Tech 98 / Engr 98: Women & Technology

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I.  Review Midterm.

II.  Lecture: Gender, Domesticity & Technology

II.5  STUDY GUIDE:  Household Labor (Leonard ch. 7) (click to download here)

III.  Exercise:    Domestic Technology (ppt)

• What do these images suggest about the historical culture of science and technology?  How do they appeal to buyers?
• How do these technologies affect/change everyday life?  Whose everyday life?
• Who are these technologies for?  Do they affirm, contest, or change gender norms? Other social norms?

[Monday Noon section - Secret of Photo 51]

I.  Some notes on Leonard’s “The Wonders of Technology” (ch. 3 & 8)

Journalists and news media:

• Selectively represent technology news
• Have a powerful role shaping ideas about technology
• Constantly have to find ‘new’ and ‘breaking news’
• Is often prepackaged as a corporate press release
• Sometimes focus on entertainment value rather than reliability or scientific accuracy
• Generally celebrates technology as an inherent good.

According to Leonard’s research, the standard technology story:

• Introduces a shiny new technology in breathtaking prose – “wondrous”, “astonishing”, “technoparadise”
• Elaborates with positive portrayals of developers (nerd is cool)
• Emphasizes benefits of new technology – comfort, convenience, moneysaving, timesaving, reduced workload
• acknowledges limitations, side effects, downside, etc. briefly, often minimizing…
• concludes with affirmation of technology progress

Leonard’s broader question:  What is the relationship of technology to inequality?

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II. Lecture:  Women & Work

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III.  Five concerns of the electronic office:

1. threat of job loss – Mhary, Steven
2. reduction (rather than enhancement) of work skills – Steven
3. computer monitoring – Alberto
4. health risks – Mhary,  carl
5. flexibility of work location – Alberto, Carl

Please note that my office hours are now simplified – Tuesdays 10-1.

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I.  Midterm (exam images)

You have 1:15.  Please do not write on the exam; write only on form 886-E.

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II.  Video:  The Secret of Photo 51

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Please bring Scantron form #886E – Midterm is mostly multiple choice, with a few short-answer questions, and an essay.

Everything covered in class so far is fair game for the exam – readings, videos, study guides, images mentioned in lecture.  I highly recommend reviewing every week’s entry on the blog for lecture notes, images, etc.  The Study Guide is Right Here (click to download).

About the exam: If you’ve done your reading, been in class and paid reasonable attention to lecture, with at least some written lecture notes, you should be fine.

If I were you, this is how I would study:

1. I’d look at every entry on this blog, and make sure I remember everything we did in class.  I’d definitely print out any lecture notes.  Then I’d compare that to the Study Guide posted above, and make sure I have everything.  If I can’t find something, I’d ask a classmate, or post to the COMMENT THREAD above this entry to ask if someone can help me out.
2. I’d go back to each reading we’ve done so far, skim it, and then:   a) write down three key terms and their definition from the article  and  b)  write out 2-3 main themes of the article.  If I were to explain the article to a friend, what would I tell them?  If I can do this in my own words, I know the article and I’m ready.
3. I’d review the study guides for each video we’ve done so far, and be sure I can answer each question in my own words.
4. I’d look at the bicycles lecture on powerpoint,  and review my notes on those (Feb 10).  I’d think hard about what each image says about gender and technology, and possibly write out some notes on each.
5. I’d look at the Possible Essay Topics on the study guide linked above and write a quick outline for each one, drawing from all the work I’ve done so far.

IF I’ve done all this, I should be able to look at the study guide, and talk about each question by drawing from my notes.  If not, I’d look back at the articles and lectures. If I still had specific questions, I’d email the professor and post a COMMENT above to see if my classmates can help me out.

THIS IS NOT A REQUIREMENT, only a suggestion.  Study the way you know best, whatever works for you.