My bias was intentional. In my last post, Girl Power, I highlighted two things:
1. The Girl Effect video
2. Women who are Inspirational Educational Leaders
Liz B. Davis said this in the first comment on the post: (I added the links)
David,
Thanks for including me in your list of inspiring women. I am honored to be included among so many great women. I also find Kim, Vicki and Sue to be important members of my learning network. Thanks also for introducing me to Heidi.
Now to stir the pot just a bit… I have been included in other lists of inspiring WOMEN and, while I am happy and honored to be recognized (especially by you since I respect you a great deal), there is also something just a tad condescending about qualifying the list by gender. What if it had been about the top black or Jewish or gay educators to follow? …
And, as she often does, Liz got me thinking! In response I commented and then Liz added (among other things):
When showcasing women, is it necessary to point out they are women? It might be just as powerful to talk about us as people and about the qualities you admire. I’m sure your readers would notice that you had only chosen women without you pointing it out.
What’s interesting about this is that I was very intentional with my wording. I used the term ‘girl’ just twice: In the title and to tie things up at the end of the post in reference to the video, ‘The Girl Effect’… beyond that I used the term Woman. Furthermore, in my introduction to these women, I said this: “So here are a few real educational leaders worth watching, and more specifically reading:” … Intentionally choosing not to reference them as being female.
But is that enough? Liz’s questions and comments are valid and worth reflecting on!
Well, I’ve reflected.
If I was writing a post specifically about educational leaders, then I’d have to agree with Liz wholeheartedly. Imagine me saying ‘here are my favourite educational leaders’ and then having two lists, one for women and one for men… personally I’d find that more than a bit condescending! However my last post was about the power of women to change the world. It was about the fact that not enough attention is paid to women; not enough women are recognized for their accomplishments; and there are not enough significant role models for my daughters. In this context my belief is that a list of inspirational female leaders is appropriate.
But an appropriate list is one thing, and a necessary list is another. Why do we need another list of inspirational females?
…Because of unintentional bias!
From my own reading and personal experience, this is what I know:
* I read an article years ago that said women are far more likely to be cut off/interrupted when talking in a meeting than men are. Since then I’ve seen this time and again in meetings. I’ve even caught myself doing it.
* A few years ago I read Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. In the section about auditioning for musical orchestras, the number of women hired dramatically increased after screens were used to conceal the sex of the person auditioning.
* Last year I went to BLC08 with three male keynote speakers. This year I’m going back for BLC09, and what do I see? Three male keynotes.
* My kids loved Dora the Explorer. This is a great cartoon with a female hero. Dora relies on two animated objects: a map and a backpack. The male map always knows where to go and points the way for Dora. The female backpack always needs ‘your help’ to figure out what item in the backpack Dora needs.
I don’t think any of these things are intentional, but they are there… Subtle, but there.
I wish these unintentional biases were not around for my daughters to be exposed to. I wish these were not hidden behind more blatant biases that modern media exposes our kids to. I don’t want ‘separate but equal‘ for my girls. But I also don’t want to pretend that the biases aren’t there, or think that they will go away if we just pretend they aren’t there.
If we are going to unintentionally shut women up, leave them out and give them submissive roles, then shouldn’t we intentionally and necessarily take notice of them when it is appropriate to do so?
Dave,
I appreciate your thoughtful response to my comments. Having gone to a previously all male college when it was only 30% female (Dartmouth) and currently working at an all boys school (Belmont Hill), I am very aware of myself as a woman and of the ways that unintentional bias creeps in to my life. I think the most important thing we can do is talk about it. Thank you for bringing it out into the open.
Lisa Thumann and I are actually leading a session on “Equity Issues in the Edublogosphere”at Educon 2.1 this year. Here are our essential questions for the session: Does the face of the edublogosphere reflect the face of education? How can we empower all members of the edublogosphere to find their voice? I think your post is a great stepping off point for the discussion. I wish you could be there.
David, you’ve just gone up many notches in my book. Many of us women do talk behind the scenes about some of the things that happen in this manner. We compare notes and whether many realize it or not, there is an “old boy” network in edtech that is huge. But as women, we want the main thing to be the main thing. I do think, however, that what goes around comes around.
Right now, a close friend is in manufacturing and CANNOT fire any minority, woman or person over 55 — who does that leave – white men under 55 — it leaves HIM for that matter.
