Sørensen, Faulkner and Rommes. Technologies of Inclusion. Gender in the Information Society

Abstract

Based on a review of the existing literature on gender and ICT, the authors argue that research on gender and ICT tends to focus on how hegemonic masculinity is symbolically reinforced through technology. In examining the stream of co-construction studies of gender and technology, Sørensen, Faulkner and Rommes argue that this research tends to focus more on changes in technology than changes in gender; thus gender is stabilized while technology is understood as continually changing. In order to capture potential changes in gender through the use of ICT or in meaning ascribed to ICT, the focus is on positive experiences, i.e., inclusion strategies with success in terms of reaching the digitally excluded. However, we are still far from a 'success story'. In the words of the authors (p 242): "…the picture we want to paint on the basis of our studies is not an epic image of progress but rather a struggle -struggle with the meaning of gender, of ICT and of the resulting socio-technical assemblages."Gender and ICT is in the book understood as a socio-technical assemblage. In gender studies there are many efforts to overcome the reproduction of the gender binary in research and writing. Thinking of gender as an assemblage, or gender and ICT as hybrid assemblages, provides an analytical strategy which avoids the reduction to the gender binary. It becomes possible to talk about gender and technology without getting trapped in classifications of technology being either feminine or masculine. Hence, the book provides insights and ideas relevant to a broader field of gender studies.Following the idea of a symmetrical, co-produced assemblage of gender and ICT, the gender divide is not portrayed as a binary of included/excluded, but rather as a continuum. Furthermore, inclusion is not understood as simply adaptation to existing practices.Instead, the analytical approach is sensitive to the ongoing changes of both gender and ICT taking place. This analytical sensitivity, across several empirical studies of different sites, is one of the main strengths of the book.In the book, digital inclusion is not understood as a goal in itself, but rather as an emergence of new socio-technical, ICT related practices and meanings attracting diverse groups of citizens. Hence, it challenges both the dominant narrative of inclusion based on the instrumental importance of ICT, and the mainstream idea of digital inclusion being something that can be measured by accounts of access, use, skills, formalized knowledge or work. Computers and the Internet constitute the main sites of study, covering a broad range of inclusion strategies. Both strategies aimed at women only, such as the use of gender quotas to educational programmes or initiatives to empower women in ICT use, and strategies aimed at including "everybody", for instance in practices of ICT design, are studied.Gender stereotypes, and the gender binary as such, are challenged throughout the book. One study of 'self inclusion' through online interactivity and socially embedded learning show...

Las mujeres en el mercado de trabajo de las tecnologías

“…Employment conditions are fairly equal for both men and women in terms of temporary work, part-time employment and hours worked. In order to attract young women to this sector, it is necessary to emphasise the enjoyment of technologies and its usefulness to solve problems (Sørensen et al, 2011;Ayre et al, 2013). Moreover, syllabus design should include extra curricula competences involving professional development, in addition of those competences that are central to develop professional skills in the technology sector for the future.…”

“…The necessity of increasing the number of skilled people in this sector should encourage the creation and implementation of programs involving the enrolment of women in technology (Sørensen et al, 2011;Vergès, 2012). It is also necessary to stress that these environments are more female composed than in the past, what will eventually increase feminisation and facilitate the incorporation of role models in the technology sector (Pérez Sedeño, 2003).…”

“…Los resultados de este trabajo confirman las conclusiones de estudios previos (Ducatel, 1994;Cohoon, 2006;Faulkner, 2007;Ruiz, 2007;Sørensen et al, 2011; Directorate-General for International Policies, 2015), reforzándolos con un análisis de tipo cuantitativo procedentes de la EPA para el caso español. La posibilidad de indagar sobre las características del trabajo de las personas empleadas en el sector de las tecnologías ha permitido obtener información novedosa, y han inspirado las recomendaciones dirigidas a resolver la brecha de género.…”

“…La necesidad de aumentar el número de personas formadas necesarias para este sector de actividad debe alentar la creación y dotación de recursos destinados a poner en marcha programas de inclusión de las mujeres en las profesiones tecnológicas (Sørensen et al, 2011;Vergés, 2012). También es preciso destacar que estos entornos laborales cuentan ahora con más mujeres que en el pasado, lo cual permitirá a la larga una mayor feminización y facilitará la incorporación de modelos femeninos en el sector de las tecnologías (Pérez Sedeño, 2003).…”

“…Las condiciones del empleo son bastante igualitarias para hombres y mujeres en relación a la temporalidad, empleo parcial y horas de trabajo. Se debería incidir en el disfrute de las tecnologías y en la utilidad de las tecnologías en la resolución de problemas para atraer más mujeres jóvenes (Sørensen et al, 2011;Ayre et al, 2013). En los currículos formativos se debería incluir un conjunto de competencias básicas para el desarrollo profesional, además de las centrales para su futuro profesional en el sector de las tecnologías.…”