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Does Jane Compute?: Preserving Our Daughters' Place in the Cyber Revolution

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Does Jane Compute: Preserving our Daughters Place in the Cyber Revolution by Roberta Furger is an excellent book that not only points out how little girls use the computer as opposed to boys, it also suggests what should be done in order to change the existing situation. This book is primarily directed toward the parents and teachers. Furger attempts to raise awareness of potential problems that could arise if the girls are not trained in time to use the computer. Girls are put to tremendous disadvantage in every aspect of their future lives and careers if they, as early as in elementary school, do not accept a computer as both necessary and interesting part of their lives. Today, most girls are simply not interested in computers.

The root of this problem should be sought, Furger says, at home. Parents tend to "discourage" girls from using the computer. Many girls have brothers who use the computer almost all the time thus denying their sisters the access, and parents, in most cases, do not even notice this. Furthermore, in those families who have no computer, boys always somehow "manage to figure out a way to gain access." Unlike boys who think of a computer as a toy, girls regard the computer as a tool. Also, girls are more afraid to explore; they are afraid something will go wrong if they push the wrong button.

"Girls frequently cite their mother as the most influential person in their lives," Furger writes. This is another very good point she brings out. Many girls, in their childhood, tend to identify with their mother, and what happens is, since they see their mother behind the computer only on rare occasions, when there is a specific task to be done, they develop the same approach toward the computer. Also, in schools, teachers mostly don't notice the girls' disinterest and boys' enthusiasm when the project or anything else is to be done on the computer.

Not only at home are girls presented with the picture that the computers are part of the guys' world, the computer games market is giving out the same message. Until recently, there was no games designed specifically for the girls at all.

Furger then gives a thorough analysis of a number of attempts of different schools, and other organizations throughout the country, to spark girls' interest in computers. Most of these attempts were successful and instructors realized that girls do show an interest in computers, only they are interested in different things. She also interviewed a number of girls who like to browse the Internet, who regularly participate in chat rooms, and who created their own web pages. As it turns out, girls too are eager to surf the net and create all those cool presentations on the computer, they just needed somebody to introduce them to all these things.

Overall, this is a very insightful and enlightening book. Furger recognized the potential problem that lies in the fact that the computer science is still predominantly male oriented. However, there are more and more girls who are becoming interested in computers as well and would like to pursue the career in computer science. Using simple and direct language, Furger tells us what should we do in order to prevent the stressful situations that surely await these girls if they enter the college with non-sufficient computer skills.

As a female CS major and a life-long computer person, I have to say that this book describes the struggles and confusion that I have been going through my entire life as a woman in a male domnated hobby/major/career. It offers suggestions and solutions to why there aren't very many female computer users and game players. It celebrates the girls/women that are weathering the storm and making a difference in the computer world. Very well written and throughly entertaining.

While one half of the children in the United States are encouraged to explore the technical aspect of life, the other half--young women--are led away from these activities. Does Jane Compute: Preserving Our Daughters' Place in the Cyber Revolution, written by Roberta Furger, is an extraordinary book that takes a descriptive journey into the gender inequity phenomenon surrounding girls and computers. Interviewing and observing hundreds of girls, Furger uncovers the disturbing consequence of society's rules that are unwritten, yet very powerful. At a young age, girls are subtely pushed away from computers, just as they are with math and science, while boys master and claim these subjects as their own. As Furger discovers the many obstacles that are holding these young women back, she suggests twice as many solutions for parents and the rest of society. To take a closer look into these obstacles, Ferger goes into the homes and schools of these young women. "Jane @ Home" emphasizes the gender inequity alive in homes. With 40% of today's homes equipped with computers, Furger demonstrates how boys see their PC as a "toy", while girls on the other hand view it as a "tool". Boys immerse themselves in both the hardware and software--playing popular games and tinkering. Girls use the computer for completing school work, e-mail, and occasionally games. They spend very little time on it and quickly log off. Boys are characterized as the prominent users, investing numerous hours exploring new terrain. Furger explains that these gender problems are created by what parents say or do. The child is socialized to think that, just like the VCR, the computer is a technological device that can only be operated or repaired by a father/man. "Jane @ School" illustrates male dominance in the fields of math and science--especially computer science where boys are pushed to better themselves. Furger shows this similar trend exists in the different worlds of school: "boys in action, the other of girls inaction". Additionally Furger demonstrates how these inequalities are changing. Today more and more parents and faculty are taking steps to correct it. In the homes, parents should/are instilling confidence, encouragement, and open doors into their daughters' interests. They are providing positive role models, illustrating women can be as technical as men. In schools, clubs are being organized to facilitate more confidence, computer knowledge, and experience in these young women. As Furger concludes her book, she strongly emphasizes the goal of her book--the need to answer the question, "Does Jane Compute" with a "resounding, unequivocal, enthusiastic yes".

Roberta Furger reveals the gender gap that exists between boys and girls in the area of computer technology in today's society. Several years ago the concern was regarding why boys could not read. Furger suggests that concern now needs to focus on girls and the implications of attitudes, training, and access that are given, regarding girls and computers.

