Chapter: Gender and Computer Ethics

Quote:

Secondly, feminist ethics brings a direct consideration of questions of power that are so often absent in traditional ethical theories. Utilitarianism argues for the greatest good for the greatest numer. But who is to decide whether one good is better that another? We do not all hae an equal say. Tnog (1993) argues that is it powerful groups, usually hite professional men, who are the decision makers in contemporary cost-benefit analysis. Questions of power are oftendisguised but they are crucial to the ethical decision making process. For instancve, it was noted above that in the empirical studies discussed., there is a disguised power relation between the uniersity teachers undertaking the surveys and the students who take part. This suggests that a study of problems relating to internet pornography and cyberstalking in terms of gender ethics might prove instructive. Issues power must be rendered visible to make these and other areas.

What I expect to learn:

To be aware how gender really contributes to computer ethics.

Review:

Honestly I was shocked when I read the first few parts of this chapter. I didn’t really consider gender as an issue when it to the topic of computer ethics because in all I’ve been through so far, academically, I haven’t felt as though I was deprived of anything such as freedom, autonomy, whatsoever that has something to do with me, being a girl.

I remeber a funny incident that my professor told us in one of our classes. He said that in his workplace, the men and women are separated in a way that men have different and a very particular job which is not for women and as I remember, he specifically told us that once you take the job where women are mostly assigned to means you’re gay or something. I know right? Isn’t it weird how men often consider themselves more capable than women?

What I learned:

·         Gender and Computer Ethics – Barriers and Pipelines

·         Gender and Computer Ethics – Men’s and Women’s Moral Decision Making

·         Critique of Gender and Computer Ethics Studies

o    Student Population

o    Quatitative vs Qualitative Methodology

o    Ethical Decision vs Ethical Processes

o    Lack of Theory

·         Plea for Feminisy Ethics

Integrative Questions:

1.    Why is gender included as a computer ethics issue?

2.    What do you mean by “Men and Women’s Moral decision”?

3.    Define how student population affects computer ethics.

4.    Define how quantitative methodology affects computer ethics.

5.    Define how qualitative methodology affects computer ethics.