And that is a bias that has come to haunt him – he is reaping the consequences of a generation of males who had an old boys club and excluded women and minorities. His situation is NOT good for his business but that is where he is.
THIS WILL HAPPEN IN EDTECH unless those who are on the “in” intentionally to overcome the unintentional bias. Thank you, thank you thank you for pointing it out. When a woman says something it is always “sour grapes” — I had a prof in college who told me that the best selling point for equality was to be so unbelievably good that you can’t be ignored. While that is almost impossible to do, I see many women striving for an extra set of excellence – it takes more for women to get noticed. And then, when they do get noticed, they get accused of self promotion and not knowing their “place.”
Interestingly, to make it in schools, I’ve had to unlearn many of the habits that helped me get ahead in business — not putting up w/ being interrupted and other things that in some ways helped me fit in more w/ men and be more “manly” so I could fit in in a school environment.
Those are often the opposite of what is needed for elbowing into the conference scene, which may be why many teachers struggle with getting in to a place where you DO HAVE TO brag on yourselves. (Women are taught to be modest, men, well…)
Many successful women I know went to predominantly male colleges. Just the way things still are.
I hope more people wake up in the edtech environment and realize that diversity is critical. With all of the great diversity out there in people doing great things, there is simply no excuse for having an all white male line up of keynotes.
K12 online made great strides in diversifying this year — other groups should as well.
You can see, this is important to me but not something any of us women talk about often and publicly.
The bottom line is that we’re here for the students and diversity just means we can reach a wider audience — more people will find SOMEONE to relate to. It is a real turnoff to learning for many of us to see a lack of diversity.
That being said, all the women I know want to be included NOT because they are a woman but because they are good.
Thank you, again.
Hi Dave,
You raise such good points – and I hadn’t noticed the Dora gender messages before you mentioned it!
You’ve inspired a couple of posts bouncing around my head so I’ll link back once I find some time to write them down!
In the meantime, I’d like to add another perspective here – it’s not just an unintentional bias about women. We send hidden messages to our sons as well – http://www.iwasthinking.ca/2008/04/09/coming-through-loud-and-clear/
In fact, we have unintentional biases all over the place, don’t we? Whether re: gender, race, etc…
This is why our conversations about individualization/differentiation in education is so important. And the conversations about the same concepts in parenting are just as important!
How we think about this and learn how to live with a different level of consciousness for ourselves will model a different way for our children.
Again, great conversation!
Thanks!
H
Hi again!
Vicki- have you seen the Damsels in Success blog? This is one of the threads that often pops up there. http://www.damselsinsuccess.com
Enjoy!
Heidi
Ok David you did not reflect far enough for me…..no sir you did not.
I am a woman with a daughter and I totally dispute your “there are not enough good woman role models/ leaders” comment. Look again..and this time get off your blinking computer….or is your point that there are few good role models in this technical diatribe? Or even worse your definition of a role model/ leader is a person with power and status?
The woman bringing up two children alone and providing them with the structure to live a good and fulfilled life is a role model to me….a woman able to hold down a job and bring up a family is a role model to me, any woman at the top of a male dominated field …(any field) is a role model…a woman who can show her children that there are more ways of solving a problem than an angry easy fix is a role model….leaders and role models do not have to be high profile …they just have to be made of a certain stuff…..
Girl power phooey!!!!!!!!!
My guess is that if you turn around and look at your own mother or grandmother you will see all the qualities that are the requisite of good role models…and leaders……The problem is how we define the things that are important to us…its not your gender argument that is problematic to me its your whole concept of what makes a good leader and role model..
Take it easy spud!
Silvana
Silvana,
Ironically, I think your comment talks about exactly the point that Dave was making. The women you describe are the ones who should be our most important role models – and yet they’re not valued nearly enough!
What our SOCIETY values shows up in the media and in business etc… In those arenas, women are still often portrayed in sexual ways, as weak, or even just absent!
That doesn’t mean that our mothers and grandmothers aren’t our most important role models – but even they (or should I say “we”) often don’t value themselves nearly enough! http://www.iwasthinking.ca/2007/08/24/just-a-mom/
What was the feminist movement all about? Why did it happen? Not because our mothers weren’t intelligent, hard working, and amazing role models for us – but because they weren’t valued.
