Feminist Approach to Tech - A Study in Delhi Schools
-
Upload
anika-gupta -
Category
Technology
-
view
202 -
download
3
description
Transcript of Feminist Approach to Tech - A Study in Delhi Schools
What is a Feminist Approach to Technology?
● Gendered critique of design, use, impact and access to technology
● Empowering women to create and participate in the process of technology development
Why a Feminist Approach to Technology is essential?
● Inseparability of Rights and Technology● For development and growth● To ensure gender equality
Key problem areas:
● Low participation of women in creation of technology
● Absence of gender and technology from women's rights movements and development discourse
● Scarcity of data and information on girls studying in technology institutes in an Indian context
● Unequal access to technology usage
Our Programs
● Tech Centre Program ● Research Documentation and Advocacy Program● School Contact Program
Visible Trends from the Baseline Survey:
● Girls felt responsible for the great amount of housework as opposed to the boys in their families.
● Girls place the poor quality of teachers and facilities alone responsible for the lack of desire to pursue STEM.
● Facilities in school or the lack thereof also hamper students' motivations towards STEM.
Baseline Study
School Contact Program
● Background to the program
● Research cum intervention program.
● Research study to find out “issues related to girls vis-a- vis STEM”.
● Appropriate interventions based on the findings of the study.
Aims
● Contribute to non existent literature on gender and technology in the local context
● Understand the context of urban poor girls and their interests(or lack thereof) in STEM.
● Understand and ameliorate gender stereotypes associated with STEM.
● To sensitize teachers and students alike of the underlying gender-biases.
Objectives
● Study and analyse the performance of girls from 6th to 10th grade in STEM subjects in Govt schools.
● Conduct study to understand preferences, motivations and interests of students in these schools.
● Share results with teachers and administration with suggestions.
● Use results as a tool for advocacy.
Research Methodology
● Combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
● Qualitative: FGDs around attitudinal, societal and infrastructural issues.
● Quantitative: Questionnaire incorporating the responses obtained from the FGDs and a separate questionnaire by Google.
Dominant responsesIndividual- Both girls and boys find Science and Maths very difficult to understand.
Family- Girls do all the household work as opposed to boys who do no housework, Parents have a larger say in their career choices.
Infrastructural – No functional labs/computer classes in schools, tuitions unaffordable by most and seen essential to do well in STEM
Follow-up Programs
● Winter Camp at FAT's Tech Centre
- Done with our tech centre girls ● Workshops in Schools - Done with girl students from class 6th to 10th - Events included practice based workshops on Science and Technology
- Session with eminent speakers from STEM subjects and fields, interesting digital content and Quiz sessions.
Challenges encountered during the program
● Obtaining permission from government school to collect data and conduct workshops
● Insufficient Funds
What lies ahead?
● Replicate and adapt School Contact Program in other parts of the country
● Conduct bi-annual workshops in schools through volunteer supported program
● Organising events on STEM in schools