Women, whose work in philosophy, science, and politics has been neglected or marginalized in history textbooks and curriculum framework, made change-producing discoveries and advances during the Enlightenment and in every era since. However, still in today's digital age, the most well-known figures are men: Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg.
Rarely do elementary, middle, or high school students learn about women like Margaret Hamilton, who wrote the software for the 1969 Apollo Landing and invented the term "software engineer"; Annie Easley, a Black rocket scientist whose work set the stage for space shuttle launches; Radia Perlman, the "mother of the Internet" who invented an algorithm for organizing and moving data; and many more women technology trailblazers.
Indeed, there is a lack of diversity in STEM fields in general. Just 3% of STEM workers are Native American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander or people who identify with 2 or more racial groups. Women earn more than half the bachelor's degree in health and life sciences, but far fewer in engineering and computer science (Pew Research Center, April 14, 2021).
Video \(\PageIndex{1}\): Video accompanying activities for Building Democracy for All: Topic 1, Standard 3. Uploaded by Umass Democracy for All. YouTube source: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEIYO9Ujdds.
Nor do students learn about the long history of women trailblazers and change makers in math, science and technology fields. How many of the following women did you learn about in school?
Our knowledge of recent history does not tell the story of women and computer science. To learn more, listen to the podcast, When Women Stopped Coding from NPR's Planet Money (October 17, 2014).
In the following activities, you will explore the accomplishments of 21st century women innovators in the media and think about how to encourage more girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Activity 1: Locate Women in STEM in the Media
- Search online and in print media for stories about women STEM innovators, then answer the following questions in a video, podcast, or paper:
- How easy or difficult is it to find examples of women's accomplishments in STEM fields?
- How are women STEM innovators portrayed in the media? How does this compare to the way male STEM innovators are portrayed in the media?
- Why do you think many young girls choose not to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, or math?
- What life would be like today without the 13 Famous Women Who Changed Tech History Forever?
Photo of a woman coder by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash, free to use
Activity 2: Increase the Participation of Girls in STEM
- Write a proposal for how your school can increase opportunities for success for girls in STEM.
- Include changes in curriculum and courses that are needed to support girls in STEM
- Include changes in school culture and climate that are needed to support girls in STEM.
- Create a social media campaign to spread awareness about your proposal.
- The social media campaign should include at least 2 videos (e.g., formatted for YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok), 5 example posts, and 3 images (e.g., memes, graphics, infographics) designed by you.
- Here is a social media campaign example created by Justin Lo, Daniel Mulno, and David Warde and here is a Twitter campaign example by Sara Shea.
- Consider using the Made to Stick principles or TED Talk presentation techniques to increase the appeal of your social media campaign.
Activity 3: Analyze the Portrayals of Women in Science and Politics, Then and Now
- Conduct Internet research to examine how women thinkers from the Enlightenment era are currently presented on websites and in various media (e.g., YouTube videos, TikToks).
- How easy or difficult is it to find examples of women Enlightenment thinkers? What does this say about how women Enlightenment thinkers were perceived at the time?
- Next, explore how influential women in science and politics are presented in the media and online today. What are the similarities and differences between the portrayals of women Enlightenment thinkers and women in science and politics today?
- To wrap up, create a TikTok dance about a woman Enlightenment thinker to educate viewers about their impact on present-day society.
Additional Resources
Connecting to the Standards
- Massachusetts Civics & Government Standards
- Explain the influence of Enlightenment thinkers on the American Revolution and the framework of American government (Massachusetts Curriculum Framework for History and Social Studies) [8.T1.3]
- ISTE Standards
- Knowledge Constructor
- 3a: Students plan and employ effective research strategies to locate information and other resources for their intellectual or creative pursuits.
- 3b: Students evaluate the accuracy, perspective, credibility and relevance of information, media, data, or other resources.
- 3d: Students build knowledge by actively exploring real-world issues and problems, developing ideas and theories and pursuing answers and solutions.
- Creative Communicator
- 6b: Students create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.
- 6d: Students publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for the intended audiences.
- DLCS Standards
- Interpersonal and Societal Impact (CAS.c)
- Digital Tools (DTC.a)
- Collaboration and Communication (DTC.b)
- Research (DTC.c)
- English Language Arts > History/Social Studies Common Core Standards
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.6
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.7
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.6
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.9
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.6
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.7
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.8
- English/Language Arts Common Core Standards
