Women's Studies (WMST) 446
Gender, Culture and Technology (Revision 1)
WMST 446 closed effective September 1, 2010. Replaced by WGST 446.
Delivery Mode:Individualized study.
Credits:3
Area of Study:Social Science
Prerequisite:None. An introductory level WMST course is recommended.
Centre:Centre for Work and Community Studies
WMST 446 has a Challenge for Credit option.
Overview
WMST 446 course covers three major topic areas. The first introduces the gender literature that provides a framework for thinking about the relationships between gender, power, and divisions of labour. The second topic area provides a broad overview of the historical development and gendering of technological skills, highlighting the cultural and ideological associations between technology and masculinity. Finally, the third topic area examines issues related to the social construction of gender, exploring the associations between gender and information technologies, and possible solutions to women's under-representation in computing and information sciences.
Outline
Unit 1: Understanding Gender
Unit 2: Frameworks for Understanding Women and Technology
Unit 3: Looking Backwards and Forwards: Women and Technology
Unit 4: Gender Differences in Computer Aptitude and Use?
Unit 5: Women's Place: The Culture of Technology
Unit 6 - Solutions: When and How will Women Return?
Evaluation
To receive credit for WMST 446, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least "D" (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Assign. 1 Research Project (1500-2500 words) | Assign. 2 Research Project (1500-2500 words) | Assign. 3 Take-Home Final | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35% | 35% | 30% | 100% |
All assignments are open book. To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Course Materials
Textbooks
Craeger, A., Lunbeck, E., & Schiebinger, L. (Eds.) (2001). Feminism in Twentieth-Century Science, Technology, and Medicine. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Hopkins, P. (Ed.) (1998). Sex/Machine: Readings in Culture, Gender, and Technology. Bloomington & Indianapolis: Indiana University Press.
Margolis, J., & Fisher, A. (2002). Unlocking the Clubhouse: Women in Computing. Cambridge: MIT Press.
Woodfield, R. (2000). Women, Work and Computing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Other Materials
The course materials include a study guide and student manual.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
Opened in Revision 1.
Last updated by SAS 10/19/2010 10:01:44
