Gender and Computers: Understanding the Digital Divide

A scholarly examination of the problem of gender inequity in the information age. It begins with an analysis of how girls develop computer anxiety in the early school years and explores psychological factors to highlight some of the underlying reasons why the current gender inequalities exist. The psychological factors proposed underlie girls' and women's failure to realize their full computing potential. Divided into five areas, the text: discusses computer anxiety and the conditions that cause it; looks at how the social context of the computing environment in classrooms influence girls' and boys' experience with computers; suggests that one of the major causes of computer anxiety rests in the expectancies that society holds about gender and computer use and presents the results of basic psychological research to show that when people hold expectancies about authors they act in ways that actually bring about the expected behaviours, thoughts and feelings; discusses some of the nefarious consequences of societal stereotypes in the context of stereotype threat; and examines potential solutions to the gender gap in science and technology. The volume's overall theme suggests that the promise of computers is very real, but it will be an unfulfilled promise if there is no recognition of the serious inequities that exist between males and females in the ability to profit from the computer. The authors offer suggestions on how to restructure education to reduce or alleviate girls' computer anxiety. In addition, they hope to stimulate social scientists and educators to research this topic

Table of Contents:

Contents: Preface. Introducing the Problem. Computer Anxiety: A Matter of Gender. The Social Context of Computing. Expectancies and the Computer. A Threat in the Air. Working Toward Solutions. Solutions: Single-Sex Schools and Classrooms?

"Gender and Computers presents evidence that shows girls and young women are being left behind on the road to information technology. This book not only documents the digital divide but also provides guideposts to overcoming it. The authors' goal is to stimulate social scientists and educators to further research this topic to generate solutions to the problem."
—Adolescence

"The authors introduce a variety of pertinent psychological studies, mostly experimental, in the text to inform and convince the readers about the digital divide. This book could be an excellent supplementary text for undergraduate and graduate courses pertaining to gender equity in education."
—Electronic Magazine of Multicultural Education

"...the book is a joy to read. I, at least, was immediately 'hooked,' wanted to 'read on'...[It] is likely to be in the 'same league' as Bob Cialdini's Influence and Elliot Aronson's Nobody Left to Hate--two important (and unique) books that are equally 'at home' in the living room and the college classroom...this book is about something that is extraordinarily important that is relevant to (or 'touches') virtually everybody...Cooper is the acknowledged expert in this area...."
—Mark Zanna, Ph.D.
University of Waterloo, Canada

"I enjoyed reading the material and I'm sure undergraduates would, too. The anecdotes are interesting."
—Janet S. Hyde, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin/Madison

"This book will appeal to those who teach psychologically oriented college-level courses on gender issues, and on the social implications of computer technology....it it addresses a timely and important topic."
—Richard C. Sherman, Ph.D.
Miami University