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Gender & Information Technology: Issues & Theories

Gender & Information Technology: Issues & Theories. Prof. Eileen M. Trauth, PhD Faculty of Information Sciences and Technology (Informatik) Associate Dean The Pennsylvania State University etrauth@ist.psu.edu. Course Introduction. What subject do you study? What work will you do?

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Gender & Information Technology: Issues & Theories

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  1. Gender & Information Technology: Issues & Theories Prof. Eileen M. Trauth, PhD Faculty of Information Sciences and Technology (Informatik) Associate Dean The Pennsylvania State University etrauth@ist.psu.edu Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  2. Course Introduction • What subject do you study? • What work will you do? • Why do you take this course? • One important question about gender and technik? Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  3. Course Format • Lecture • Reading assignments • Questions • Email, after class, Stephen • Exam Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  4. Course Goals • Gender imbalance in information economy • Under representation of females • Over representation of males • Why should we care? Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  5. The Information Economy Information Society Information Economy Primary Information Sector - Producers Secondary Information Sector – Consumers HW, SW, systems/services Content IT people Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  6. Course Goals • Critical examination of gender theories to understand observations about gender & IT imbalance • Using gender theories for critical examination of gender issues related to technik • Recommendations to address issues Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  7. Evolution of Information Society • 1950s: computer • 1960s: Marshal McLuhan, “medium is the message, “information” • 1970s: Daniel Bell, “post-industrial society”, “information economy” • 1980s: ICT, “end user computing” • 1990s: WWW, Internet, National Information Infrastructure • 2000s: globalization, e-society, e-inclusion Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  8. Information Society in AustriaBundespressedienst Vienna, 2005 “… the rapid increase in use of information and communication technologies (ICT) for collecting, communicating, disseminating and exploiting information” “By 2015 about four fifths of all human work will consist of handling information…” Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  9. Information Society in Austria:7 Key Themes 1 – Preventing digital division (e-inclusion) 2 – Infrastructure 3 – Modern, service-oriented public administration 4 – More competitive SMEs through ICT 5 – ICT literacy 6 – Security of ICT applications 7 – High quality Austrian e-content Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  10. Information Society in Austria:Gender & e-Inclusion “eEurope Action Plan 2005 focuses above all on users, male and female. At all levels and for all activities full social participation is paramount…” Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  11. Information Society in Austria:Gender & e-Inclusion “Opportunities to participate may vary from person to person because of socioeconomic (income, ancestry, education) and sociocultural (gender) barriers.” Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  12. Information Society in Austria:Gender & e-Inclusion “For various reasons women are under represented both in research and development and also in founding new companies concerned with the application of the new ICT technologies.” 63% of men and 50% of women over 14 years are online (2005) Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  13. Information Society in Austria:Gender & e-Inclusion initiatives • EQUAL – EU initiative to fight discrimination and inequality in the labor market has specific programs to support women and ICT • Austrian regional initiatives • Women & ICT in Burgenland, ICT awareness • ABZ Vienna, ICT reentry • NOWA, Graz women’s network • IT4HER, Austrian Computer Society, careers in ICT Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  14. The Gender & ICT ‘Problem’ • What is the current problem of gender & ICT (in research & application)? • Why should we care (for research & application)? Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  15. The Problem of Gender & ICT • Women are not minorities in the US population In 2004, women accounted for: • 59.2% of the population over 16 • 56% of the labor force (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2005) • Female participation increasing in some historically male-dominated professions (US) • Legal: 9.5% female (1971) to 44.4% (1996) Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  16. The Problem of Gender & ICT • The representation of women in the IT profession is declining(ITAA, 2005, 2003) • Women are less likely to return to the IT profession after the dot.com bust (ITAA, 2005) 100% 59% 65% 68% 75% 50% 41% 35% 25% 32% 0% Year 1996 2002 2004 Men Women • Source (ITAA, 2005; 2003) Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  17. The Gender & ICT ‘Problem’ The Problem for Application • Women are under represented with respect to information & communications technology (ICT) design, development & application • Are women under served with respect to ICT use? Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  18. The Gender & ICT ‘Problem’ Why should we care? • Addressing ICT worker shortages • (Gender) diversity & innovation • (Gender) diversity & economic development • Diversity of products & services • Increasing social inclusion & social access, decreasing digital gap Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  19. The Gender & ICT ‘Problem’ The Problem for Research • Providing the quantitative & qualitative data to support the gender inequality claims • Developing & testing theoretically-informed, empirically-grounded interventions to equalize gender representation in production and consumption of ICT Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  20. The Gender & ICT ‘Problem’ Why we should care • Choosing an appropriate theoretical lens for critically understanding this data • Theory: shedding constructive light on the issue or reinforcing unproductive & negative stereotypes? Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  21. Gendered Technology? • Is technology (& ICT) gender neutral? • What is needed to overcome the gender imbalance in technological areas? Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  22. Course Content The dimensions of the gender & ICT ‘problem’ Gender & technology concepts Gender theories used to understand gender & technology relations Gender theory & information technology Application of gender & ICT theory to critically analyze key issues - socio-cultural influences on gender - gender & ICT education - gender & ICT workforce - gender, ICT & power - gender, ICT & work-life balance Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  23. Dimensions of the Gender & ICT ‘Problem” • Interviews with 123 women working in the US ICT field (2002-2006) • Some prevalent gender discourses encountered by American women who work in the ICT field throughout their personal and professional development Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  24. Gender Discourses • Domestic responsibilities • Female Career opportunities • IT as a masculine profession For each discourse a variety of responses were identified, as were influences on the women that shed light on this variation Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  25. Gender Discourse: Domestic Responsibilities Women should sacrifice their careers for domestic responsibilities – discourse varies by sexual orientation, marital status, parenthood status • Typically, [the societal message is that the family obligations take precedence over the professional obligation. … I think typically [the societal view] is that when the woman has a child she should stay home and take care of them. The male would be the financial supporter. [Francie] Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  26. Gender Discourse: Female Career Opportunity Gendered constraints on careers – discourse varies by age, race and socio-economic status I had a 4.0 [grade point average] coming out of high school, but I was not directed toward one of the mainstream universities. I think there are a lot of factors affecting that, race being one of them. [Joanne] My parents both always told me “you can be anything you want as long as you work hard and you are smart.” [Teri] Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  27. Gender Discourse: IT as a Masculine Profession Suitability of women for the IT profession - discourse varies by race, local culture It is hard [to fix the perception of IT work because] girls are hearing all kinds of crappy things all the time. [We need someone] who can make us see that IT is not this horrifying ocean of geekdom. It is not that bad. There are lots of really cool women in IT. It is not all freaks. That is the biggest concern of high school girls. Put yourself [in their shoes], what were you like in high school when you were sixteen? … It is not cute to be associated with geeks. [In my high school] the only people who were into computers were those creepy guys. There were like two or three creepy, unwashed, acne-filled [guys]. Nobody wanted to have anything to do with them. [Debbie]. Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  28. “Technology as Masculine Culture” • Questioning self-evident link between masculinity and technology • Critical examination needed • Traditional conception of technology heavily weighted against women • Technology as individual machinery (auto) • Diminish significance of traditionally female technologies • Horticulture, cooking, sewing, cleaning, child care • Reproduce stereotype of female as technologically ignorant Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  29. “Technology as Masculine Culture” • Identification of technology with manliness • Not inherent in characteristics of biological sex? • Essentialist arguments that don’t hold up to deeper scrutiny (procedural knowledge in programming & cooking & sewing) • Male scientists substituting for their lack of feminine procreative power? • The creation of science and weapons compensating for inability to ‘give birth’ to humans • Sexual and ‘birth’ metaphors used Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  30. “Technology as Masculine Culture” • Technological enterprise as masculine realm is consistent with male domination of all powerful institutions • i.e. not something specific to technology that is related to biological sex • Social (i.e. historical & cultural) construction of gender and of technology • Social construction of technology (SCOT) • Social study of technology (SST) • Science & technology studies (STS) Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  31. “Technology as Masculine Culture” • Masculine obsession with control • Early history of computing gender neutral • Ada Lovelace – programming • Grace Hopper – programming • Modern history of computing masculine Soul of a New Machine: minicomputers The Right Stuff: test pilots • competitive rivalry • compulsive dedication to ‘perfect computer’ • no space for life outside of work Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  32. “Technology as Masculine Culture” • Hackers as male culture of ‘mastery’ & individualism • Addition to mastery rather than programming • Metaphors of power & domination • Masculine sexuality • ‘Heroes’ of the stories always men • Excitement of working on newest computer expressed in sexual terms: “72 hours with girl of your dreams” • Women absent from the stories Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  33. “Technology as Masculine Culture” • Women at home providing backdrop for men free to pursue ‘great projects’ • Social construction of men having the ‘luxury’ of being single minded • A Room of One’s Own (Virginia Woolf) – Shakespeare’s sister Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  34. “Technology as Masculine Culture” • Does it have to be this way? • Are these features (e.g. domination, control, obsession) necessarily ones that are inherent in the process of technological development? • Can women relate to this approach? • Do all men relate to this approach? • Social construction of gender Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  35. “Technology as Masculine Culture” • Forms of masculinity • Different forms of masculinity related to different areas of technology • Both masculinity and femininity taking on culturally and historically diverse forms • Ethnicity/race/nationality • Culture • History • Generations Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  36. “Technology as Masculine Culture” • Forms of masculinity • Hegemonic masculinity (Vorherrschaft) • Culturally dominant forms of masculinity • The dominant discourse (media, stereotypes, etc.) • Not necessarily how everyone behaves • Aggressiveness & capacity for violence (Western masculinity) • Based on physical toughness and mechanical skills • Relates to industrial era, working class context • Association with manual labor & machinery • Dirt, noise, danger Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  37. “Technology as Masculine Culture” • Extent to which control of technology is embedded in hegemonic masculinity • ‘warrior ethic’ of heroic masculinity • Technology – military link • Context of development & application of technology • Defense support for ICT research & development • Closeness to physical danger as epitome of manly daring (soldier, explorer, adventurer) Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  38. “Technology as Masculine Culture” • Females as unsuitable for the military; constitutionally disposed toward peace • Some feminists reinforcing traditional models of masculinity & femininity • Facts about warfare suggest otherwise • Historical role of women in military & warfare? Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  39. “Technology as Masculine Culture” • Hegemonic masculinity vs. subordinated or marginalized forms of masculinity • Examples? • Hegemonic masculinity vs. marginalized construction of femininity • Emotional, weak, less analytical • Inferior to men • Soft, nurturing • Ill-suited to technological pursuits Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  40. “Technology as Masculine Culture” “As we have seen repeatedly, technology is more than a set of physical objects or artifacts. It also fundamentally embodies a culture or set of social relations made up of certain sorts of knowledge, beliefs, desires and practices. Treating technology as a culture has enabled us to see the way in which technology is expressive of masculinity and how, in turn men characteristicaly view themselves in relation to these machines.” (p. 149) Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  41. “Technology as Masculine Culture” • Technology & femininity • Formal & informal mechanisms that reproduce the cultural stereotype of women as technologically incapable or invisible • Association of technology with physical strength • Size of microcomputers • The potential of computers to change stereotypes Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  42. “Technology as Masculine Culture” • Computers as reinforcing gender relations in technology • Societal institutions reinforce masculinity with machines and technological competence • Schools: Link between education and gender divisions in the labor market • Computers conceptually linked to (gendered) math and science • The gendered realm of machinery • Harassment of females interested in computers Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  43. “Technology as Masculine Culture” • Gendered game software • Mass media: images of computing with males • Public policy: anti (& positive) gender discrimination legislation • Positive effects: critical mass • Negative effects: reinforce ‘qualifications’ stereotype Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  44. “Technology as Masculine Culture” • The psychological argument: sex-based cognitive differences (Sherry Turkle) • Vs. the cultural argument • Males: fascination with the machine itself • hard masters – top down, abstract, rule follower • Competitive, impose will on the machine • Females: only interested in application • Soft masters – bottom up, concrete, tinkerer • Cooperative, interact & negotiate with machine • Feminist view: this difference not equated with inferiority Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  45. “Technology as Masculine Culture” • The psychological argument: rebuttal • Reminiscent of (now discredited) stereotype of women as too emotional, irrational and illogical to do mathematics • Purely psychological explanations neglect the historical and cultural context of computing education • Previous research on gender and mathematics shows girls as ‘rule followers’ • Programming was originally a female pursuit • “ENIAC girls” Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  46. “Technology as Masculine Culture” “Although studies do find evidence of differences between the sexes, the variation within the sexes is more important than the differences between them (p. 157).” Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  47. “On the Shoulders of the Spouses of Scientists” • One of the first papers on gender and science • Research conducted in early-mid 1970s • Influencing the education of those who are currently working in science and technology • Gendering of ICT is part of a larger and longer pattern of gendering • Science is gendered (masculine) • Technology adopted pattern of gendering of science (masculine) • ICT adopting pattern of gendering of technology • ICT as masculine Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  48. “On the Shoulders of the Spouses of Scientists” • Shows how long the issue of gender and science/technology has been with us • Shows how deeply embedded is the gendering of science/technology • Themes that arose in 1977 that are still here in 2008 Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  49. “On the Shoulders of the Spouses of Scientists” • Bringing to light the ‘hidden’ support upon which science depends (i.e. beyond universities, funding agencies, publication outlets) • An ‘enlightened’ view - the role of wife and family is important • Within this ‘enlightened view’ male scientists as the norm; female scientists as ‘the exception’ Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

  50. “On the Shoulders of the Spouses of Scientists” • “… the developing of the personality of the young scientist…the strain of his economic situation.. effects upon his marriage… the increasing monastic absorption of the man, and the wife’s early fading and gradual loss of vitality and of confidence in herself as a woman… the lives of prominent scientists and their wives and children…demonstrate…the high price paid by these civilian expendables … Trauth - Univ. Klagenfurt

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