Women and ComputersWS 445/545: An Overview

Created by Pat SamuelJan. 2007

Can the Internet be used to fight Can the Internet be used to fight Patriarchy?Patriarchy?

How Feminists Use the WebHow Feminists Use the Web

• Provide info for Battered Women Peach Pages

• Organize for Peace – Code Pink

• Blogs – Feminist Anti-Oppression Forum

• Empower women with computer skills WITT

Poor Women Tell their Stories

That’s my fridge. . Right up front, that is a turnip that I’m saving ‘til the last minute. That’s, I think, about 2 ½ weeks into the month. Usually after 2 weeks any fresh food is gone. In the crisper there are onions and carrots. Any kind of root vegetable keeps. And then, you learn how to make soup. You open the fridge and there’s nothing in it and you learn how to make a pot of soup out of that. I think poor people are really, really creative.

Community on the Web

• Women Vietnam Vets

• WS Teachers

• Breast Cancer Survivors

• GLBT Communities

Gender Perspectives

Is educational software used in elementary schools based on what appeals to boys – and hence unfair to girls? (Androcentric Norms)

Why do so few women major in Computer Science? Might it be related way courses are taught? (linear vs. holistic approaches)

Race & Class Perspectives

• Computer use in Schools where most kids below the poverty level vs. Schools with predominately middle class kids.

Rote drills VS. critical thinking projects

Differences in Use of Web

• Use Web to get info about health care 45% of African Americans 35% of White Americans

• African Americans are twice as likely as Whites to use the Web for career networking. (Latinos 1½ times as likely as whites.)

• Most common use of Web for African Americans – search for info on jobs, housing, religion & hobbies

• Most common use of Web for Whites – keep in touch with friends and family

Source: Wright

Global PerspectivesGlobal Perspectives

Girls in South AfricaGirls in South Africahttp://womensnet.org.za/GirlsNet/

Palestinian PerspectivesPalestinian Perspectiveshttp://http://www.rafahtoday.orgwww.rafahtoday.org//

Women and MediaWomen and Media

Click here to watch Video

WINGS: Women's International News Gathering Service

An all-woman independent radio production company that produces and distributes news and current affairs programs by and about women around the world. Programs can be heard on local radio stations, on shortwave, on the internet, and on cassettes.

MS Foundation DVDMS Foundation DVDWomen Are the Answer – Award Winning Projects

Improve Computer SkillsImprove Computer Skills

• Create Web Pages

• Graphics – Anyone can be an artist with a computer

Above created by someone who can only draw stick figures

Make Your Own CartoonsMake Your Own Cartoons

I’d have far more time for housework if I weren’t so busy

destroying the fascist patriarchal

regime.

Created using Microsoft Office Online ClipArt, adding Text Bubble, and changing colors.

Make Slide Shows & VideosMake Slide Shows & Videos

• Use photos to create automated slide

shows or faux videos

Sample – WS Faculty

• Use camcorder to create real videos

Sample – Why Major in WS

Create Charts in ExcelCreate Charts in Excel

Women in Computer Jobs

83% 87%80%

31% 28% 24%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Systems Analysts Programmers Software Engineers

Women's Wages as % of Men's

Women Workers as % of All Workers

Software & Non-ProfitsSoftware & Non-Profits

• How to find free software

• Free OpenOffice - $$$ MS Office• Free NVU - $$$ FrontPage• Free GIMPshop - $$$ Adobe Photoshop

• Locating help on the Web

The End