TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION MUST WELCOME FEMALES, RESEARCHER SAYS
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Technology education must become more "female-friendly," says a Ball State University educator.
James Flowers, assistant professor of industry and technology, has spent the past 15 years studying female enrollment in technology education. His research focuses on identifying obstacles to women in selecting technology education as a career.
"One thing that stands out is that a lot of men just don't get it," Flowers said. "We ask ëwhat's wrong with the women?' but don't realize what men may be doing to scare women away."
Those things can be as simple as the tone of voice teachers use in addressing females as opposed to males. Although technology education has replaced traditional industrial arts, Flowers said the "shop" mentality still poses problems for women.
In 1994, only 6 percent of the International Technology Education Association's (ITEA) professional members were women. The association has set a goal of enhancing participation of minorities and women in technology.
"There's a multiplicity of solutions," Flowers said. "Technology education needs to be open to all people, including people with disabilities and those for whom English is a second language."
Women in technology education identified problems and possible solutions as part of a survey Flowers conducted in 1994 of ITEA female members. He reports his findings in an article scheduled for publication in The Techology Teacher journal.
Responses fell into three categories:
* Changing the school by eliminating male-oriented projects
in favor of a more gender-neutral curriculum. Many respondents also cited a need to educate guidance counselors who may consider technology education appropriate only for males or inappropriate for college-bound students.
* Helping students, beginning with in elementary grades, by improving self-confidence of females, establishing mentoring programs and offering summer technology camps for females.
* Improving awareness of technology education through recruitment, marketing of programs and providing career information.
Flowers said some of the women surveyed noted that the problem is larger than technology education enrollment.
"We need to work on our society and when that occurs, more females will feel more comfortable in any field," one respondent said.
A. Barker 10/13/98
(Note to Editors: For more information about this story or how to reach the source, contact Anthony Barker at 765-285-1560 or [email protected]. For more stories, visit the Ball State University News Center at http://newscenter.bsu.edu on the World Wide Web.)
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