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ABSTRACT
The pipeline shrinkage problem for women in computer science is a well-known and documented phenomenon where the ratio of women to men involved in computing shrinks dramatically from early student years to working years [19, 22, 23, 32, 42, 93, 112], also see this issue [24]. During the last decade, considerable research ensued to understand the reasons behind the existence of the shrinking pipeline and in some cases to take action to increase the numbers of women in computing. Through the work of a National Science Foundation funded project [56], ACM's Committee on Women in Computing (ACM-W) has taken a first step towards pulling this research together. A large number of articles was gathered and processed on the topic of women in computing and the shrinking pipeline. The committee created a publicly available online database to organize the references of this body of work by topic, author, and reference information. The database, constantly being updated, is accessible through ACM-W's website . A final report is also available via the ACM-W website which covers current statistics on women in computing, summaries of the literature in the database, and a set of recommendations.The following discussion is a brief synopsis of a subset of the literature review as of August 2001. In addition, you can find statistics on women in computing and recommendations throughout this special issue.
GENDER EQUITY - Programs
Enhancing Participation in Civics (EPIC)
Egypt - strengthens the capacities of non-governmental organizations to contribute more effectively to poverty alleviation, ensure gender equity, food governance and sustainable development. CARE Egypt has initiated projects with 400 community-based organizations.
Social Movement to Ban Female Genital Cutting [FGC] -
Senegal - Mobilised men, who traveled from village to village encouraging communities to sign the Oath of Malicounda pledge that committed those villages to abolish FGC. Process encouraged dialogue and discussion and the introduction of the women's perspective and stories. More than 35 villages have banned FGC. Thanks to Premila Bartlett - PVO/NGO Networks for Health
Dukh Sukh Apney (Our Sorrows, Our Happiness)
Pakistan - a radio drama with a gender equity perspective on reproductive health issues for men and women, empowerment and education for girls and women. Episodes will air in Urdu in March-April. A PCI, UNFPA, Ministry of Population Welfare and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation partnership. David Andrews
Flame - a network of African sisters online committed to strengthening the capacity of women through the use of ICTs to lobby, advocate and participate in the Beijing +5 process. Serves as an electronic forum to share and exchange ideas, strategies, information and issues of concern. A specific focus on unequal gender access to the new technologies.
Centro de Mujeres Comunicadoras Mayas (Center for Mayan Women Communicators)
Guatemala - center for women to unite and communicate, for self-definition and clarity of purpose, and to develop skills in
communications technology to enable better representation. Activities are determined by the indigenous women who participate.
AWID - The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) is an international membership organization connecting, informing and mobilizing people and organizations committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable development and women's human rights.
Advocacy
Center for Health and Gender Equity [CHANGE] - a research and advocacy organisation that seeks to integrate concern for gender equity and social justice into international health policy and practice. Initiatives supported include: International Research Network on Violence Against Women; Multi-country study on domestic violence and health; and Men's roles in reproductive health and rights
Jodi Jacobsen
Capacity Building
Strengthening Electronic Communication Capacities of Women's Organisations in Africa - designed by ABANTU. Participatory training methodologies are used to strengthen Connectivity, Content and Capacity, to improve electronic communications between African women's organisations. 4 vthemes: Gender and Poverty; Gender and Conflict; Gender and Governance; Gender and Information Technology. Wanjiru Kihoro
Campaigns
AIDS - Men Make A Difference - the 2000 World AIDS Campaign - "Engaging men as partners in fighting AIDS is the surest way to change the course of the epidemic. The World AIDS Campaign...will work with both women and men, NGOs, governments, the United Nations system and the media to bring about a new, and much-needed, focus on men"
White Ribbon [WRC] - a large effort by men working to end men's violence against women. Wearing a white ribbon is a personal pledge never to commit, condone nor remain silent about violence against women. Men and boys wear a ribbon for one or two weeks, starting November 25, the International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women.
Resources
Involving Men in Reproductive Health - CD ROM with 497 documents from around the world about men's participation in reproductive health. Categories include: Gender, Couples, Men & Reproductive Health, IEC & Men and Institutional Influences. No cost to people in developing countries.From JHU/CCP and USAID.
Rick Glasby
Voices for Change - Rural Women and Communication - gender-sensitive communication processes giving rural women a voice to advocate changes in policies, attitudes and social behaviour or customs that negatively affect them. This book includes: 'Communication in a Changing World"; 'Invisible Partners'; Giving Voice to Rural Women'; and, "Looking Towards the Future'. Examples from practice - eg women and beekeeping in the Solwezi District of Zambia. By Silvia Balit in collaboration with the Communication for Development Group at FAO
Preventing Violence against Women - designed by a group of South African Preventing Violence Against Women organisations. Aims to provide women who are in crisis with practical information on how to get help; and, be a space for activists, researchers and policy-makers working to prevent violence against women to network and share information and resources. Includes analysis ["Understanding Violence against Women] and information on campaigns, laws and internet sites.
Gender Abuse Hinders Development - in Population Reports on "Ending Violence Against Women". Includes a series of action boxes - eg "Applying Communication Strategies to Address Violence"; "how to promote non-Violent Relationships"; and, 'A Framework for Understanding partner Violence". Contact
"Feedback" on programme communication and social mobilisation - magasine of the Gender, Partnerships and Participation section of UNICEF New York. Issues contain a range of information on gender and participation issues. Recent issue included details on Niger ratifying CEDAW, Women in Conflict Zones, Gender focused UNIFEM project on HIV/AIDS and Wise Guys: the Male Responsibility initiative.
