Though all of the pieces pulled my eyes open to the narratives of women and technology, Takayoshi’s piece was especially gripping. Actually, it was saddening. I immerse myself in the scientific side when it comes to my research, with my metaphorical lab coat, glasses, and gloves because I’m often told these “feelings” don’t matter. You can’t generalize feelings. And yet, I wonder why not when narrative after narrative after narrative suggests otherwise.

“This cultural sign communicates a well known story – neighborhood boys building a secret club, maybe in a tree house and refusing membership to little sisters and other girls.”

If you pause and reflect on experiences, experiences that are valid and worth being noted in research, you’ll notice the patterns speak truth: Every little girl has been told no – you can’t do that because you’re a girl. Maybe the no was subtle, maybe the no was overt, but the volume of the no doesn’t take away from the impact of it, the ripples that will later well up into waves of insecurity and self-doubt.

“These young women’s activities and experiences with the World Wide Wb clarify the negotiations young women make in gendered terrains and suggest areas for further research on the relationship between women and technology.”

How many times have I looked to a male colleague to fix something related to my laptop, to teach me how to do what he can do (to do it for me), because I simply thought I couldn’t. I want to do X,Y,Z, but that involves too much technology – the smart side of technology. Or I observe my male students taking over a project that involves building a website while making the girls do the writing, because writing is feelings and technology is building.

“Including girls’ voices in the professional scholarship introduces perspectives that might otherwise be ignored or not understood.”

Ah. Scholarship. In an attempt to break away from the cement blocks of assimilation, I notice that most of my field is dominated by men. Narrative is less appealing because narrative is feeling. Men don’t narrate; therefore, scholarship shouldn’t either.

“Women in this culture know too well how worn down one can feel repeatedly fighting oppression over time”

…self explanatory.