Plan for Activism

Introduction

Click to read the summary of the 2009 Gender Gap Report and view an Interview with author, Saadia Zahidi, Head, Women Leaders Programme, World Economic Forum.

What is the gender gap? The World Economic Forum, a 36-year-old, not-for-profit organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, charges itself with determining the the gap between men's and women's economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, political empowerment, and health and survival—one way to view the "gender gap."

"The Forum has begun explicitly to incorporate aspects of gender equality in its measures of competitiveness, recognizing that the advancement of women is an important strategic issue with a potential impact on the growth of nations," states Founder Klaus Schwab in this year's report.

While their data focuses on the relative size of the gender gap, country comparisons also provide a benchmark to identify existing strengths and weaknesses in each of the 115 countries included in the report, as well as provide a guide for policy-making. We can learn from the experiences of those countries that are successful at creating equality between women and men.

It may come as no surprise that Northern European countries have closed their gap more than other countries. Sweden sits at the top and the Middle-Eastern countries are at the bottom of the Forum's list. This data, and the 152-page report, as well as your own research will help you see which countries have great needs and how you might help make improvements.

For the next 2 weeks, focus on a defining and writing a solid plan for activism to promote the development and/or use of technology to girls and women, thereby helping decrease a gender gap.

Outcomes and Activities

Brainstorm

As a result of the following activities, students will be able to envision strategies for change.

1. Choose a gap that interests you.
• Last week's readings and database work, as well as this week's readings should help you focus on an area of interest.
2. Using a new blog post, list every idea you have which may help solve the problem.
• Do not worry whether the idea will work or not; just jot down all ideas.
• Come at the problem from many perspectives.
• Ask yourself questions about the problem...who, what, when, where, how, and why?
• Take an informal survey or have conversations with others to generate new ideas.
• If you wish, use mind-map software, such as FreeMind, to help define relationships. Display this map in your blog post.
  • Save the file as .gif, .png, or .pdf.

Write a plan

As a result of the following activities, students will be able to explain why we need social changes and how to implement a plan to improve the participation of girls and women in technology development and/or use:

1. Write a complete plan for an activism activity you can begin to implement during the remaining 6 weeks (2000 words). Cover these points:
   • Statement of the problem: What is the gap being addressed and why does it exist? What social constructs exist to create and hinder progress in this area?
   • Presentation of the Data: What do statistics tell us about your gap?
   • Mission of the project, goals, and objectives: What is needed to make improvements? What outcomes do you expect? How will you measure the results to determine success? What can be completed this term and what work can continue beyond this year?
   • Key Players: Who besides yourself will be involved in this project in the short term and long term?
   • Audience: Who will your efforts effect? What are their demographics? How large is this audience?
   • Hook: How do you plan to get others excited about this project? What barriers might exist to hamper your efforts?
   • Technical requirements: What technology is needed to meet your goals? Address costs in your budget, below.
   • Educational and information requirements: Describe the materials needed to inform and educate your main audience and supporters (these materials will be generated later in the term).
   • Financial requirements: Provide a simple, general budget (the next project will require much greater detail).
   • Promotion requirements: How will you promote your project? What immediate opportunities exist of which you can take advantage?
   • Schedule: Beyond the course's schedule of assignments, what parts of your plan can continue and when would they occur?
   • Bibliography: What resources support writing of the plan?
2. To display the plan in your blog:
   • Create a main page for the Plan Introduction.
   • Create subpages for each point listed in step 1.
   • Display data in the plan using either of these methods.
   • Link to existing sources of statistics and data using the Plan blogroll category and/or embedding links.
     • Use the Basic Skills tutorial to help you.
   • Feed in data or links with RSS, XML, or JavaScript code provided by a web service.
   • Collect your own data in a spreadsheet.
     • Save it as screenshot in.gif format, a web page in .htm format, or as an Acrobat file in .pdf format.
     • Link to the files from the blog Page.
   • Use the Basic Skills tutorial to help you.
   • Scan data from printed material and save as a .gif.

Scoring Criteria (30 points)

1. Plan includes at least 2000 words covering these points (20 points):
   • Statement of the problem
   • Mission of the project, goals, and objectives
   • Key Players
   • Audience
   • Hook
   • Technical requirements
   • Educational and information requirements
   • Financial requirements
   • Promotion requirements
   • Schedule
   • Bibliography
2. Data is collected in a spreadsheet or database and displayed in the blog (10 points).

Note; points for the Brainstorm list will be assigned to the Blog column in the Gradebook, not this Plan.

Examples

Activism topics; a brainstorm

P. Van Londen, 2007.

Activism Plan for Role Models ~ Interviews of Women in Technology

Pam Van Londen. 2007.