User:Kirkma55

Dr. Mary Kirk (1955) is an American-born writer, scholar and teacher.

Gender and technology
In her 2008 book, Gender and Information Technology: Moving Beyond Access to Co-Create Global Partnership, Mary Kirk uses Riane Eisler's cultural transformation theory to offer an interdisciplinary, social systems perspective on issues of access to technology. (Eisler is best known for her international best seller The Chalice and the Blade Our History, Our Future). Gender and Information Technology explores how shifting from dominator towards partnership systems--as reflected in four primary social institutions (communication, media, education, and business)--might help us move beyond the simplistic notion of access to co-create a real digital revolution worldwide. .

The book could serve both as an interesting course text and as a great overview of the issues related to gender and technology for the general reader. It answers the question of why there aren't more women and people of color in technology and offers new perspectives on addressing these issues.

In her Foreword for the book, Riane Eisler wrote: Written with verve, compassion, and passion, Gender and Information Technology offers finely crafted tools for narrowing the digital divide that perpetuates inequality and injustice worldwide, marginalizing women and other socially disempowered groups. [Kirk] offers us a treasure trove of fascinating information that alternately enlightens, enrages, and empowers us to take an active role in creating a more just and caring future.

Dr. Carol Zander, University of Washington, said: Everyone should read Mary Kirk's background on feminism, stereotypes, the digital divide, and the dominator social institutions. She points out the fundamental, and not always obvious, ways in which women are influenced and often undermined in society and particularly in the computing field. She clearly and elegantly describes the issues and aids the reader in better understanding of what is at stake.

Dr. Arthur Tatnall, Victoria University, Australia said: The main strength of the book is that it is quite readable and does not push the ‘women’s issues’ line in such a way as to alienate male reader (as some other similar books do). . . I found this book very interesting, and that is from a male reader who has at times felt frustrated with the way this topic is handled by other authors. I like the way you include also other groups in the discussion. The book is well written and quite readable by a reader who is a non-expert in this field. Your arguments are convincing and well presented.

Dr. Lawrence A. Tomei, Robert Morris University said: The book is definitely the foremost historical chronicle of women in science and mathematics (and now information technology). If I were to explore the topic further, this text and its hundreds of references and citations would certainly be at my side during the research phase. In addition, the citations provide a comprehensive bibliography of resources on the subject of women, computing, STEM, and technology. With respect to this particular portion of the evaluation, I have no recommendations to improve this area; the breadth of the lit review is truly laudatory. . . Well done. You have constructed a very successful examination of women in computing that may become the cornerstone for future examinations in the discipline. Your text will serve as a keystone for future study. Your citations will become the bibliography for investigators who seek answers regarding females and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Professional Path
After years as a professional writer, including public information and contract technical writing at companies such as IBM, Schlumberger, and Microsoft, Kirk returned to college to complete her bachelor’s degree. In 1992, Kirk completed her bachelor's degree at Concordia Lutheran College 19 years after she began her studies which took her to Virginia Tech (1973-1975), the University of California at San Diego (1977-1980), and Austin Community College (1982). Dr. Susan Stayton, a women's literature professor at Concordia, inspired Kirk to pursue a new career as a scholar and teacher. Kirk subsequently completed a self-designed MA in Women’s Literature from the University of Illinois at Springfield (1996) and an individualized Ph.D. in Women’s Studies/Women in Computing from Union Institute & University (2000).

From 1996-2000, Kirk taught technical writing, women in computing, and ethics in computing at the University of Washington, Bothell. Since August 2000, Kirk has taught in the Individualized B.A. and women's studies programs at [Metropolitan State University] in St Paul, Minnesota.

Kirk's interdisciplinary scholarship has covered a range of topics including women’s heroic journey, feminist science studies, leadership, and teaching. She has presented panels and papers on women in science and technology at multiple conferences such as the National Women’s Studies Association annual conference and the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, as well as publishing in journals such as the NWSA Journal, NWSAction, Feminist Teacher, the Journal of Homosexuality and the Journal of Computing in Small Colleges.

Gender and Information Technology: Moving Beyond Access to Co-Create Global Partnership (2008) is her first book. She is currently working on a second book on teaching.

Links

 * Mary Kirk's web site
 * IGI Global's Gender and IT book web site
 * Metropolitan State University's web site