
Access
Exposure
Idaho
Personal Preference
Women
Men
- 8. Partnerships
Will pursue a relationship with other Idaho organizations that
might be interested in helping enhance and conduct the study:
Girls in Tech, Boise sector
Girls in Tech is focused on the engagement, education, and
empowerment of like-minded, professional, intelligent and
influential women in technology working on the collaboration,
promotion, growth, and success of women in the technology
sector.
Idaho Technology Council
Connects, informs and promotes tech companies in Idaho and seeks to
foster the growth of technology companies in the state
- 9. Methodologies
Survey
To gain a broad understanding of general questions regarding access
(at home and in the education system), social norms and personal
preferences
Face to face interviews (75)
To attain further feedback on why women feel the way they do about
technology and what might have lead them to that point
Focus groups of 10-15
To collectively brainstorm
- 10. Survey
Two groups
High school seniors
Idaho State Department of Education for permission and location
assignments
College upperclassmen
Available colleges: College of S. Idaho, Boise State, Idaho State,
Northwest Nazarene University, College of Idaho
Approximately 200 surveys from each group
- 11. Survey College Map
- 12. Survey
Question Types
General background questions (gender, income, education)
Exposure to technology throughout youth
Opportunities for use and skill development
In school and in the home
Promotion of technology related careers in ones life
Comfort level with media technology skills
Identify reasons for lack of computer exposure, if any
Social norms surrounding use and consumption
Thoughts towards technology and desire to study it
- 13. Face to Face Interviews
Approximately 50 interviews
College upperclassmen ages 22-25
Background questions:
Find out how they ended up choosing their career path, why they
chose it, what factors in their life contributed to this
decision
More computer specific questions regarding:
Exposure, access and usage
Societal norms
Personal biases
Career growth opportunities
Empowerment
- 14. Focus Groups
Groups of 10-15 individuals
High school seniors, college upperclassmen
Personal feelings and cultural norms surrounding computer
usage
Social structures
Exposure throughout different life phases
Home, school, work
Encouragement/discouragement of computer access
Technology use
Personal interests in computers (why or why not)
Difference of interests between genders and why
- 15. Literature Review
AAUW Educational Foundation, First. Tech-Savvy:Educating Girls in
the New Computer Age . Washington, D.C.: American Association of
University Women Educational Foundation, 2000.
This book recognizes that computers are now part of the everyday
classroom and seeks to understand how they can be used to enhance
teaching and learning in ways that promote female involvement. The
main themes of the book address the reservations girls have about
the computer culture, the concerns teachers having using technology
in the classroom, and causes for concern in regards to females
current participation in the computer realm through the lenses of
education, economics and culture. This book will serve as a great
starting point for my research to gain some background on classroom
culture surrounding women and computers and to understand where (on
a broad scale) women lie in the computer participation
spectrum.
Battey, Daniel, et al. Professional Development for Teachers on
Gender Equity in the Sciences: Initiating the Conversation.
Teachers College Record 109.1 (2007): 221-243. America: History
& Life. EBSCO. Web. 15 Nov. 2010.
This article examines a study conducted during 1993-2001 which
showed that professional development projects for schoolteachers
fell short of effectively addressing gender inequity in the
classroom, particularly in relation to science, technology,
engineering and mathematics. What seemed to be significantly
lacking from teachers in their ability to present technical content
to girls effectively. Understanding how the school system prevents
females from obtaining the same type of exposure to technology as
men receive will be helpful in examining how this affects women
throughout their education and careers.
- 16. Literature Review Cont.
Blum, Lenore, and Carole Frieze. The Evolving Culture of Computing.
Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies 26.1 (2005): 110-115.
America: History & Life. EBSCO. Web. 15 Nov. 2010.
