Metropolitan State professor writes book on digital divide

The explosion in information technology has triggered a concurrent boom in access to digital information globally. At least that’s evident for most white males. But that’s not been so apparent for women and people of color.

Why that gap occurs and what can be done about it are at the heart of a new book written by Mary Kirk, Ph.D., Metropolitan State University First College associate professor in Individualized, Interdisciplinary and Lifelong Learning. Her recently released book (IGI Global, Hershey, Penn.) is titled “Gender and Information Technology: Moving Beyond Access to Co-Create Global Partnership.”

Kirk notes that the digital revolution is sparking a major cultural shift. But since women and people of color remain underrepresented as technology developers, users and beneficiaries, they have less say in the direction of that shift.

“As I have learned more and watched the growth of information technology globally, I became increasingly concerned about the gap between the haves and have-nots worldwide,” said Kirk, whose doctoral studies focused on women and computing.

“Technology has the potential to close those gaps or contribute to widening them. I wrote this book with the hope of contributing to the former.”

People interested in learning more about Kirk’s book can contact her at mary.kirk@metrostate.edu or 651-793-1781.