Damiano Mastrandrea

SOC2401

New York City College of Technology

May 20th, 2015
No to Digital Divide

Virginia Eubanks states that her book is not a book about the digital divide. In this, she
means that the technologies have and have not dichotomy is weak. The term digital divide
does not address the true complexities of these two halves, nor does it tackle the variables that
alter a persons subjective definition. Eubanks rejects the standard characterization of this term;
listing additional ways society should address the true multi-part divide. In many of these issues,
the peoples minds are too closed to understanding the true problem with technology distribution
and does not adapt as the world does. Men and woman have determined that technology is the
future, however women are held at a barrier that links together with poverty.
Eubanks first discusses the distribution of technology across the general populace. The
current process is a supposedly fair and equal system. However, the arrangement is more about
having equal opportunity of access without taking into account a persons social context or
status. It is suggested by the author to restructure the distribution process by including the
audience affected in the decision making process. This continues the point that the world is not
comprised of people who have technology and those that do not. Circumstance can make all the
difference, because the items can be available, but without the funds and resources they remain
unattainable for people who want or need them. This leads into the aspect of gender, which
prevents some women that are part of the technology revolution from fully experiencing science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The quoted boys club hinders
womens approach to entering these popular areas.
Women across history have always had to break into areas dominated by men. There are
more technology divisions than the previous described divide. Technical skills, digital literacy,

creating an online presence are all types of different programs that fall into a category based on
required need. Being digital citizens, people become proficient in the types of software that can
ameliorate their standing within their lives, whether in a work or personal atmosphere. As
discussed by Eubanks, technology is not simply a set of items; it is also the usage of these
artifacts that we as a society title technology. E-commerce has become an integral part of
business, because it is easier, quick, and efficient. CEO of 72Lux, Heather Marie, built upon this
technology creating a platform to easily conduct online transactions. This is a prime example of a
woman identifying a need, developing a technological solution, and using it to optimize a
specific sector of business. Women that are part of the social movement to bring women into
technological fields are increasing.
Methodology, as Eubanks explains, is an important part of her book. From a personal
interpretation, it appears that developers of technology usually assume that new partakers should
already have the skills necessary to handle the latest advances. Eubanks suggests, once again, a
collaborative focus that allows people such as women with limited skills to give input into
understanding and developing these things. I firmly believe that education as a whole, when
geared towards technology, can also inspire interest and a drive to learn, explore, and pursue this
turf with women in mind. In fact, the Girls Who Code non-profit organization is one of the
many recent initiatives started by women to bridge the gender gap in technical careers. The
organization immerses girls into various areas of technology. This includes robotics; web design,
application development, and engineering to help them become acquainted with the digital age.
Virgina Eubanks book Digital Dead End: Fighting For Social Justice In The
Information Age is not about the Digital Divide. Instead her work is about the stunted areas of
the information technology industry in relation to womens exclusion from it. As Virginia

Eubanks castoffs the term digital divide she provides practical criticism on some of the most
popular issues alongside possible solutions. Through prevalent technologies she wishes to
educate and inspire women into bringing social change, such as participating in educational
events, simulating real exercises with practical technologies, and collaboratively developing the
future. From what I gather, Eubanks and similar activists have a ways to go, but have taken the
steps to creating an equal technological society between the complex relationships of people and
their machines.