The authors of this article state that most students of gender and
computer science have been conducted in gender-imbalanced
environments. To combat this, researchers make suggestions to help
close these significant gender differences. One such method of
heightening the female interest in computers and technology
described in the article saw the number of women entering computer
science majors at Carnegie Mellon increase nearly fivefold in only
four years. Understanding what types of programs draw females to
become more interested in computers will help us to understand what
qualities of current educational and social systems are lacking
that keep women from further exposure to computers.
Dunbar-Hester, Christina. Beyond Dudecore? Challenging Gendered and
Raced Technologies Through Media Activism. Journal of Broadcasting
& Electronic Media 54:1 (2010): 121-135.
This article follows a group of media activists whose work
foregrounds communication technologies and technical practice.
These activists attempt to transform the media system by broadening
access to technology and skills, with the intent for technological
engagement to be compatible with a range of social identities.
Specifically, they promote hands-on work with technology and
technological competence, which, as they claim, has evidently been
shaped by social structures that contribute to differences in
familiarity and comfort with electronics across genders. This study
does not attempt to account for those differences, but instead
focuses on the activists attempts to confront and transform these
differences.
- 17. Literature Review Cont.
Farmer, Lesley. Teen Girls and Technology: Whats the Problem,
What's the Solution?. Chicago, IL: American Library Assocation,
2008
In this book, Lesley Farmer examines the disconnect that many girls
have with technology and then tackles the almighty question of: how
do we kick-start girls involvement with technology? By providing a
framework that teachers and parents can use to empower girls to
succeed in todays technology-rich world, Farmer hopes to supply
real-world techniques that actually work. She highlights several
after-school and fun learning activities that have been shown to
increase young womens confidence and promote their interests in
technology. This information should be quite relevant in regards to
analyzing the programs that might be found within current school
systems and looking at the ways they work to promote female
computer usage.
Fenwick, Tara. "What happens to the girls? gender, work and
learning in Canada's 'new economy' 1." Gender & Education 16.2
(2004): 169-185. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 17 Nov.
2010.
This article studies the gender inequalities that exist in both
access to and experience of learning opportunities in Canadas New
Economy that promotes equal knowledge and work related learning
opportunities. More relevant to this study is the discussion on
current provision for girls vocational education and the gendered
issues they face entering the labor market, including the ways in
which this can be combated. In particular, the article talks about
gender-sensitive career education for girls. Understanding how
gendered issues change with changing social and political
structures will be useful in assessing what issues are relevant for
female access to technology and education today.
- 18. Literature Review Cont.
"Girls email their way into male internet culture." Times higher
education supplement. (1999): 6..
This short article describes the results of research done at
Sheffield and Loughborough universities regarding internet use in
rural and urban schools. The study claims that schools emphasizg
the communicative aspects of information technology are likely to
attract more girls than those who do not. Girls are much more
likely to be attracted to email than boys and can become interested
in computer programming from there. With this increased interest in
computers, females are beginning to challenge the masculine
stereotypes surrounding IT.
Imhanlahimi, E. O., and F. E. Eloebhose. "Problems and Prospects of
Women Access to Science and Technology Education in Nigeria."
College Student Journal 40.3 (2006): 583-587. Humanities
International Index. EBSCO. Web. 17 Nov. 2010.
This article highlights the importance of science and technology in
the development of nations by analyzing real life circumstances in
Nigeria. In this study, researchers found that Nigeria cannot
achieve scientific and technological growth without the full
participation of women. Although historically women have been held
back in accessing technology, new trends are calling for the
importance of female participation in nation building to be
recognized. Now, the nation is calling on everyone to contribute to
the promotion of female access to science and technology education
in Nigeria. Using this study, it will be interesting to examine the
relationship between female empowerment and their desire to work
with and pursue careers in technology.
- 19. Literature Review Cont.
Jensen, Jennifer, Suzanne de Castell, and Mary Bryson. Girl Talk:
gender, equity and identity discourses in a school-based computer
culture. Womens Studies International Forum 26:6 (2003):
561-573.