Why is it that so many of us are, even now, uncertain of our own value? Going into the work force and “acting” like men in order to be successful? Because we’re still afraid that if we’re just ourselves, then we won’t get the jobs we want.
We need to value ourselves – and we absolutely need to teach our daughters and sons to value women (and feminine leadership styles and qualities). Part of that is just by trusting in ourselves – the other part is through changing the messages that are out there in the media and PUBLICALLY highlighting the role models that are out there.
I know that’s what I’m working on!
Thank you for this. At the interview for my second job, I was asked if it was considered odd to be a female science teacher. I think it is good to be a role model but is it different than a scientific researcher? Not many see science teaching as “doing.” Silvana makes a great point that we don’t acknowledge the role models already here and what they provide.
In my present district, the good ole boys club is alive and well. Those of us who have something to say and refuse to be put down are still passed over. That pushes me even further and one day it will pay off – maybe not where I am at.
Why do the female teachers think they do not know enough to speak at a conference? Those who speak are great but the real power and knowledge still is with the people who do. And there are plenty out there who “do” on a daily basis.
Actually Heidi I think you have missed the point entirely…
fundamentally David claims there are a shortage of good female role models come inspirational leaders….I claim there is not and there never was…why? because the way we construct what is a good role model is fundamentally different…..therein is the crux of the thing my role models do not need power or status to be role models…..
I do not want to particularly get into a discussion on the way women are defined in the media ,it is highly documented, and propogated as much by women as men. In the 21st century market forces rule and unfortunately sex sells therefore marketing of women is unlikely to be eradicated. Psychologists state that whilst some females may be affected by this the majority, if they come from a secure and loving home are not…..because the people in our immediate surroundings affect our socio-emotional behaviour and attitudes far more…..so David’s daughters will be far more affected by their mother than by any media presented iconic image. If she is preoccupied with weight and self image then thats the message that she will pass onto them…..no disrespect or offence is intended here
great discussion though…
I wasn’t planning on commenting again here, but I have very few things that I am an expert in and one of those things happens to be the things that I myself ‘fundamentally claim’.
Heidi, you get what I am saying! Thanks for clarifying for me.
The fact that Lisa Thumann and Liz Davis are leading a session on “Equity Issues in the Edublogosphere” at Educon 2.1 this year, tells me that my concerns are legitimate. Liz and Lisa, I wish that this didn’t have to be a topic we even discussed, but if we are going to have to have the discussion then I’m glad that it is you two leading it… and yes Liz, I wish that I could be there too.
Vicki’s comment speaks glaringly from the trenches that bias, (the actual point made in my title, in my introduction, and in the last half of my post), is both present and problematic: “The bottom line is that we’re here for the students and diversity just
means we can reach a wider audience — more people will find SOMEONE to relate to. It is a real turnoff to learning for many of us to see a lack of diversity.”
And to compliment the point Louise Maine makes about the challenge of being a female science teacher… here is a bit of the reality she is facing: Male Scientist Writes of Life as Female Scientist and Swedish Study Finds Sex Bias in Getting Science Jobs. You can find more of these kinds of articles in Kris ‘ bookmarks on gender. Also, I agree with Louise, “Silvana makes a great point that we don’t acknowledge the role models already here and what they provide.”
We don’t acknowledge them enough… and that recognition will not come by sitting idly by and letting unintentional bias (again the actual point of this post) be something that we allow to happen without discussing it.
What a great discussion. I’ve almost joined in a couple of times here and to the previous post but needed time to think this through as it isn’t an easy issues. As I started to respond I realized I would probably fill your comment quota so I’ve decided to post on the issue in my own blog at http://bgilgoff.edublogs.org/2008/12/21/successin-female-terms/. Here’s a start:
I believe this kind of public acknowledgment of the accomplishments of women in any field is beneficial although I also understand where it may be taken as condescending. However, there is definitely a bias in the world I inhabit, which I don’t believe is all that unintentional as a general rule. Sure, I know many men and women who never intend it, but it is everywhere as you point out Dave. We don’t think critically enough about it often enough. Blog posts like this with the accompanying comments therefore are useful in the much needed raising of awareness. Though honestly, it is only a crack.
As to your girls Dave, I believe they will be more affected by both you and their mother, than just their mother. They are lucky to have a dad that cares enough about all this to even venture into such “loaded” territory.
