The Impact of Technology on the Lives of Women and Girls Presented by Shireen Mitchell Executive Officer, Digital Sisters

Unequal Learning Field " It used to be that no one entered college with any knowledge of computers so everyone was on an equal footing. Now boys have more hands-on experience and women know it." - Ellen Spertus

" It used to be that no one entered college with any knowledge of computers so everyone was on an equal footing. Now boys have more hands-on experience and women know it." - Ellen Spertus

Digital Sisters who are they? Executive Director New York City Projects School, Arcades and Fights Home game and commodore 64 College and the “Techie” Click The World of Work and Careers Today: Nonprofit focusing on the issues for women and girls in media and technology.

Executive Director

New York City Projects

School, Arcades and Fights

Home game and commodore 64

College and the “Techie” Click

The World of Work and Careers

Today: Nonprofit focusing on the issues for women and girls in media and technology.

Technology Literacy Wows The first “computers” were mostly women! Great technology designers were artists including musicians. The “bug” in the computer (moth)‏ The Internet, GPS, PDA’s, video games The computerized home and car. Produce your own Media project

The first “computers” were mostly women!

Great technology designers were artists including musicians.

The “bug” in the computer (moth)‏

The Internet, GPS, PDA’s, video games

The computerized home and car.

Produce your own Media project

Tech Literacy Opportunities New Jobs and careers Educational opportunities Medical Assistance: People are living longer Socially responsible computer professionals Investment Opportunities: Online Trading

New Jobs and careers

Educational opportunities

Medical Assistance: People are living longer

Socially responsible computer professionals

Investment Opportunities: Online Trading

Technology Literacy Woes Misunderstandings about technology Stereotyping Video Games Privacy and Protection The Internet Abuse of Technology

Misunderstandings about technology

Stereotyping

Video Games

Privacy and Protection

The Internet

Abuse of Technology

Misunderstandings About Technology Girls are just not interested Girls are bored ~ AAUW Tech Savvy Report Competitive (boys)/Collaborative (girls)‏ Technology is separate from social issues Technology interest = Hi Tech The Answer or Enhancement Take the place of ??? Technology is a tool!

Girls are just not interested

Girls are bored ~

AAUW Tech Savvy Report

Competitive (boys)/Collaborative (girls)‏

Technology is separate from social issues

Technology interest = Hi Tech

The Answer or Enhancement

Take the place of ???

Technology is a tool!

Privacy and Protection Fears Being Tracked by a cell phone or Global Positioning System Digital Tracking of Children Viruses and Worms Being “googled” The availability of information

Being Tracked by a cell phone or Global Positioning System

Digital Tracking of Children

Viruses and Worms

Being “googled”

The availability of information

Technology Visual Cues Print Media & Advertisements Movies & TV Shows Games – gendered based Technology Teachers Parent’s Use of Technology Technology Store – Sales Rep Help Desk Assistant Book Stores

Print Media & Advertisements

Movies & TV Shows

Games – gendered based

Technology Teachers

Parent’s Use of Technology

Technology Store – Sales Rep

Help Desk Assistant

Book Stores

Stereotyping Nurse, Home Health Aides Teachers Single Parents Basketball Video Gamers Race Car Drivers Tech Support

Nurse, Home Health Aides

Teachers

Single Parents

Basketball

Video Gamers

Race Car Drivers

Tech Support

Exposure for Girls Where do young women and girls get hands on exposure and visual cues about technology?

Computers in the Household

Computer Science Advance Placement by Gender

Computer Science AP by Race

Technology and the House Committee Video conferencing and recording testimony Transferring of information during crisis Computer Security Impact of technology on decisions

Video conferencing and recording testimony

Transferring of information during crisis

Computer Security

Impact of technology on decisions

Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census E-government Initiatives Computer Security and Viruses Only one member is a woman Testimonies have been from predominantly men Decisions that affect women’s lives Census tracks technology access through surveys

E-government Initiatives

Computer Security and Viruses

Only one member is a woman

Testimonies have been from predominantly men

Decisions that affect women’s lives

Census tracks technology access through surveys

Past Legislation Go Girl Act ~ 107 th Congress HR 1536 To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide grants to local educational agencies to encourage girls to pursue studies and careers in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. ~ Not passed ~ Dot Kids Implementation & Efficiency Act ~ 107 th Congress HR 3833 A domain that will be a safe haven for children and families to prevent children from being exposed to harmful material on the Internet.

Go Girl Act ~ 107 th Congress HR 1536

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide grants to local educational agencies to encourage girls to pursue studies and careers in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. ~ Not passed ~

Dot Kids Implementation & Efficiency Act ~ 107 th Congress HR 3833

A domain that will be a safe haven for children and families to prevent children from being exposed to harmful material on the Internet.