Today 60% of all jobs require a basic understanding and competence in computer applications. Furger questions in her book, "Does Jane Compute," if girls are given the same opportunities to achieve the needed skills, as well as, how girls perceive their own competence. The perceptions of inadaquacies or incompetence's abound in many ways, from teachers to parents to peers to ourselves. Like science and math, girls are piushed away from technology. Computer games are based around boy interests, when problems arise at home with the computer, mothers suggest waiting for "your father to come home," and teachers ask boys to help with computer problems at school. All of these and more give the subtle messages that computers are male oriented devices.

Furger suggest that mothers and fathers encourage their daughters to pursue interests in technology. Mother need to be positive role models by showing daughters their own interests in using computers and fathers should support their daughters in their interests.

In the second part of Furger's book, "Jane @ School," emphasis is illustrated in teh need to give females access to computers, giving simple yet direct instructions on the usage of computers. She sites several schools that have worked with parents in an attempt to create an evironment conducive for female development and competency. These have proved quite successful. It has been shown that girls are anxious to explore the Internet, create web pages, and participate in chat rooms, they just need to be shown how to do it.

Where boys have traditionally been overzealous in pushing buttons and exploring and taking things apart, girls have displayed a much more conservative almost cautious approach. These issues are also part of the reason on why boys tend to be more computer savvy they their female counterparts. Girls need to know what buttons to push whereas boys are unafraid.

"Does Jane Compute?" gives a thorough examination of the gender gap between girls and boys where computing is concerned. It demonstrates the need for society to assure our females that an equitable approach will be afforded them where technolgy is concerned.

This book points out the gender differences that are among boys and girls in technology related fields. She examines male domination in the fields of mathematics and science, particularly computer science. Furger attempts to raise awareness of potential problems that could arise if the girls are not trained in time to use the computer. Furger divides the book into two sections: Jane at home and Jane at school. She describes how families focus the attention on boys when it comes to computers. The boys are the ones with computers in their rooms not the girls. Also the games available are mostly focused upon boy activities. Furger also describes how most mothers do not use the computer, and their daughters see this and think that they should not use it either. Furger states that most parents tend to discourage girls from using the computer. Most girls have brothers that are constantly using the family computer denying the girls access to the computer. In most situations the parents do not even recognize this problem. In the second part of the book Furger explains the inequalities that are placed between the boys and girls. Girls are only persuaded to use the computer as atool as where boys are persuaded to use it as a toy. Furger explains that boys are not afraid to explore where girls are. Boys will push buttons and girls will only push buttons that they know how to work because they are afrid that they will do something wrong. Parents and teachers are involved in trying to fix the gap between boys and girls dealing with computers. They are advising to use simple and direct language. Furger explains how parents are centrally locating computers in the home, managing sibling use under a more equitable arrangement and providing encouragement and role models to their daughters. Educators are encouraging female students to take the highest level math and science cources available and are also forming technology-focused clubs open to female students only. Furger believes that this combination of efforts will help prepare our daughters to compete in the future, whether at school or in a job. I thought that Roberta Furger did a great job explaining the problems that most girls have to deal with when growing up. I also thought she did a great job howparents and teachers can try to fix the gap that has formed between the boys and the girls. I was very impressed with this book and was glad I choose this one.

Roberta Furger did an excellent job at taking a descriptivejourney through the gender inequity that deals with girls andcomputers. Throughout this book, Furger points out how little girls use the computer compared to boys. She also points out the noticeable gender differences in technology related fields between boys and girls. I never thought about that, but she is right! When you look at it, boys control the fields of math and science...especially computer science. These fields are so male dominant, most females are scared to enter them. Even the ones who are computer nerds don't dare pursue these professions. They are afraid to take on technology, science, or math because it is too risky to take on. Most young girls have grown up learning about computers and technology through the subtle, and not-so-subtle, ways in which society encourages boys to pursue everything technical, while forcing girls away from everything technical. She goes on to talk about this problem in the home and in school. Today, however, these inequalities are changing. Parents are starting to instill confidence, encouragement, understanding, and giving their daughters the same opportunities as the boys. END

This book makes us aware of the gender inequalities that exist with young girls when it comes to computers ans pursuing foture careers in Computer Science. The book is seperated into two sections Jane@Home and Jane@Work. In these sections Furger shows us the ways in which girls are discouraged in the home and at school and what we can do as parents and educators to prevent this type of discrimination.

I felt this book was excellent. It opened my eyes to the different opportunities that are encouraged and avaliable to girls today. I was fortunate; I was raised in a home the Forger describes as an exception to the rule. I would like to think that times are changing with this issue considered. Both parents are working and I feel everyone is encouraged to be computer literate. Hopefully in time this gender inequality will change where computers and education are concerned.