This article discusses a feminist intervention project in Canada
focused on giving females more equitable access to and use of
computers. This project, conducted at Brookwood Elementary School,
allowed for the female students to develop and experience new
identities as technology experts within their school. This resulted
in not only a significant increase in the participants knowledge of
technology, but also resulted in a shift in the way they talked
about and voiced their own gender identities with their teachers
and peers. By the end of the experience, participants had become
more vocal about what they saw as gender-biased practices conducted
in the classroom and throughout the school. Their new willingness
to stand up against these inequitable practices ultimately created
a more supportive climate for the advancement of gender equity
beyond the confines of its computer labs. By no means do the
authors claim to have found a cure or prescription for change
regarding gender-biased school practices, however, they identify
the need for an understanding of the resiliency of this standard
and suggest one way of beginning to break down the traditional
walls that have been upheld for generations.
- 20. Literature Review Cont.
Kelan, Elisabeth. Performing Gender at Work. New York, NY: Palgrave
Macmillan, 2009.
The advent of new technologies is aid to change the world of work
dramatically. But is gender changing as well? This book is a fresh
perspective on the rapidly changing relationship between gender and
technology, which is constantly shifting in regards to changing
demographics, employee expectations and business needs. Put
together based on a research study of two companies in Switzerland,
the book challenges the reader to think about the ways in which the
evolving economy shapes new gender inequities, particularly within
ICT work. This book will have some great insight regarding new ways
of thinking about how gender is seen at work and how gender is done
in contemporary high-tech fields.
Lupart, Judy, and Elizabeth Cannon. "Computers and Career Choices:
Gender Differences in Grades 7 and 10 Students." Gender Technology
and Development 6.2 (2002): 233-248. Web. 17 Nov 2010.
This article looks into research that investigates the
relationships between school culture, socialization, ability,
gender and values and the relative degree of influence on
adolescent student choice in courses, programs, and activities
(particularly related to math and science). By investigating this
relationship, the authors hope to understand why there is
increasing evidence that there will not be enough people with the
necessary math and science expertise to keep up with the
ever-growing technologies of the world. The article then focuses on
gender, by grade, to compare several questions that pertain to
computer interest and usage and student choices concerning
desirable career characteristics/future careers. This will be
useful to compare the career interests of girls in comparison to
those of males and evaluate what career qualities girls find
appealing.
- 21. Literature Review Cont.
Miller, Paige, R. Sooryamoorthy, Meredith Anderson, Anthony
Palackal, Wesley Schrum. Gender and Science in Developing Areas:
Has the Internet Reduced Inequality? Social Science Quarterly 87
(2006): 679-689.
This paper examines the impact of the Internet and the research
careers of female scientists in three developing areas: Ghana,
Kenya and Kerala, India. Findings show that women are less likely
to acquire advanced degrees, and are more likely to experience
localism in the educational and organizational realm. This idea of
localism places constraints on physical mobility which creates
career differentials between male and female professionals. Even
though education and Internet access has increased dramatically in
these areas, without removing the communication restraints caused
by localism, women will still be held back in progressing their
careers forward.
Palackal, Anthony. "Gender Stratification and E-Science: Can the
Internet Circumvent Patrifocality?." New Infrastructure for
Knowledge Production: Understanding E-Science. 'Ed'. Christine
Hine. Hershey: Idea Group Publishing, 2006.
This study investigates the degree to which the internet affects
the constraints on women pursuing scientific careers in the
developing world. The authors address this question by studying the
way information and communication technologies shape gender roles
amongst professional scientists in India. After assessing the
extent to which women scientists have gained access to e-science
technologies, the authors conclude that internet connectivity is
helping women scientists to circumvent, but not yet undermine, the
patrifocal social structure that reduces social capital and impedes
career development.
- 22. Literature Review Cont.
