Unpacking Gender: Men, Women, Technology and More

Describe someone, friend or stranger. The very first thing you say reveals whether they are a man or a woman. But there's so much packed into these simple designations. Gender affects how we perceive everyone around us and how we express ourselves, often in ways we don't realize. Why do your son and daughter behave differently? Why is technology dominated by men? Why are women so often caregivers? This interactive workshop will use ideas from psychology to investigate these and other gender assumptions. We'll give you tools to understand how you think about gender, along with information that puts that in greater social context. While exploring your own perceptions of men and women, you'll learn about gender schemas and identity threat. We'll discuss how we use micromessaging to communicate our thoughts about gender to other people. Whether you're a hiring manager, a parent, a technologist, or just curious, you'll learn concepts and vocabulary to help understand yourself and our society. Bring a friend, your brain, a notepad (paper or digital), and a willingness to share your experiences with the people around you.

LEVEL: Intermediate