[EDEQUITY Technology] gendered approaches to technology

From: Judith Abrahami (judith_a@macam.ac.il)
Date: Tue Jul 17 2001 - 12:19:54 EDT


As a feminist educator, involved in projects to increase female
participation in mathematics , science & engineering courses, I'm delighted
to follow the discussion on technology & equity .However, it seems about
time we rename the issue, & call it openly " gendered technology".
Technology neither offers nor promotes equity, & like other resources, is
never equally accessible or once accessible, cannot offer the same outcome
to different users.
The efforts described by Donna Milgram whose work I have the highest regard
for , & Cornelia Brunner's opening statement, made me think , sadly, that
perhaps we should think radically of reclaiming technology, & then
encourage
whoever is so inclined, to devise male friendly technological
environments.
This is not meant as a satirical comment. After years in the field I'm
reluctant to continue doing "more of the same", i.e. investing energy in
creating female friendly technology & girl friendly websites & games,
instructing teachers to create supportive environments for girls, &
searching for female role models for girls.
What is required is no less than a paradigm shift: a change in mainstream,
i.e. male technology culture. An exposure of the anti-social fantasies it
creates & directions it encourages, as Cornelia demonstrated.As great an
effort as this requires, I'm not sure it exceeds our ongoing efforts to
train females to adjust to male culture, or to teach them the art of
adapting it to their own, special uses.
As for Cornelia Brunner's suggestion that we emphasize the communicative
potential of computers to encourage girls to become involved, I have two
reactions:
1. At least in Israel there are indications that youngsters use computers
mainly for communication
2. Let's avoid sending females to their familiar niches of communication
(gossip? girl talk?) & the caring activities.

Hope this provokes some comments.

Judith Abrahami-Einat, PhD
Head of Teaching Department
Ort Braude College
P.O.Box 78, Karmiel 21982
Israel
judith_@macam.ac.il



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