Finished Proposal

1. Alli Travis
AmSt 522 Research Proposal

2. Idaho Big Labor Pool Small Talent Pool
The state of Idaho is currently experiencing record unemployment. Yet, despite a large labor pool of applicants to pick from, technology related businesses are having trouble finding qualified individuals to fill their voided positions. The amount of experienced, specialized high-tech workers is dismal, which could hurt Idaho's ability to compete nationally and globally in a booming field. "In 2009, the computer programming field generating an estimated 395 job openings in Idaho, yet the state produced only 24 graduates in the field." Likewise, the information technology field opened up roughly 929 positions and had only 162 graduates to fill those spots (Sewell 2).
Even more astounding than the low overall number of Idahoan's in the technology field is the extremely small proportion of women involved. Women leaders in the field of technology are few and far between in the state of Idaho. In fact, the Idaho Technology Council and the Idaho Innovation Council have a combined six women out of a group of fifty-four council and board members.

3. So What?
This is where my curious mind wants to know more
Why is there such a lack of women studying/interested in technology in Idaho?
What social, cultural, and economic factors play in to this lack of female representation?

4. Research Questions
What social, cultural and economic factors inhibit or create possibilities for computer access by young women in southern Idahoand how does this affect the development of their future careers in technology related fields?
What is the male to female ratio of Idaho students pursuing careers in IT and computer science and how can any large gap between genders be explained?

5. Sub-Questions
I came up with a number of sub-questions stemming from my two main research questions:
What opportunities do women have for access to computers?
What are the family norms surrounding children/teen computer use, and how does this differ between genders?
How does the Idaho school system delegate computer access and the types of programs being used by students?
What emphasis are being placed on math and science in the school system? Are males being led towards these disciplines more than females?
Is use of the computer considered to be masculine or feminine?
Does this inhibit one gender in any way?

6. Sub-Questions Cont.
How is womens access to the computer VALUED.what types of access (or lack of access) have they had to technology in the past?
What are the social/cultural structures surrounding females and their use of the computer?
What social constraints might exist that cause women to stay away from computers related careers?
What are women interested in studying? Is computer science/IT appealing for women? Why or why not?

7. Partnerships
Will pursue a relationship with other Idaho organizations that might be interested in helping enhance and conduct the study:
Girls in Tech, Boise sector
Girls in Tech is focused on the engagement, education, and empowerment of like-minded, professional, intelligent and influential women in technology working on the collaboration, promotion, growth, and success of women in the technology sector.
Idaho Technology Council
Connects, informs and promotes tech companies in Idaho and seeks to foster the growth of technology companies in the state

8. Methodologies
Survey
To gain a broad understanding of general questions regarding access (at home and in the education system), social norms and personal preferences
Face to face interviews (75)
To attain further feedback on why women feel the way they do about technology and what might have lead them to that point
Focus groups of 10-15
To collectively brainstorm

9. Survey
Two groups
High school seniors
Idaho State Department of Education for permission and location assignments
College upperclassmen
Available colleges: College of S. Idaho, Boise State, Idaho State, Northwest Nazarene University, College of Idaho
Approximately 200 surveys from each group

10. Survey College Map

11. Survey
Question Types
General background questions (gender, income, education)
Exposure to technology throughout youth
Opportunities for use and skill development
In school and in the home
Promotion of technology related careers in ones life
Comfort level with media technology skills
Identify reasons for lack of computer exposure, if any
Social norms surrounding use and consumption
Thoughts towards technology and desire to study it

12. Face to Face Interviews
Approximately 50 interviews
College upperclassmen ages 22-25
Background questions:
Find out how they ended up choosing their career path, why they chose it, what factors in their life contributed to this decision
More computer specific questions regarding:
Exposure, access and usage
Societal norms
Personal biases
Career growth opportunities
Empowerment

13. Focus Groups
Groups of 10-15 individuals
High school seniors, college upperclassmen
Personal feelings and cultural norms surrounding computer usage
Social structures
Exposure throughout different life phases
Home, school, work
Encouragement/discouragement of computer access
Technology use
Personal interests in computers (why or why not)
Difference of interests between genders and why

