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Sept24_2013

Page history last edited by Leslie Chan 10 years, 6 months ago

IDSB10 September 24, 2013

Discourse on knowledge and ICT for development

 

Sept. 24

Google doc for this week

Discourse on knowledge and ICT for development

More on web enabled collaboration, peer production, social coordination, crowdsourcing, and what these means for development

Thompson, M. (2008). ICT and development studies: Towards development 2.0. Journal of International Development, 20(6), 821-835.

 

Submit Wikipedia news in different languages

 

Learning Objectives

To articulate the conceptual role of emerging models of network collaboration and peer production and whether these ideas bring new insights and reflections on the purpose and practice of “development” itself.

To question the development possibilities opened up by ICT. What ends are ICTs supposed to serve, and how and whether technological progress contributes to development of civil society, economic inclusion, and institution building.

 

Key Questions:

In the assigned reading for this week, Mark Thompson (2008, page 825) argues that "“Conceived as ‘Web 2.0’, a paradigm for technology-enabled social life comprising diversity, collaboration and multiple truths, ICT now poses a direct challenge to development studies itself. “

 

1. What is Web 2.0, and how is Web 2.0 different from the original web?

2. In what ways does Wikipedia exemplify Web 2.0 as depicted by Thompson?

3. How is Web 2.0 related to peer production as described by Yochai Benkler?

4. What are the key challenges and opportunities that Web 2.0 brings to debates on development? 

5. What other Web 2.0 applications for development can you identify? (Please help compile a list of examples)

 

Before the lecture on Tuesday, please make sure you read the assigned papers, and watch the following videos:

 

Required reading:

Thompson, M. (2008). ICT and development studies: Towards development 2.0. Journal of International Development, 20(6), 821-835.

Additional reading:

Smith, M., Elder, L., & Emdon, H. (2011). Open Development: A New Theory for ICT4D. Information Technologies & International Development, 7(1). 

 

Required videos:

Ineke Buskens, Project leader of GRACE (Gender Research into Information Communication Technology for Empowerment), in conversation with Leslie Chan on the gender dimensions of ICT in development. This interview was recorded during the Open Science for Development workshop in Cape Town, September 13, 2013.

(The permission to the video is set to private temporary. The password is "idsb10")

Ineke Buskens on Gender and ICT for Development from Leslie Chan on Vimeo.

 

 

Open Source Economics

Pay particular attention to what Benkler refers to as "network information economy" and "social production".

 

Additional resources:

Institution versus Collaboration

Pay attention to what Shirky meant by the "coordination problem", and how "tagging" and other simple technologies create a new kind of coordination.


 

Comments (11)

jazba.singh@... said

at 10:40 am on Sep 24, 2013

Although I felt as though Ineke Buskens outlook on change and development of the female gender especially in respect to ICT was critical. I enjoy that her standpoint to progress begins with inner reflection of where we stand as individuals in our surroundings and the sensitivity of approaching a development issue without making the receiving party and a disadvantage or a limitation due to their predicament. From the interview i took the idea of analyzing myself in the perspective of the situation and then beginning with myself and then others.
As I was told this summer by the pioneer of plastic recycling in Goa and Maharashtra : " Don't attempt cleaning someone else's house, when the floors of yours are dirty"

Charmaine Ramirez said

at 10:04 am on Sep 26, 2013

Ineke Buskens brought up some very interesting points about the role of gender in ICT for development. It's clear that in every aspect of development, gender plays an important role. I liked the idea she brought up of "challenging to research in your own context". From this I learned that it is important that we take a step back and examine ourselves in our own culture and our own means of empowerment given our respective situations.

Ineke Buskens also brought up the stereotypical idea of women's in science and technology. Even today (to be honest), I still often assume that technology is a male dominated sector. Professor Chan's question stood out to me as well, "Does the design of technology have an impact on the way we see technology being infused?"

I'd like to hear some of your thoughts on this.

Daniela said

at 6:01 pm on Sep 26, 2013

I definitely think that technology in general is largely male dominated world wide. I actually just saw a comment on Facebook the other day about how few women are in computer science programs at UTSC and I think that says a lot about how ICT is another area of life that allows society to project traditional gender roles. The way we think about technology seems to be painting men as the trailblazers, which is an attitude that is making it difficult for women to make a mark. I'm trying to think of any women whose names spring up with the same technological status as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates and none are coming to mind at all. And this is in North American society where we presume women to be relatively equal to our male counterparts. In societies in the Global South where in many cases, the status of women is even more inequitable, Ineke Buskens work of connecting people to discourses on gender and technology become even more important because this is such a quickly evolving industry that women, should they be empowered and choose to take an active role in it, would have ample opportunity to make significant change in how ICT is used worldwide, and inevitably for shaping development. If ICT is to be used in this manner than I think gender is hugely important for the successes of ICT for development to be equitable for all genders.

