Teaching Gender Inclusive Computer Ethics

Abstract

Computer ethics as a subject area is finally being debated in wider computer science and information technology academic circles. In most computer science departments the syllabus is based on publications often written specifically to deliver courses. These texts select and prioritize those computer ethics topics seen by the professional bodies as the most important for a computer professional. Much rarer are courses which analyse questions of access and social exclusion, disability, global and green issues. What has not yet been included in any systematic or conscientious way in the computer ethics syllabi are the questions of gender and associated ethical issues. Most students and staff are still not aware that all computing and ICT related areas are innately gendered and that a cohesive body of research material is available in the form of feminist or gender research in conference papers, proceedings and book publications. This article analyses the progress of inclusion of gender in computer ethics and argues that the inclusion of gender issues in computer science curriculum must be accommodated. The article outlines how gender issues can be applied to individual computing disciplines in appropriate forms relevant across the spectrum of students.