Women's Ways of Knowing in Information Technology Specialties at a Community College

Historically, very limited studies have focused on information technology (IT) programs in community colleges, let alone of women's participation in them. In light of the growing national debate on the need to increase female participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), this study closely examines women's involvement in IT in higher education. This study builds on Belenky et al's study of women's five ways of knowing (silent knowing, subjective knowing, received knowing, procedural knowing, and constructed knowing) in the social sciences and humanities. Through analysis of women's IT pursuits at a community college, this study provides evidence not only for the five existing ways of knowing found in Belenky et al's study but also for a new way of knowing exclusive to IT: logistical knowing.