Sadker, David, Myra Sadker, and Karen Zittleman. Still Failing at
Fairness: How Gender Bias Cheats Girls and Boys in School and What
We Can Do About It. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, Inc.,
2009.
These authors work together to provide an in-depth look at how both
the male and female educations are compromised from elementary
school through college. School practices, the authors claim, send
boys and girls down different life paths and often inhibit each
gender from pursuing certain lines of study. Teaching methods,
current testing practices, and subtle cultural attitudes are all
major players that inhibit both genders of every race, class and
ethnicity from receiving the same types of education influences.
Taking a look at this information can help us to gain a better
understanding of where the inequalities stem from and the kinds of
treatment females receive that could inhibit them from getting the
access to technology that would put them on a equal playing field
with males.
Sewell, Cynthia. "Idaho has a big labor pool, but a small talent
pool. Idaho Statesman 06/03/2010.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/06/03/1215399/big-labor-pool-small-talent-pool.html#ixzz16nHNM1RO.
This article discusses the current state of the technology field in
Idaho and why there is a lack of students graduating in the
field.
Shrum, Wesley and Meredith Anderson. Circumvention and Social
Change: ICTs and the Discourse of Empowerment. Womens Studies in
Communication 30:2 (2007): 229-253.
In this essay, the authors use 10 years of experience gained while
conducting research in south India to present a theoretical
interpretation of the impact of information and communication
technologies in the country. It dives into the social implications
of the specific relationship between gender inequity and
information and communication technologies, under conditions of
patrifocality that characterize the Indian subcontinent. After
taking into account the differences between the western definition
of female empowerment versus the type of empowerment available to
women in less developed countries, the authors provide a general
comparison between the lives of women in India and those in western
countries with regards to technology. Taking their very different
social structures into account, they look to interpret the impact
of these technologies on local practices of gender
stratification.
- 23. Literature Review Cont.
Wajcman, Judy. TechnoFeminism. Malden, MA: Polity Press,
2004.
This book claims technoscientific advances are overhauling the
relationship between women and machines. But instead arguing that
the technologies themselves are the cause of this shift, the author
argues that feminist politics are what is really making the
difference. Drawing on new perspectives in postmodern feminist
theory and science and technology studies, the author explores the
ways in which technologies are gendered both in design and in use.
From that, she is able to combine the concepts of cyberfeminism
with the gendered politics surrounding technology.
Yelland, Nicole and Andee Rubin, eds. Ghosts in the Machine:
Women's Voices in Research with Technology. New York, NY: Peter
Lang Publishing, 2002. Print.
Written by women in four countries on three continents, Ghosts and
the Machine examines the relationship between gender and ICT and
discusses the educational, social, artistic, and political
implications of a feminine voice in the design of technology. It
dives into the gendering of technology, exploring the social
context of the Internet, computer games, computer based designs and
digital art in an attempt to make womens role in these technologies
heard. In what is sure to provide many interesting insights, this
book will have a lot to offer discussions on the feminization of
technology and the gendering of IT.
- 24. Ties to Class Themes & Discussions
New Media
Characteristics of networks and how that impacts they way we live
our lives and the economic organizations of society
How media technology interacts with notions of power and
control
Medias ability to transform cultures and our positions within these
cultures
Socio-economic factors inhibiting/constraining the consumption of
media technology
Much like New Media talks about, this project will look into what
factors inhibit/constrain the consumption of media technology.
Likewise, from interviews I hope to pull out what types of feelings
of empowerment (or perhaps lack thereof) and control are felt by
using technology.
- 25. Ties to Class Themes & Discussions Cont.
The Cell Phone
We talked about how access to technology can open up many doors for
individuals it might not normally open. I would like to see what
kind of opportunities exist for students in Idaho to access
computers and how this might later reflect their decisions to
pursue high-tech careers.
We talked a lot about how different people use technology in
different ways. I hope to explore what difference might exist
between genders regarding computer usage and how these differences
impact future career choices.