erspert@athena.mit.edu (Ellen R. Spertus) (04/09/90)
For one of my classes ("Women and Computers"), I'm doing a project on
ways in which the message "Computers/Science/Engineering isn't for
girls/women" (or the opposite) is communicated. Some examples would
include:
- Computer ads or booths featuring scantily-clad women.
- An ad I received for a pink calculator that could
fit in my "chic little handbag", with large keys
to keep from breaking my "gorgeous nails."
(Their words, not mine.)
- Being treated differently by teachers or coworkers.
I've been collecting some of the more egregious examples for the
past few years, and I'm hoping some others out there have their
favorite examples. I am interested in xeroxes or references
to items in print as well as anecdotes. Despite the one-sidedness
of my examples, I am interested in both pro- and anti- female
material. Please email me (erspert@athena.mit.edu) or physically
send material to:
Ellen Spertus
MIT AI Lab, room 630
545 Technology Square
Cambridge, MA 02139
I will send copies of my report to anyone who contributes and/or
is interested. Thanks in advance for any help. Flames to /dev/null.gmc@mvuxr.att.com (Glenn M Cooley) (04/11/90)
> For one of my classes ("Women and Computers"), I'm doing a project on > ways in which the message "Computers/Science/Engineering isn't for > girls/women" (or the opposite) is communicated. Not necessarily to flame but would it be explained the logic behind taking a class "Women and Computers" which sends the message "males need not apply" to do a project about a presumed message in "Computers/Science/ Engineering" of "females need not apply". I sincerely would like to know instead of having to assume that this is just a case of bigoted people trying to preserve/obtain power for themselves based on bigotry. Glenn
mark%odin@ucsd.edu (Mark Anderson) (04/11/90)
You probably know about this, and this is really fuzzy, and it maybe alittle off target for you, but didn't MIT release a report about 7 years ago about experience of women student in the CS program. I remember reading it in CACM, or rather think I remember reading it there. Here is an incident from my Ph.D. advisor that I find amusing though it may show the effects of gender messages. She and another woman faculty member at Purdue help start a group for undergraduate women in computer science (WICS). At one of the meetings the need to raise money arose. The money raising event that the student came up with was a "bake sale". I think they were convinced to try something else, but not without considerable struggle on the advisors' part. Well, good luck, and I keep my eye out for things. mark anderson
scott@vicorp.uu.net (Scott Reed) (04/12/90)
Glenn M Cooley responded to the original posting with: > Not necessarily to flame but would it be explained the logic behind > taking a class "Women and Computers" which sends the message "males > need not apply" ... I don't read in any such message. I would think that the course would be of interest to both men and women and that all would be welcome unless SPECIFICALY restricted. Why so defensive? Noone's blamed you ... yet. :-) Scott