I always think that it is healthy to focus on both differences and similarities, too. I used to travel around the USA facilitating diversity awareness workshops for the US feds back when diversity was a hot HR issue for employee training programs in corporations and other workplaces.
What I have found interesting is that most people want to explore gender and race discrimination, but not really go any deeper. And even on the gender side, only women are discussed, never men. Isn’t that odd? Not really, because our culture punishes us when we dare to speak of discrimination against men. But yet the truth is that we must tackle ALL the “isms” because they are a vicious chain that support each other … and allowing discrimination in one area give unspoken tacit approval to discriminate in others. We just keep pushing it around from one place to another … and most of us discriminate via INACTION not ACTION. We sit in the comfort of our armchairs and turn a blind eye … saying “I don’t discriminate against THOSE people.” But in fact they do, it takes more that passive words to end discrimination against ourselves and others.
Remember the definition of a pedagogical task? One has to DO something and there has to be an OUTCOME. You can’t just sit and ponder.
What about those discriminated for age (including children), sexual orientation, abled-bodiness, ethnicity, physical attributes, etc.
My point is that we will continue to talk overtly about women until we begin to address all “isms” .. because ignoring them actually keeps sexism alive in the end. Remember the Martin Niemöller poem. Well it says it all:
When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.
When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I was not a Jew.
When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.
So wanna stop highlighting women? End all discrimination as best as we can, each and every day, and not just from your armchairs or blogs.
P.S. Just a closing note. Many think that men and in particular white men are free of discrimination. And many women refuse to address men’s issues until their issues are discussed and explored and addressed, etc. Let me give you all an idea of the great discrimination that men face, professional economic positions are not everything. Do men kiss each other in public or hold hands or dance together like women do? Why not? Because homophobia is a discrimination that keeps men from sharing intimacy and closeness as women enjoy between themselves. And of course we must isolate men from one another .. because they must be conditioned to kill each other for national and international defense. Men’s lives hold less value in this respect than women’s do. Even during the Titanic days of men going down with the ship and only women and children in the lifeboats. Men are more unsuccessful when it comes to parental custody issue. Men are jailed more often than women for similar offenses. Men are label low-lifes, bums, jerks, no-goods if they can’t work (for women it is still ok not to, they are called loafers for not working). Men are tossed a lot of stress to be quick on their feet, providers, on top of things, and on and on. We really need to do a lot to remove these discriminating expectation from men, too. Many of these “traditional” views are kept in place by families, churches, and education. Men (internalized) and women both participate in the discrimination against men.
When we address it all, we won’t have to say “female” educational technology leaders any more. It isn’t unintentional at all. Isms are very intentional and we all have a duty to minimize them and check our own blindspots.
Thank you all, for your thoughtful comments! Jim, I will comment again to respond to you in a bit.
If I’ve learned two things from this conversation they would be:
1. The biases are real, and present, and not just there for women. Recognizing this and not doing anything about it does not help in any way.
2. Family influence is much greater than societal influence… for my reading audience! In my years as a teacher, I’ve met many students that would not have the same positive home influence that many of your children would be provided with.
A final thought on this is that a better question was asked by Betty who commented above: She wants to know how success is being measured. It would be worthwhile to continue the conversation on her blog: Success… in female terms? Also of worthy note is the ‘aside’ Claire Thompson makes in comment #5 of that post. I think Claire’s ‘aside‘ puts the whole conversation on both these posts into perspective:
Thanks again for your contributions to my learning!
Dave.
David,
I was very interested in your post and the comments that followed. I wanted to react to one comment you made.
“* Last year I went to BLC08 with three male keynote speakers. This year I’m going back for BLC09, and what do I see? Three male keynotes.”
We just had a meeting in Boston about the conference and discussed the fact that we haven’t had a female keynote speaker for the last two years. We haven’t had a female keynote BLC since BLC06. We are open to suggestions.