14. Literature Review
AAUW Educational Foundation, First. Tech-Savvy:Educating Girls in the New Computer Age . Washington, D.C.: American Association of University Women Educational Foundation, 2000.
This book recognizes that computers are now part of the everyday classroom and seeks to understand how they can be used to enhance teaching and learning in ways that promote female involvement. The main themes of the book address the reservations girls have about the computer culture, the concerns teachers having using technology in the classroom, and causes for concern in regards to females current participation in the computer realm through the lenses of education, economics and culture. This book will serve as a great starting point for my research to gain some background on classroom culture surrounding women and computers and to understand where (on a broad scale) women lie in the computer participation spectrum.
Battey, Daniel, et al. Professional Development for Teachers on Gender Equity in the Sciences: Initiating the Conversation. Teachers College Record 109.1 (2007): 221-243. America: History & Life. EBSCO. Web. 15 Nov. 2010.
This article examines a study conducted during 1993-2001 which showed that professional development projects for schoolteachers fell short of effectively addressing gender inequity in the classroom, particularly in relation to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. What seemed to be significantly lacking from teachers in their ability to present technical content to girls effectively. Understanding how the school system prevents females from obtaining the same type of exposure to technology as men receive will be helpful in examining how this affects women throughout their education and careers.

15. Literature Review Cont.
Blum, Lenore, and Carole Frieze. The Evolving Culture of Computing. Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies 26.1 (2005): 110-115. America: History & Life. EBSCO. Web. 15 Nov. 2010.
The authors of this article state that most students of gender and computer science have been conducted in gender-imbalanced environments. To combat this, researchers make suggestions to help close these significant gender differences. One such method of heightening the female interest in computers and technology described in the article saw the number of women entering computer science majors at Carnegie Mellon increase nearly fivefold in only four years. Understanding what types of programs draw females to become more interested in computers will help us to understand what qualities of current educational and social systems are lacking that keep women from further exposure to computers.
Dunbar-Hester, Christina. Beyond Dudecore? Challenging Gendered and Raced Technologies Through Media Activism. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media 54:1 (2010): 121-135.
This article follows a group of media activists whose work foregrounds communication technologies and technical practice. These activists attempt to transform the media system by broadening access to technology and skills, with the intent for technological engagement to be compatible with a range of social identities. Specifically, they promote hands-on work with technology and technological competence, which, as they claim, has evidently been shaped by social structures that contribute to differences in familiarity and comfort with electronics across genders. This study does not attempt to account for those differences, but instead focuses on the activists attempts to confront and transform these differences.

Farmer, Lesley. Teen Girls and Technology: Whats the Problem, What's the Solution?. Chicago, IL: American Library Assocation, 2008
In this book, Lesley Farmer examines the disconnect that many girls have with technology and then tackles the almighty question of: how do we kick-start girls involvement with technology? By providing a framework that teachers and parents can use to empower girls to succeed in todays technology-rich world, Farmer hopes to supply real-world techniques that actually work. She highlights several after-school and fun learning activities that have been shown to increase young womens confidence and promote their interests in technology. This information should be quite relevant in regards to analyzing the programs that might be found within current school systems and looking at the ways they work to promote female computer usage.

Fenwick, Tara. "What happens to the girls? gender, work and learning in Canada's 'new economy' 1." Gender & Education 16.2 (2004): 169-185. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 17 Nov. 2010.
This article studies the gender inequalities that exist in both access to and experience of learning opportunities in Canadas New Economy that promotes equal knowledge and work related learning opportunities. More relevant to this study is the discussion on current provision for girls vocational education and the gendered issues they face entering the labor market, including the ways in which this can be combated. In particular, the article talks about gender-sensitive career education for girls. Understanding how gendered issues change with changing social and political structures will be useful in assessing what issues are relevant for female access to technology and education today.

