Tilburg University Engendering technology empowering women Pascall, A.N. Publication date: 2012 Document Version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Link to publication in Tilburg University Research Portal Citation for published version (APA): Pascall, A. N. (2012). Engendering technology empowering women. TiCC.Ph.D. Series 23. General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 27. sep. 2021 ENGENDERING TECHNOLOGY EMPOWERING WOMEN PROEFSCHRIFT ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor aan Tilburg University op gezag van de rector magnificus, prof. dr. Ph. Eijlander, in het openbaar te verdedigen ten overstaan van een door het college voor promoties aangewezen commissie in de aula van de Universiteit op maandag 19 november 2012 om 14.15 uur door Athanacia Nancy Pascall geboren in Griekenland Promotores: Prof. dr. H. J. van den Herik Prof. dr. M. Diocaretz Beoordelingscommissie: Prof. dr. J.M.E. Blommaert Prof. dr. E.O. Postma Prof. dr. A. de Ruijter Prof. dr. A.P.J. van den Bosch Ass. Prof. dr. I. Kamberidou SIKS Dissertation Series No. 2012-28 The research reported in this thesis has been carried out under the auspices of SIKS, the Dutch Research School for Information and Knowledge Systems. TiCC Ph.D. Series No. 23 ISBN: 978-0-9566292-2-7 Published by Portia Ltd, Prince Consort House, Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7TJ, United Kingdom The cover of this book was conceived and designed by Areti. PREFACE "Boys play with cars, girls play with dolls!" If I had a Euro every time I heard this I would be rich now! I was different though! I played with dolls until well in my teenage years but I also played with cars, Meccano, Little Electrician, Chemist etc. Yet, I was not so different from other girls of my age and country. Perhaps when I was a child, money was tighter and toys had to be shared and passed down from one sibling to the other. Despite my moving out of technology and making different study choices I quickly found myself drawn into this technological universe which I thought was well behind me. The roles were different but I slowly moved into policy making and cautiously found myself in a subject which was important for me, the proper and equal integration of women in the information society. I must admit I enjoy it! The idea of this thesis stemmed from the work I have been doing for the last 20 years. I discussed it with Myriam (Diocaretz) who brought me in contact with Jaap (van den Herik) and this was when all started. Little did I know at the time how difficult it is to convey your knowledge of an integral part of your life to others who in the best scenario are interested parties; little did I know how difficult it is to translate your experience into readable material and references; little did I know how pre-submission nerves are worse than wedding nerves. But I made it with the help of my friends! Information and Communication technologies grew in leaps and bounds in the last twenty years. It is astonishing to see that what was considered science fiction in the eighties is now part of our everyday reality. Despite the known and accepted advantages of the new technologies, women are still iii reluctant to participate and are under-represented at all levels. This means on the one hand that they do not benefit fully of what technology has to offer and on the other that the technology itself misses out on new talent, creativity and innovation. It is said that "Technology is neutral!" This in itself might indicate that it is not so. In this thesis, I tried to show the gender facet of technology and demonstrate that this engendering will be an empowering tool for women. I would like to take this opportunity to thank some people whose contribution was vital for the completion of this work. There were many who supported me during this period and if I forget any I do apologise in advance. First of all, my two PhD supervisors, Professor van den Herik and Professor Diocaretz. Without their invaluable help and advice I would not have been able to proceed. I was taught some very useful lessons on how to write a scientific paper, something I had not done for many years; Dr Eva Fabry for her help with the dissemination of the questionnaire; Dr Elizabeth Pollitzer whose encouragement and help was instrumental for my not giving up this project right at the end; Dr Gaelle Le Gars, a wizard of the internet and formatting. Last but not least all my friends who put up with me moaning and in particular Chrissa Mela for her continuous encouragement and support. It is customary to dedicate a thesis so I dedicate this one to my son Christos who was telling me off when I was not working and who does not want to be an engineer although he loves maths. No one said that it is biological! Nancy Pascall Brussels, November 2012 iv Table of Contents PREFACE.....................................................................................................................III TABLE OF CONTENTS ……………………………………….……………………V LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................... XI LIST OF TABLES..................................................................................................... XIII 1 WOMEN & ICT: STATING THE PROBLEM .................................................1 1.1 THE INFORMATION SOCIETY ...............................................................................2 1.1.1 ICT as an agent of change................................................................................4 1.1.2 Sociology of the Internet....................................................................................6 1.2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND .................................................................................8 1.2.1 The creation of networks ..................................................................................9 1.2.2 Engendering the history of computers.................................................................11 1.2.3 Miniaturisation............................................................................................14 1.2.4 Towards the World Wide Web .......................................................................14 1.3 INTERNET – A POWERFUL TOOL .......................................................................16 1.4 PROBLEM STATEMENT: A NEW APPROACH TO ICT ...........................................17 1.4.1 Engendering Technology.................................................................................18 1.4.2 Empowering Women.....................................................................................19 1.5 FIVE RESEARCH QUESTIONS..............................................................................20 1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY (M) ........................................................................21 1.7 THESIS STRUCTURE AND OVERVIEW..................................................................21 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................27 2.1 FEMINIST THEORIES ..........................................................................................28 2.1.1 Classical Feminist Theories ............................................................................28 2.1.2 Feminist Approaches in Technology..................................................................31 2.1.3 Donna Haraway..........................................................................................33 2.1.4 ICT and new Gender Theories ........................................................................37 2.1.5 Future Trends .............................................................................................41 2.2 EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ICTS.......................................................................43 2.2.1 Cinderella or Cyberella?.................................................................................44 2.2.2 ICT in the classroom.................................................................................... 45 2.2.3 Technophobia - an obstacle to empowerment? .................................................... 46 2.3 ENGENDERING ICTS ........................................................................................ 49 2.3.1 Engendering Policy Making........................................................................... 50 2.3.2 Engendering Regulation ................................................................................ 50 2.4 CULTURAL STEREOTYPES IN ICT...................................................................... 51 2.4.1 Culture and Stereotypes................................................................................. 51 2.4.2 Stereotypes framing IT issues.........................................................................