A Stereotype in the Making: girls and computers in primary schools

Abstract

The paper is an analysis of an investigation into the possibility that there is a gender bias among primary school teachers with respect to the use of computers in primary schools. It was found that there were indeed sex differences in both attitudes to and use of computers, but that these were relatively unrelated to sex as an independent factor. Rather, the sex differences appeared to be a by‐product of the way computers had been introduced into the schools. The situation is disturbing because the likelihood is that a stereotype linking men and computers will be reinforced in the minds of both children and teachers. It is argued that it needs dismantling and that one way to achieve this is the integration of the computer into the whole primary curriculum, across the infant and junior age ranges, by using it for topic or theme based work.