Current Legislation E-Government Act The purpose of the is to enhance access to government information and the delivery of information services to citizens, business partners, employees and other agencies. Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act Education projects that involve the location of a secondary school on the site of a community college, a business as a member of the consortium, and the voluntary participation of secondary school students.

E-Government Act

The purpose of the is to enhance access to government information and the delivery of information services to citizens, business partners, employees and other agencies.

Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act

Education projects that involve the location of a secondary school on the site of a community college, a business as a member of the consortium, and the voluntary participation of secondary school students.

Current Legislation – Cont’d TOP ~ Technology Opportunities Programs A program that brings the benefits of innovative digital network technologies to under-served communities across the United States. Innovative Uses for Technology to Strengthen Families Video conferencing to bond incarcerated mothers with their children Real time reporting of women at risk for domestic violence Tracking of stalkers and pedophiles

TOP ~ Technology Opportunities Programs

A program that brings the benefits of innovative digital network technologies to under-served communities across the United States.

Innovative Uses for Technology to Strengthen Families

Video conferencing to bond incarcerated mothers with their children

Real time reporting of women at risk for domestic violence

Tracking of stalkers and pedophiles

Current Legislation – Cont’d CTC ~ Community Technology Centers S upports the use of information technology to improve adult literacy and education achievement. This program provides disadvantaged residents of economically distressed urban and rural communities with access to technology and related training. After school technology programs are predominantly boys Adult education evening programs have a high percentage of women Centers provide in and out of school educational opportunities Assistance in job skills development.

CTC ~ Community Technology Centers

S upports the use of information technology to improve adult literacy and education achievement. This program provides disadvantaged residents of economically distressed urban and rural communities with access to technology and related training.

After school technology programs are predominantly boys

Adult education evening programs have a high percentage of women

Centers provide in and out of school educational opportunities

Assistance in job skills development.

Current Legislation – Cont’d 21 st Century Learning Centers To provide expanded academic enrichment opportunities for children attending low performing schools. Tutorial services and academic enrichment activities are designed to help students meet local and state academic standards in subjects such as reading and math. In addition 21st CCLC programs provide youth development activities, drug and violence prevention programs, technology education programs, art, music and recreation programs, counseling and character education to enhance the academic component of the program.

21 st Century Learning Centers

To provide expanded academic enrichment opportunities for children attending low performing schools.

Tutorial services and academic enrichment activities are designed to help students meet local and state academic standards in subjects such as reading and math.

In addition 21st CCLC programs provide youth development activities, drug and violence prevention programs, technology education programs, art, music and recreation programs, counseling and character education to enhance the academic component of the program.

Current Legislation Cont’d Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology (PT3) This program addresses a growing challenge in modern education: nearly all elementary and secondary schools are now "wired" to the Internet, but most teachers still feel uncomfortable using technology in their teaching . Women’s Educational Equity Act To promote gender equity in education; to promote equity in education for women and girls who suffer from multiple forms of discrimination based on sex and race, ethnic origin, limited English proficiency, disability or age; and to provide financial assistance to enable educational agencies to meet the requirements of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology (PT3)

This program addresses a growing challenge in modern education: nearly all elementary and secondary schools are now "wired" to the Internet, but most teachers still feel uncomfortable using technology in their teaching .

Women’s Educational Equity Act

To promote gender equity in education; to promote equity in education for women and girls who suffer from multiple forms of discrimination based on sex and race, ethnic origin, limited English proficiency, disability or age; and to provide financial assistance to enable educational agencies to meet the requirements of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

Next Steps Notify your legislators to keep these programs fully funded. Support a National Task Force on Women and Information Technology More women need to be involved in technology legislative agendas We need to be concerned about new developments E-voting Digital tracking of your children Get more involved in the basic technology literacy and education

Notify your legislators to keep these programs fully funded.

Support a National Task Force on Women and Information Technology

More women need to be involved in technology legislative agendas

We need to be concerned about new developments

E-voting

Digital tracking of your children

Get more involved in the basic technology literacy and education

Next Steps For You Learning about technology is not just about how to use a computer take the time to learn about technology in general. Take those challenging courses. Be thrilled to be challenge. More women need to be involved in the technology related agendas We need to be concerned about new developments

Learning about technology is not just about how to use a computer take the time to learn about technology in general.

Take those challenging courses. Be thrilled to be challenge.

More women need to be involved in the technology related agendas

We need to be concerned about new developments

Digital Sisters, Inc. [email_address] www.digital-sistas.org http://twitter.com/digitalsista

[email_address]

www.digital-sistas.org

http://twitter.com/digitalsista