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Open Access Knowledge and Scholarship

Date of Award

5-2005

Culminating Project Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Technology Education: M.S.

Department

Environmental and Technological Studies

College

College of Science and Engineering

First Advisor

Balsy Kasi

Second Advisor

Kurt Helgeson

Third Advisor

Jeanne Anderson

Keywords and Subject Headings

Gender inequality, technology education

Abstract

This study looks at the gender inequality in technology education. The problem is examined first by looking at careers involving technology and why the majority of people in these fields are male. After examining technical careers, colleges with degrees in technology are examined to find if females are in low numbers here. Finally, high schools around the Twin Cities metropolitan area are examined to see how many females enroll in technology education classes.

PROBLEM:

There is a lack of females enrolling in Technology Education.

FINDINGS:

Two hundred female students responded to a survey about technology education in their high school, and 63 (31.5%) of the participants had taken at least one class. There were 17 (9%) participants that had taken multiple technology education classes at the high school. The participants were asked in the survey if more females would be interested in taking technology education classes if the high school would offer an all female technology education class. 74 participants said that more females would take an all female education class. The class that would be most beneficial to have an all female class format is a class in general automobile care.

CONCLUSIONS:

There were several conclusions which were drawn as a result of the review of literature and the survey results. The responses indicated that 100% of participants that had taken a technology education class at the high school enjoyed the experience. Secondly, students who had taken a technology education class did so because they were interested in the subject. Thirdly, the survey indicated a large number of females are interested in pursuing a career in a technical field. There were 411 responses from the participants who thought it would be interesting to pursue some kind of a career in a technical field. Finally, the survey indicated that 74 (37%) of the participants believe that more females would register for technology education class if it was an all female class. Two classes offered at the Buffalo High School were selected by the participants that they believe would do well in an all female class format. The classes are Introduction to Drafting and Introduction to Woods.

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