technology
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To me, one of the most meaningful comments came from Alice Ray, "Maybe a
worthwhile goal is to present to girls - and boys- the wide range of
ways they can use their gifts to leverage technology on behalf of the
human community." Its critical because I believe the strategy that one
adopts to increase the number of women in technical jobs depends very
much on how you view the big picture. This was touched on by various
participants when they reminded us of the initial conversations among
feminists about gender and biological differences.
I would like to remind everyone that the original goal of the National
Organization for Women was partnership, " to take action to bring women
into full partnership in the mainstream of American society NOW,
exercising all privileges and responsibilities thereof in truly equal
partnership with men." We are looking for strategies that build
partnership at home, at school, and in the work place.
It was interesting to me that the focus of this discussion was on gender
differences, not systemic change. Nobody seems to believe women are
incapable of doing any aspect of technology, that our biological
differences is the problem. This is good because, regardless of what we
may decide during this discussion either about what women do with
technology or how they learn, they are going out and using technology in
greater numbers than men - they are doing this regardless of gender
biased software and without the aide of sex-segregated classes for girls
and women. (- recent study at Michigan State University, but supported
by other data as well.)
I believe that a main reason there are fewer women going into such
fields as Programming is a systemic one, and it deals with our old
friend Vocational Education. As many of you know, Trade and Industry,
now called Vocational Technology, continues to be the most
sex-segregated field of vocational education. While other fields such as
Business, Marketing, and Hospitality have made systemic changes that
have resulted in more balanced enrollments, Vocational Technology has
not.
I would like to second the comment of Judith Abrahami, "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."
The strategies similar to those she mentions haven't worked in Trade &
Industry or Vocational Technology. So, if we think technology is really
important, then it is really important for both girls and boys. IMHO,
educators should be moving toward making technology a required part of
the curriculum. Educators should also be looking at how to redesign
Vocational Technology programs so that they are less wasteful of
educational resources and provide the basic skills that are needed by
both girls and boys.
How can schools recruit women and girls to technology classes and
related careers? I once proposed that our state set a goal of about 5%
per year in meeting the requirements of the Carl Perkins Vocational Act
Five Year Plan. This would have meant each instructor in the state would
recruit an additional female into his (most are men) class. The idea
was put in the plan, but vetoed by the director. (A 1% goal means nobody
has to do anything.)
Drawing on some of our previous discussions, I think besides looking at
the systemic changes that need to be made in technology education to
improve its content and delivery to both girls and boys, we need to keep
in mind that the classroom climate is essential to providing a place
where all girls and boys learn and grow. I am disappointed that more
effort has not been put into developing such models. Teachers really
need help with this. Therefore, Safe Schools programs, anti-harassment
and bullying policies and practices have a bearing on success in
technology and upon bringing about a paradigm shift in the way we treat
each other and educate our children. In my view, sex-segregation has
nothing to do with the world I hope to see for the boys and girls of
tomorrow. I believe it is not a solution to either our educational or
societal problems. It will not get us closer to partnership, at home,
at school, at work.
Elizabeth Homer, Chair
Michigan NOW Education Task Force
<lizlansing@mindspring.com>
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