Technology plays a huge part in our everyday lives and it continues to evolve and change at a rapid rate. It is important that we keep up to date on the new techniques which are constantly being introduced. Unfortunately many people based on circumstances such as; demographics, social status, gender and lack of resources- are not given the opportunities of being exposed to technology in our digital world.
Our readings discuss the importance of digital literacy among girls in our society. It is imperative that girls are taught digital literacy and given the opportunity to learn without discrimination, allowing them the opportunity to be educated keeping up to the standards that are imposed by our society.The United Nations moved to address such patterns of gender exclusion acknowledging that women who are digitally literate can improve their own prosperity and become active individuals of community development (2.0-10). This literacy is the weapon that must be used in order to fight discrimination and poverty among women. The Girls of El Seybo (Dominican Republic), is an example of the lack of digital access that many areas must overcome. Those of us in the Global North enjoy reliable and affordable connectivity almost everywhere, while most people in the developing world can't count on, rely, or afford Internet access (2.0-11). I know that I am personally guilty of taking this connection (in some locations, considered a luxury) for granted. If my computer is running slow or unable to connect, I become impatience and frustrated. It's hard to imagine living in an area that doesn't have access to the outside world such as Internet and cell phone service.
We not only live in a male dominated "real world" but the "virtual world" as well. Recent data revealed a virtual parity between U.S. males and females in the terms of Internet use, a digital divide between the two sexes persists within the educational and professional fields of IT and CS( GMM 244). Women are not making the choices to become educated at the college level in these areas of education. This could be the effects of the expectations that our culture instills upon us as a society. Parents don't seem to push their girls in the math and science areas of education. The mentality is that boys excel in math and science and girls in the area of the arts seems to be a universal understanding. These concepts need to be addressed in order to alter this imbalance of male dominance in the digital professions. An example of this patriarchal computer culture can be observed at your local stores which sell electronic equipment. The majority of sales people and their experts are males and also used at the advertising levels.
Being educated in digital literacy also helps to increase the self-esteem of young girls and women enabling them to become more involved in the virtual world. There are a variety of programs offered to young girls allowing them this opportunity. For example GMM-96 discusses the of teaching critical viewing skills, Media Pedagogy. This field is divided into three areas of digital literacy; Integration which is incorporating media into schools, Production involves facilitating the students' knowledge and skills, and the Analytical approach -commonly referred to as media literacy is teaching the critical skills for analyzing and evaluation. (GMM-96). These are all successful methods of teaching the digital literacy that is much needed in our society.
While male dominance has always been a part of our history, many have fought through the years for changes to take place. These changes create waves of patterns upon one another which in turn open venues for different changes based on the generation, time and issues at large. At this moment in time, it is of great importance that we as a society train and educate our girls at a young age so that they can compete in our male dominated virtual world and become some of the leaders, instructors and volunteers needed in the IT professions. As more women progress into these areas of expertise, girls will have more role models to look up to and become more comfortable possibly altering the male dominance in these professions which takes place today.
--The one you influence today just might influence thousands in the future- BITCH (cookbook), bitch meaning: Babe In Total Control of Herself-
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