In Search for Gender awareness in Technology Education

Abstract: This thesis consists of two essays and an introduction. The main theme is gender awareness in technology education and the theoretical standpoint is gender theory.The first essay examines the subject of technology in compulsory school, scrutinizes the status of gender awareness in technology education and what methods are used to break gender boundaries. By observations, interviews and questionnaire pupils’, teachers’ and school leaders’ apprehensions of technology and technology education are examined. The gender issue is known to everyone, but awareness in strategies and education methods is rather deficient. The already rather invisible subject of technology, lack of qualifications among teachers, material and methods obstructs gender awareness. To make changes the school leader has a key position.The second essay considers gender oriental recruitment actions for increasing the number of female students in higher technology education. The actions have been governmental, from the profession and from local schools. By literature studies actions are mapped and organized according to their physical and structural arena. Five arenas have been identified: square, mass, entrance, class room and board room. Actions at public arenas aimed to increase interest and change attitudes dominate. Structural actions, preferably initiated from the government, have been tried, often with good results. These actions challenge the power system at the board room and class room and are therefore met with resistance.