Leslie Chan said

at 10:44 am on Sep 27, 2013

Relevant to our discussion here on gender and ICT. The UN Broadband Commission releases first global report on ‘broadband and gender’: 200 million fewer women online
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2013/09/21/un-broadband-commission-releases-first-global-report-on-broadband-and-gender-200-million-fewer-women-online/

Stephen Bloom said

at 10:56 am on Sep 27, 2013

Buskens premise that gender neutral ICT policy will inherently benefit the powerful has such a connection to international development studies’ critical analysis. Gender and Development demonstrated that you can’t just integrate people with marginalized roles into current structures and expect oppressive relations to disappear. It seems this practice is playing out in the IT world, demonstrating the need for greater gender participation from the bottom up. It will be interesting to see what ICT space will look like as gender becomes more centralised. Buskens ideas about “personal choice”, gender and ICT reminded me of Sheryl Sandberg’s (COO of Facebook) book Lean In. While her perspectives are very much unique to her own identity (read: privileged), Sandberg addresses issues regarding gender and equality in the workforce, and how she navigated her personal experiences. Sandberg’s attention to expectations, both internally and externally, demonstrate the complexity of gender relations that Buskens highlights.

Jennifer Trinder said

at 7:33 pm on Sep 28, 2013

My comment: I like that she explains that the social human experience is replicated in ICT. Many people assume that technology is neutral, after all how can a machine (designed to help humanity) be bias against women? It has no hostility; it is only wires, metals and plastics. But ICT is not made in a cultural vacuum, and thus we should not expect them to be inherently neutral.

When she commented that ICT has transformed the way that humans think, it gives a serious reflection of how powerful it is. Moreover, this transformative power could help to change the entrenched gender bias that has become replicated in ICT. But this implicates a further question: how do can we ‘mainstream’ gender in ICT4D if the majority of producers are gender blind?

Hannah Song said

at 8:44 pm on Sep 28, 2013

I was thrown aback when Ineke Buskens has mentioned the gender inequality that lies within ICT; this is something that is maybe so obvious, yet I believe it is disguised and mislead as an objective figure that may bring controversy on being gender neutral. Also, it gives me a chance to think about whether or not the design of technology has an impact on the gender inequality. Another thought that has came to my mind is that even in the environment that we live in (developed world), we face lacking acknowledgement in women's work on ICT compared to men's, which might discourage women to get involved in the sector. But that does not tell us that this pattern will apply the same way to the Global South with the recent introduction on technology. I hope that through Ineke's projects in Africa and Middle East as well as many others that are currently out there, the pattern for development will prove itself to be non-linear by showing empowerment of women in ICT from the get-go.

ericlee1992@... said

at 8:49 pm on Sep 28, 2013

I believe the issue that Buskens brought up about how ICT is a very young and rising sector in the case of International Development. It is very true for me that I never thought about the sector of ICT when thinking about development but it is also true that ICT will be a critical point for development as well. I don't want to be feminist or stereotypical but I think that when it comes to any new technology or research sectors, men are the ones who are more noted for their work rather than women. It is true that there are phenomenal women researchers who have contributed so much for international development but I agree with Buskens when she mentions that it is a "delicate process." When I think about it, there is, not as much as before, the bias that men are better than women. Yes, we are equal; yes, both genders have the capacity to reach beyond themselves, but due to our history, people still unconsciously think men are better even when there are great female contributors. I think that this is an issue with attitude rather than an issue with ability. This makes is more difficult for women to proudly come forth with their ideas due to the issue of feminism.

I think that if we take a step back and look at it from a non-bias perspective, we would have more female contributors and users of the web and there may be more ideas flowing around. Some might be bad but there is also the case that it could be an idea that no man could think of.

Leslie Chan said

at 12:30 pm on Sep 30, 2013

Thank you to all who provided comments to the Busken video on gender and ICT. I would like to see more feedback. You don't have to agree with her of course!

I am also looking for a volunteer (or two) to summarize the comments posted so far and draw out some common themes(s). Any volunteers?

Chantel Cole said

at 8:24 pm on Sep 30, 2013

For one, I really appreciated her question asking us to think about "why we are studying (or struggling to) study International Development". Simple question yet so complex at the same time. Myself being in second year, I have come to notice how easy it is to get lost in the world of IDS due to it's ambiguous and difficult nature and the fact that a year later than first coming into this program, it has become even harder for me to describe what International Development is whenever I am asked. It is important to reflect and go back to why we have all decided to dedictaed our future's to development work.

In respect to what Busken talked to on ICT- I was aware that technology is largely male dominated however I didn't really think of the extent of this. Just sitting here trying to brainstorm at least one female who is known for some sort of technological/ICT advancement has me completely stumped. Of course, I am sure there are women who have contributed to the field but it is not something that is widely discussed.

yalini.ilangeswaran@... said

at 1:30 am on Oct 1, 2013

I like how she mentioned personal change (micro change) which leads to social change when discussing gender inequality in ICT . It makes me think about the culture i am in and where i stand in terms of technology. She is absolutely right saying when you become empowered then you will change the environment you are in. I think this is all it takes as the very first to change the norm that technology is not for women.

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