Direct Impact of Technology

Maria Kozdroy

Blog #22

11-22-14

Disclaimer: this is to be used as a response to a class discussion and a reading.

Direct Impact of Technology

            Women can achieve just as much as men, only if they are willing to do so.  In a competitive society this may seem very far-fetched and apparent with why many more men have higher positions in large companies.  According to Woodhouse in Chapter 17 of his STS text, he states “In practice, most people tend to behave in ways rather similar in their workplace and in their subculture.  Legacy thinking?  Gently Tyranny? Sensible choice?”  History has predetermined the culture and ways many women and men live today.  The idea of women working inside the house to keep it clean has been around for centuries.  The only way that this stereotype can be attempted to be removed from society, would be to have more women believe and prosper in asking for more and not settling for less, as explained by the COO of Facebook Sheryl Sandberg.  Additionally, with the constant pressure to work long days to succeed, it is more common for people to experience a lack of “leisure” time on weekdays.  Leisure to some may mean using a device to play games, etc., yet leisure used in this paper will mean any form of relaxation and fun without using a cellphone, laptop, TV, etc.  In this blog post, I am going to argue that leisure and determinism to advance are linked each to technology, and that for this reason, one can gain more leisure time and willingness if technology is appreciated rather than over used.  In other words, children playing Angry Birds on their tablet should go outside to play basketball, and more women going into “simpler, liberal arts” careers should consider STEM careers and gaining higher titles. 

            In a recent study from the Speak Up 2010 Survey, results showed that many students in grades K-12 have personal access to different kinds of mobile devices, specifically 60% of students grades 6-8 had personal access to laptops (ReadWrite).  This is a shockingly high number.  Many middle school students nowadays have it much simpler when it comes to writing reports, where one can easily search for statistics, books, and articles online in seconds.  Schools nationwide are creating harsher penalties on students using cell phones in class because of the distraction they pose to others and the students themselves.  In reality, this may be the only time that a student can take a break out of their busy days to relax because as soon as they go home, chores will need to be done, dinner will need to eaten, and then the tedious homework must be completed.  Although using your phone to browse the Internet is not considered leisure is this essay, this idea of students using them during class is quite interesting.  Since students know of helpful sites like Khan Academy, the student may feel that it is easier to retain the information at home by themselves then fully paying attention in class.  The only reason students check their phones during class is that they know when they get home they can use technology to help them more than in the classroom.  The dependence on technology has taken away from leisure time in the sense of going to the park, reading a book, and most importantly playing a family board game.  Not only are students finding more and more to do on an Internet enabled device, parents are too.  How can a parent act as a role model for their children in this sense? 

            Some mothers, however, are working hard to keep their children active.  My mom has driven me so many places, to make me happy while also keeping up with her own hectic work schedule.  Women, according to Sandra Sandberg, need to keep pushing forward while maintaining their families and push to get their name out to earn a better pay, social mobility, and success.  Ironically though, I never have heard of her before listening to her speech yesterday.  To be successful and earn a high position in a company, women need to build a strong foundation.  Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a good start to success, where upon graduation with a Bachelor’s Degree, one is bound to find a satisfactory job and hopefully climb to become a CEO someday.  This is great news for women that attend RPI because of all the companies that want a well-educated woman to work for them.  However, not all women can afford a STEM college education; this should never stop a woman though from trying, perhaps, settling for a job in a local store to earn money to then go to school.  The little steps must first be taken, to get to success. 

            Technology has transformed society for all people—men, women, and children.  An equality must be found between men and women in the workforce, while children need not be too overly controlled by technology.  The social structure of society will soon hopefully find a balance with technology and all people.  This change may not come in one month, but if I’m willing to make a difference and you are too, we’re already that much closer to finding this balance. 

Sources:

What Do Kids Say Is The Biggest Obstacle To Technology At School? http://readwrite.com/2011/04/03/what_do_kids_say_is_the_biggest_obstacle_to_techno#!

Sheryl Sandberg, 2013, 15 Minute Talk about “Leaning In” November 21, 2014

Woodhouse, Edward. The Future of Technological Civilization. Chapter 17