The book "Does Jane Compute" by Roberta Furger was very interesting. I honestly never really knew that there were a lot of differences between men and women when it comes to working on the computer. The book is divided into two sections, Jane at home and Jane at school. One of the main problems that that girls deal with at home is the lack of computer time that they get. The reason is because their brothers are getting more use of the computer because in a way there is much more male oriented software on the market today. The lack of computer time at home contributes to some of the causes that girls get behind in the computerized society. There was also a comparison made of about computers from boys to girls. The comparison stated that boys were persuaded to use it as a toy where the girls were to use it as a tool to write papers and do homework. Jane at school talks about the girls not having the chance to use the computers as much as the boys because they are always on them and nobody is really teaching them how to do it. All you really have to do is show them how do a couple of times and then we will be able to have a grasp of everything. Furger also states that when girls hook up to the Internet they usually e-mail friends or sign up to the chat rooms. This book also contained interviews of girl's opinions on computers. Some of the girls talked about how they enjoy surfing the net and using chat rooms. Roberta Furger made this book easy to read by giving lots of examples and it wasn't that boring.

Today computers are a major part of our lives, but are they a major part of everyone's lives? That is the issue that is addressed in Roberta Furger's book "Does Jan Compute? Preserving Our Daughter's Place in the Cyber Revolution". In two different sections of her book Jan@Home and Jan@School, Furger explains, in great detail, the amount of gender inequity that indeed exists in our society today, and also shows what a rising problem we are now faced with. Jan@Home takes a close look at computers and their connection to a family's lifestyle. Fathers and brothers are at this moment dominating the computer usage time in the average household. Males tend to turn to the computer for many different reasons. In turn, they often end up spending a large amount of time in front of the computer. It was stated that males are more likely to access or buy computer games to play (which probably occurs because of the large number of software games produced to entertain primarily male gender audiences). Males are also the ones that are more apt to dig around on the computer and really explore. Part of this stems from the theory that males are not afraid to hit buttons, where, on the other hand females are. Males tend to have no fear of what they may find, where as females do not like to try unless they know what the outcome will be. In many instances, females within the household would use the computer more, but, the male domination is often accidentally overlooked by the supervising adults. No suggestion is made that the males that are dominating might step aside and allow time on the computer for the females. This area appears to be a big problem associated with females and their lack of computer use, but this issue is by no means the only problem area. Unfortunately, without ever meaning to, mothers tend to be very poor role models for their daughters when the issue of using the computer arises. Most mothers are not interested or do not have the knowledge to use the family computer on a regular basis, and, in turn, their daughters often fall into their footsteps. Many of the problems that occur at home are in no means intentionally discriminating females from the use of computers, but, never the less, are still very harmful. Home is not he only place that is discouraging females from using computers. School is also a major contributor. Jan@School shows us just how school even plays its part in the male dominated computer world that we are living in. Furger explains to us in her book that even in a school setting girls are being discouraged from computer-related classes and professions, while males are being encouraged to succeed in the same areas. Girls tend to only turn to computers for homework assignments and for a means of communication. Furger's book was an eye-opener. I learned very quickly that there is definitely a problem in front of us that needs to be addressed. Now, please do not get me wrong because I did not walk away from this book feeling like there were no positives or hopes for the future because there are. Furger touched on some solutions that are already being implemented in both the home and school settings to try to reach out to those oppressed females. I do feel that with the ever-changing world we live in that this issue, like many others we have faced before, is nothing but a phase. I feel that before long everyone and anyone will be on the computers, surfing the never-ending superhighway!

In Does Jane Compute?, Roberta Furger, a contributing editor for PC World, effectively points out gender inequalities in technology related fields. She examines male domination in the fields of mathematics and science, and particularly, computer science. Furger explores both the home and school environments for possible explanations. The book is organized in relation to her investigation and the findings are presented in two sections, Jane@Home and Jane@School.

Jane@Home reveals that male domination of the computer begins at an early age. Boys tend to view the computer as a toy, continually playing games and exploring. Girls, on the other hand, are generally less interested in the PC, get a proportionately smaller percentage of computer time in the home, and consider it more of a tool than a toy. They tend to use it to complete assignments for school and then promptly log-off. In addition, in terms of role models, dad typically spends more time on the computer than mom does. The family sees the computer as a technical device, like the VCR for example, which automatically suggests that the male members of the family are better equipped to both operate and repair the device as it becomes necessary.

Jane@School reveals that a similar phenomenon exists in the school environment. Faculty members generally tend to perpetuate the notion that science and math are more male oriented subjects. They are more encouraging of boys to develop computer skills and to further their education in technical fields. Boys are found to be less tentative than their female counterparts in approaching and operating the devices and typically garner a larger percentage of computer time here as well.

As awareness of this phenomenon grows, both parents and faculty members are taking steps to correct it. Furger offers many examples of their efforts. She describes how parents are centrally locating computers in the home, managing sibling use under a more equitable arrangement and providing encouragement and role models to their daughters. Educators are encouraging female students to take the highest level math and science courses available and are also forming technology-focused clubs open to female students only.

Furger believes that this combination of efforts is necessary to prepare our daughters to compete effectively for higher paying, technical jobs. In addition, she offers a broad range of suggestions and resources to assist in this effort. She effectively raises awareness and presents a convincing argument that encourages action on the part of parents and educators alike.