ITS 5320 - Gender and Information Technology

Examines the impact of information technology on work and domestic life, specifically focusing on the issue of gender. Men and women have interacted with information technologies in strikingly different ways. For example, computing has developed as a male dominated field, while the telephone has been strongly associated with women. Analyzes the social forces underlying this gender difference, focusing on feminist theories and theories of masculinity. The development of information technologies (telegraphy, telephone, computer, and Internet) will also be discussed.

Requisites:
Credit Hours: 4
Repeat/Retake Information: May not be retaken.
Lecture/Lab Hours: 3.0 lecture
Grades: Eligible Grades: A-F,WP,WF,WN,FN,AU,I
Learning Outcomes:

Apply feminist theory to the use of information technologies.
Apply theories of masculinity to the use of information technologies.
Apply theories such as social shaping theory to the development of information technologies including the telegraph, the telephone, the computer and the Internet.
Describe the impact of various information technologies on men’s and women’s work and social lives.
Explain feminist theories related to gender and technology.
Explain theories of masculinity.
Explain theories related to the uses and development of technology, including social shaping theory and technological determinism.