Jim
David,
I’ve been following this discussion here, in Betty’s blog and on Twitter. Here is where I’ve gotten:
In raising my own daughters (I have 2 daughters and a son) I never looked for role models. I raised them with a mantra of “Don’t be one man short of the welfare line” as they watched me go through university to be a teacher. (It means stand on your own two feet and be able to raise your family on your own if needed, not marry for money as one young man thought.) I had them watch an episode of Oprah on women in third world countries so they knew what it was like to be a woman outside of North America and Europe and how lucky they were to live where they did. I provided an opportunity for them to go to a woman’s day at the college when they were in high school. I didn’t use role models, I took ACTION to help them discover for themselves what being a woman could be. I also ensured we respected and honoured the men in our lives as well. We celebrate and respect our differences.
Your most significant role models for your daughters are yourself and your wife and the ACTION you take in guiding your girls to be the wonderful woman they will grow up to be.
Cindy
Jim,
First I want it to be publicly known that I had no intention of singling out BLC as a target for gender bias. I wanted the ‘unintentional biases’ that I mentioned to be from personal experience and BLC is the only big conference that I will be participating in for two straight years.
As for suggestions, I need only look to my last post to find 5 exceptional educational leaders.
Here they are again with some more information that I personally think would make them worthy of being a keynote. Please note that I can suggest them but do not speak on their behalf and may not be aware of some topics that they may be working on that would fit even better for a keynote topic. All 5 of them can be contacted through their blogs or on Twitter.
– – – – –
* I suggested Kim last year in an e-mail to Alan, (along with Alec Couros who would also be great to get as a speaker). At the time, I also included links to two presentations she had done:
Developing the Global Student : Practical Ways to Infuse 21st Century Literacy Skills in Your Classroom and The 21st Century Educator : Embracing Web 2.0 in Your Professional Practice.
* See her bio here. Kim (and Vicki below) have worked on some amazing collaboration projects with another presenter that would be great for the conference, Julie Lindsay. Kim knew that Alan had asked me to pass along some names last year and she was thrilled with the idea of coming to BLC.
* As mentioned in the first comment on this post, above, Liz is presenting on “Equity Issues in the Edublogosphere” at Educon 2.1 this year… a topic that may be worth expanding on at BLC given this invitation for suggestions.
* Alan (and more than likely you too) knows Liz. She has been instrumental in getting Edubloggercon East to be a pre-BLC event both last year and this year. This kind of grass-roots pro-d is very empowering and would make a great Keynote topic!
* I’ve already linked to the Flat Classroom project above, but it should be noted that Thomas Friedman added this project to his updated version of The World is Flat. Be sure to also check out The Horizons Project , and Digiteen.
* I would consider Vicki Davis, Julie Lindsay and Kim Cofino three of the most innovative educators working on Global Collaboration projects that you could possibly find to keynote/present at BLC.
* I think parents are often left out of the technology conversation and yet they are often responsible for much of the hardware purchased in schools though fundraising. Heidi’s video, What I want for my children , demonstrates that we should all be partners in education.
* Heidi’s metaphorical approach to dealing with a hot topic such as Standardized Testing also shows that she has a lot to share with educators.
* I’ll share two posts with you that demonstrate just how much influence Sue has with educational bloggers: Connecting With Other Classrooms posted just 4 days ago and already with 53 comments! Also, Share your Blogging Experience with 56 comments, and as a commentor that shared links I can tell you that many educators have used this as a resource.
* Sue is an amazing connector and in her own words this is what she stands for – “practical application of technologies in education, and most importantly HELPING OTHERS learn how to use these technologies.”
– – – – –
So there you go Jim,
In my last post I said that these were some amazing educators and now it is evident that when I chose them for the list, I had done so thoughtfully and selectively. BLC would be that much better to have any one or all of these educators as either a keynote or a presenter. I’d also like to remind you that it would be advantageous for you to speak to these educators and leaders personally rather than having me speak on their behalf.
Thanks for reading, commenting and for being open to suggestions.
Dave.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful, timely and relevant post David. I have been thinking about this quite a bit over the last few years, as I have noticed many of the same things that you point out – most recently the 7 male (and one virtual female) keynotes at the Learning 2008 conference.
I also have to admit this unintentional bias comes up often in my daily working experience, mostly because I work in a male-dominated area of education and although I do know that it’s definitely unintentional, it happens, regularly. It’s definitely a reality of the world that I wish did not exist. Thank you for drawing such careful attention to it, and for starting this discussion.
I am so flattered to read your kind words about the work I’ve been doing with amazing colleagues and to be included among people who I consider to be leaders in education (regardless of gender).
Thank you.