"Girls email their way into male internet culture." Times higher education supplement. (1999): 6..
This short article describes the results of research done at Sheffield and Loughborough universities regarding internet use in rural and urban schools. The study claims that schools emphasizg the communicative aspects of information technology are likely to attract more girls than those who do not. Girls are much more likely to be attracted to email than boys and can become interested in computer programming from there. With this increased interest in computers, females are beginning to challenge the masculine stereotypes surrounding IT.
Imhanlahimi, E. O., and F. E. Eloebhose. "Problems and Prospects of Women Access to Science and Technology Education in Nigeria." College Student Journal 40.3 (2006): 583-587. Humanities International Index. EBSCO. Web. 17 Nov. 2010.
This article highlights the importance of science and technology in the development of nations by analyzing real life circumstances in Nigeria. In this study, researchers found that Nigeria cannot achieve scientific and technological growth without the full participation of women. Although historically women have been held back in accessing technology, new trends are calling for the importance of female participation in nation building to be recognized. Now, the nation is calling on everyone to contribute to the promotion of female access to science and technology education in Nigeria. Using this study, it will be interesting to examine the relationship between female empowerment and their desire to work with and pursue careers in technology.

Jensen, Jennifer, Suzanne de Castell, and Mary Bryson. Girl Talk: gender, equity and identity discourses in a school-based computer culture. Womens Studies International Forum 26:6 (2003): 561-573.
This article discusses a feminist intervention project in Canada focused on giving females more equitable access to and use of computers. This project, conducted at Brookwood Elementary School, allowed for the female students to develop and experience new identities as technology experts within their school. This resulted in not only a significant increase in the participants knowledge of technology, but also resulted in a shift in the way they talked about and voiced their own gender identities with their teachers and peers. By the end of the experience, participants had become more vocal about what they saw as gender-biased practices conducted in the classroom and throughout the school. Their new willingness to stand up against these inequitable practices ultimately created a more supportive climate for the advancement of gender equity beyond the confines of its computer labs. By no means do the authors claim to have found a cure or prescription for change regarding gender-biased school practices, however, they identify the need for an understanding of the resiliency of this standard and suggest one way of beginning to break down the traditional walls that have been upheld for generations.

Kelan, Elisabeth. Performing Gender at Work. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.
The advent of new technologies is aid to change the world of work dramatically. But is gender changing as well? This book is a fresh perspective on the rapidly changing relationship between gender and technology, which is constantly shifting in regards to changing demographics, employee expectations and business needs. Put together based on a research study of two companies in Switzerland, the book challenges the reader to think about the ways in which the evolving economy shapes new gender inequities, particularly within ICT work. This book will have some great insight regarding new ways of thinking about how gender is seen at work and how gender is done in contemporary high-tech fields.
Lupart, Judy, and Elizabeth Cannon. "Computers and Career Choices: Gender Differences in Grades 7 and 10 Students." Gender Technology and Development 6.2 (2002): 233-248. Web. 17 Nov 2010.
This article looks into research that investigates the relationships between school culture, socialization, ability, gender and values and the relative degree of influence on adolescent student choice in courses, programs, and activities (particularly related to math and science). By investigating this relationship, the authors hope to understand why there is increasing evidence that there will not be enough people with the necessary math and science expertise to keep up with the ever-growing technologies of the world. The article then focuses on gender, by grade, to compare several questions that pertain to computer interest and usage and student choices concerning desirable career characteristics/future careers. This will be useful to compare the career interests of girls in comparison to those of males and evaluate what career qualities girls find appealing.

Miller, Paige, R. Sooryamoorthy, Meredith Anderson, Anthony Palackal, Wesley Schrum. Gender and Science in Developing Areas: Has the Internet Reduced Inequality? Social Science Quarterly 87 (2006): 679-689.
This paper examines the impact of the Internet and the research careers of female scientists in three developing areas: Ghana, Kenya and Kerala, India. Findings show that women are less likely to acquire advanced degrees, and are more likely to experience localism in the educational and organizational realm. This idea of localism places constraints on physical mobility which creates career differentials between male and female professionals. Even though education and Internet access has increased dramatically in these areas, without removing the communication restraints caused by localism, women will still be held back in progressing their careers forward.
Palackal, Anthony. "Gender Stratification and E-Science: Can the Internet Circumvent Patrifocality?." New Infrastructure for Knowledge Production: Understanding E-Science. 'Ed'. Christine Hine. Hershey: Idea Group Publishing, 2006.
This study investigates the degree to which the internet affects the constraints on women pursuing scientific careers in the developing world. The authors address this question by studying the way information and communication technologies shape gender roles amongst professional scientists in India. After assessing the extent to which women scientists have gained access to e-science technologies, the authors conclude that internet connectivity is helping women scientists to circumvent, but not yet undermine, the patrifocal social structure that reduces social capital and impedes career development.

