Chapter 8 Review Questions

Short Answer Questions

1. What factors should be considered when analyzing the differences in digital access and use between men and women?

2. Using the example of #NoMoreStolenSisters discuss what role can feminist digital activism via social media play in creating social change.

3. Considerations of gender usually take place after products are designed and developed. Why might this be problematic?

4. What are relevant factors why it is important to bring the body into discussions of technology?

5. Provide two reasons as to why time spent on housework has not decreased despite the implementation of labour saving technologies.

6. How do certain technologies reinforce gender stereotypes? What role could the marketing of certain technologies or the social expectations for that technology have on its ability to perpetuate gender stereotypes?

7. The benefit of initiatives such as Ladies Learning Code is easy to understand, but is there potential for harm in dichotomizing gender in an effort to close the gap?

Essay Questions

1. Gendered work refers to the demarcation of certain jobs as decidedly “male” or “female”; for example, secretarial or office administration work. As was demonstrated in box 4.1, the default for many virtual assistants is a female voice. Is this yet another example of gendered work? Does it strike you as problematic? Why or why not? What stereotypes might such features perpetuate?

2. The representation of women in the IT field is still today very low. This is particularly true when we look at industries such as IT development and the gaming industry. Discuss what some of the key barriers are for women to enter the IT field. To what extent are employers in the industry responsible for this type of gendered employment?