Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Lisa Gerrard: Feminist Research in Computers and Compositions

In Feminist Research in Computers and Composition, Lisa Gerrard suggests that understanding women’s “epistemological perspective” and their “position in society” will help us understand “how our male and female students are learning in the computer-based writing course…” She describes computers as having a masculine quality. Because of the nature of the computer, it may not meet the needs of female students. The purpose of this study is to raise and answer questions about “feminist research in computer and writing.” Computers were created by men and were used for “masculine” jobs e.g. warfare. Mostly men hold high computer tech jobs and have high tech skills. They also dominate the Internet. Gerrard does acknowledge a few women who took part in programming and computer inventions. She also mentions that computer companies recognize that more females are participating in this technology, which has created a market for female consumers. Because “composition,” or writing, tends to lean towards women and computer use leans towards men, Gerrard suggests that the playing field is evened out as far as final output is concerned. Nevertheless, the question exists as to why computers appeal to boys versus girls. While computers appeal to both boys and girls equally before fourth grade, by the time they’re in fifth grade, girls lose interest. The computer software that appeals to boys are the violent games and the stereotypes appeal to the girls, e.g. Barbie games. Studies show that girls spend less time playing games and prefer doing something useful and entertaining. Men “tinker and explore…women want to accomplish something.” Non-stereotypical games have been created for girls to meet these needs. Still, girls have less computer experience than boys going into high school and college. When girls have confidence in using the computer, they have more confidence in wordprocessing and blogging, etc. on the computer. Computers affect writing styles. Women are more “intimate” and prefer more privacy, but men are more public and informative, and therefore post more than women. Studies show that being more involved on the Net allows girls to become more socially involved. It presents a less inhibited environment. It allows the girls to create a “public voice.” Some sites are geared towards women and allow them to express themselves and provides a collective voice for females especially when so many other sites that gear to men use language that many women are uncomfortable with. Towards the end of this piece, Gerrard does explain that no matter the differences studies show about men and women and computer technology, generalizing leads to inconsistencies; because not all men or women fit the stereotype.
One statement that I found interesting:
The image of the composition instructor is described as a “sadomasochistic disciplinarian.”

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