The Handbook of Information and Computer Ethics

Book Review Chapter 25:

The Gender Agenda in Computer Ethics: ALISON ADAM

Library Reference: N/A

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Information-Computer-Ethics/dp/0471799599/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232853902&sr=8-1

Quote:  “Wollstonecraft – A Vindication of the Rights of Women in the eighteenth century”

    This is actually a right of women during that time, in which they have disused the rights of women, because as we all know, though we are the same kind of species, men differ from women in many ways. Not just physically but also mentally and their personalities. So, I think it was appropriate to have a women’s right.

Learning Expectation:

    I have no idea what relation ethics or computers have with gender. As we all know it, there are people who have gender issues and some maybe mad or disappointed or even disgusted by them and some are okay with them. I don’t really see the point or what relation gender has to do with ethics and so, that’s what I want to know.

Review:

    Basically, this chapter will be talking about gender. I do not know why, but it has something to do with ethics and computers, which I can’t seem to see the clear picture of it. As you read through the first few pages, the chapter talks about gender. There are discussions about gender in general and also discussion on specific or particular things.  Interestingly, the chapter disuses whether computer and ethics is actually a male-female binary, or either one? It is also interesting to take note of the Feminist Ethics, which grew out of long-running debates about the special nature of women’s morality that date from at least the time of Wollstonescraft’s, which is a vindication of rights of women in the eighteenth century.

What I’ve learned:

    I have interestingly learned that no one pays attention to gender. Not of the regular gender issues but rather what gender is also to other things and factors, just like computers and ethics. I have discovered that there is this so-called feminist ethics in which things are dedicated to or for women. I have also learned that gender needs to receive a thoroughgoing treatment within computer ethics by considering gender issues that are involved in computer ethics.

Questions:

1.    How would it change computer ethics?

2.    Is it really necessary to pay more attention to gender?

3.    Will it make a big improvement in computing?

4.    What’s wrong with the male?

5.    Why is the focus on females?

Citation: (Kenneth Einar E. Himma & Herman T. Tavani, 2008)