Sadker, David, Myra Sadker, and Karen Zittleman. Still Failing at Fairness: How Gender Bias Cheats Girls and Boys in School and What We Can Do About It. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2009.
These authors work together to provide an in-depth look at how both the male and female educations are compromised from elementary school through college. School practices, the authors claim, send boys and girls down different life paths and often inhibit each gender from pursuing certain lines of study. Teaching methods, current testing practices, and subtle cultural attitudes are all major players that inhibit both genders of every race, class and ethnicity from receiving the same types of education influences. Taking a look at this information can help us to gain a better understanding of where the inequalities stem from and the kinds of treatment females receive that could inhibit them from getting the access to technology that would put them on a equal playing field with males.

Sewell, Cynthia. "Idaho has a big labor pool, but a small talent pool. Idaho Statesman 06/03/2010. http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/06/03/1215399/big-labor-pool-small-talent-pool.html#ixzz16nHNM1RO.
This article discusses the current state of the technology field in Idaho and why there is a lack of students graduating in the field.
Shrum, Wesley and Meredith Anderson. Circumvention and Social Change: ICTs and the Discourse of Empowerment. Womens Studies in Communication 30:2 (2007): 229-253.
In this essay, the authors use 10 years of experience gained while conducting research in south India to present a theoretical interpretation of the impact of information and communication technologies in the country. It dives into the social implications of the specific relationship between gender inequity and information and communication technologies, under conditions of patrifocality that characterize the Indian subcontinent. After taking into account the differences between the western definition of female empowerment versus the type of empowerment available to women in less developed countries, the authors provide a general comparison between the lives of women in India and those in western countries with regards to technology. Taking their very different social structures into account, they look to interpret the impact of these technologies on local practices of gender stratification.

Wajcman, Judy. TechnoFeminism. Malden, MA: Polity Press, 2004.
This book claims technoscientific advances are overhauling the relationship between women and machines. But instead arguing that the technologies themselves are the cause of this shift, the author argues that feminist politics are what is really making the difference. Drawing on new perspectives in postmodern feminist theory and science and technology studies, the author explores the ways in which technologies are gendered both in design and in use. From that, she is able to combine the concepts of cyberfeminism with the gendered politics surrounding technology.

Yelland, Nicole and Andee Rubin, eds. Ghosts in the Machine: Women's Voices in Research with Technology. New York, NY: Peter Lang Publishing, 2002. Print.
Written by women in four countries on three continents, Ghosts and the Machine examines the relationship between gender and ICT and discusses the educational, social, artistic, and political implications of a feminine voice in the design of technology. It dives into the gendering of technology, exploring the social context of the Internet, computer games, computer based designs and digital art in an attempt to make womens role in these technologies heard. In what is sure to provide many interesting insights, this book will have a lot to offer discussions on the feminization of technology and the gendering of IT.

23. Ties to Class Themes & Discussions
New Media
Characteristics of networks and how that impacts they way we live our lives and the economic organizations of society
How media technology interacts with notions of power and control
Medias ability to transform cultures and our positions within these cultures
Socio-economic factors inhibiting/constraining the consumption of media technology
Much like New Media talks about, this project will look into what factors inhibit/constrain the consumption of media technology. Likewise, from interviews I hope to pull out what types of feelings of empowerment (or perhaps lack thereof) and control are felt by using technology.

24. Ties to Class Themes & Discussions Cont.
The Cell Phone
We talked about how access to technology can open up many doors for individuals it might not normally open. I would like to see what kind of opportunities exist for students in Idaho to access computers and how this might later reflect their decisions to pursue high-tech careers.
We talked a lot about how different people use technology in different ways. I hope to explore what difference might exist between genders regarding computer usage and how these differences impact future career choices.