March 04, 2014

Recline Vs. “Leaning In” Meaning for STEM Education & Careers?

What: Twitter Chat Moderator for Big Beacon #bigbeacon

When: March 5, 2014 at 8pm EST

Where: Follow us on Twitter @myhealthimpact and Dr. Payton's personal Twitter account @drfayonline.

See myhealthimpactnetwork.org on the web and follow on Twitter @myhealthimpact.  Follow Dr. Payton at her personal Twitter account @drfayonline.

Facebook Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg, has offered one perspective to address question of inclusive of women in the workplace.  Her book, Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead, speaks to family life and work balance.  I am still unsure about the term “balance”.  Rather, I see the notion as one of “integration” informed and/or influenced by intersectional dimensions of race, gender, class, first-generation, sexual orientation, etc. Yet, Lean In, also speaks to the need for women to take charge of their careers and push forward despite the “isms” that can and do exist.  If you need a brief summary of the book, see this Lean In blogspot.

Many have found Sandberg’s call as placing the burden of change on women, speaking to the privileged and failure to recognize the nuisances’ women of color in the discourse. As Rosa Brooks of The Washington Post stated in her February 25, 2014 article, Sandberg connects to those with the resources to navigate, as she says, “all this Leaning In”.  Brooks suggests that women should “recline” instead.

In STEM, I am interested to learn how can Lean In impact the education and career trajectories of those doing the leaning.  If the text is indeed focused on women, what are the roles of men in the workplace, both academic and industry?  This Twitter Chat links to the Big Beacon Manifesto: “The whole new engineer is authentically connected to with others”. Further, the manifesto encourages engineering education to embrace young people as whole-bodied and whole-brained individuals.  The status quo will not go easily, but go it must.”

Questions to consider for the Twitter Chat that makes for an interesting discussion:

1. How do you view the “Lean In” concept?
2. How have you encouraged underrepresented and female students to “Lean In”?
3. How is STEM different that other fields, and how can this impact STEM educational leadership views of those who “Lean In”?
4. What biases (if any) result when women and underrepresented minorities “Lean In”?
5. What are the potential penalties and rewards of leaning in for women, women of color and underrepresented groups?
6. How can STEM education and the workplace better foster a “Lean In” approach?
7. How can this concept be use to foster and support STEM leadership roles among women and underrepresented groups?
8. What are your thoughts on “reclining”?

Share

Comments

comments powered by Disqus