Silvia Luciani
Analysis
"A better deal for women? Why mixing gender equity and anti-poverty strategies can confuse the issues" - development agencies boast the policies etc .. [which].. should provide cause for celebration. However...] by Cecile Jackson - University of East Anglia
"The Structure of Social Disparities in Education: Gender and Wealth" - Uses household datasets to investigate the ways in which gender and wealth interact in generating inequalities - by Filmer, D. Produced by:Gendernet, World Bank (1999)
Electronic Forum
Gender-Related Electronic Forums is an annotated, frequently-updated, award-winning listing of publicly-accessible electronic forums related to women or to women-focused gender issues.
Gatherings
Gender, Human Rights, Sexuality and HIV - A 2-day satellite conference on women's issues at the XIII international AIDS conference in Durban, South Africa will be held July 9-14, 2000.
Anne-christine d'Adesky
Media and Arts in Coalition against Violence to Women and Girls - was a session at a UNICEF South Asia organised conference - "the Media and Arts play a pivotal role in addressing gender stereotypes and gender violence... They have the potential for supporting activist work to undermine gender equality and stop gender violence as well as to perpetuate and sensationalise the situation. However, as their importance and reach can not be denied, strategies need to be developed to work with the media…" Experiences and ideas for action are contributed by Kunda Dixit, Shanti Diariam, Khalid Ahmed and Viji Srinivisan. UNICEF ROSA
Web Site
Gender Equity Resources -
(Experienced author and gender equity project director Jo Sanders has put together an impressive set of online gender equity resources, including articles she has written, an interactive tutorial entitled Equity in the IT Classroom, and links to relevant web sites. The web links are arranged in six categories: General Education; Math, Science, and Technology; Gender Equity, General; Gender Equity in Math & Science; Gender Equity in Technology; and Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status.)
Weaving Gender Equity into Math Reform (based at TERC in Cambridge, MA) seeks to assist staff developers, curriculum writers, and workshop leaders in expanding the equity content of their workshops, videos, and written materials for teachers. Our project is investigating the specific question of gender equity in math reform, as well as the larger equity issues that these reforms pose for students from various academic, socio-economic, and linguistic backgrounds. The Weaving Gender Equity web site contains: - information on the project and our partners - links to other organizations concerned about equity in education - articles on equity in education - an annotated list of research articles, books, and electronic resources - a list of equity workshops around the country
Christina Perez TERC christina_perez@terc.edu
Vacancies
Further details and expanded list of Vacancies
Chief Executive - Womens Feature Service - contact
Administrator - Global Fund for Women ;
Senior Officer - Change Project - contact;
Prevention of MTCT HIV - WHO - ;
Program Associate - Trust for the Americas - contact;
Broadcasting Adviser - Mozambique - contact
Quicklist - check out additional information on these and other initiatives.
Women Studies
Women's Studies/Women's Issues Resource Sites.
A frequently-updated, annotated, selective listing of more than 500 information-rich web sites that focus on women's studies/women's issues. In addition to the main listing, it has 16 topical sub-sections: Activism, Arts & Humanities, Business/Work, Comprehensive, Girls and Young Women, Health, Higher Education, Internet Info, International, Miscellaneous, Periodicals, Religion/Spirituality, Science & Technology, Sexuality/Sexual Orientation, Sports/Recreation, and Women of Color.
Gender-Related Electronic Forums. A frequently-updated, annotated listing of more than 600 women- and gender-related e-mail lists (also called "listservs").
WMST-L File Collection. More than 100 files containing discussions from the Women's Studies email forum, WMST-L, as well as essays, interviews, bibliographies, film reviews, and other information that Women's Studies faculty and students should find of great value. It contains 14 subject sections: Books and Films; Feminism(s) (including critiques); Feminist Theory/Theories; Girls and Young Women; Grad School/Job Market; Language; Men; Miscellaneous; Pedagogical Issues and Strategies; Program Administration; Race/Ethnicity; Sexuality/Sexual Orientation; Societal Issues in the Classroom; and WMST-L.
Women's Studies Programs and Research Centers. Links to more than 500 women's studies programs, departments, and research centers around the world. Annotations identify those programs offering graduate degrees or certificates.
Internet Resources on Women: Updates . A frequently-updated, annotated listing of new and changed web sites offering information on women of particular use to educators and students.
WMST-L . Information about this large, international email list for Women's Studies teaching, research, and program administration. Included are a description of the list, a detailed User's Guide, instructions for searching the archives, suggestions for finding someone's email address, links to women's studies syllabi and WMST-L's feminist film reviews, the file collection (see #3 above),
and more.
Financial Aid and Job Opportunities for Women. A small but information-rich set of resources to help women find scholarships, fellowships, and other financial aid for college and grad school and also resources to help them find internships and jobs.
SHAME Trafficking In Women To The United States
A Contemporary Manifestation of Slavery and Organized Crime [.pdf] This recently released, 70-page report from the CIA's Center for the Study of Intelligence (CSI) reveals that as many as 50,000 women and children from Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe are trafficked to the United States each year. Brought in primarily by small crime rings and "loosely connected criminal networks," they are forced to work as prostitutes, servants, and laborers in all regions of the country. The report offers background on trafficking methods and perpetrators, the issues and challenges involved in combatting trafficking, and some suggestions for policymakers. The full text of the report is available in .pdf format at the CSI site. [MD] From the Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2000.
