Intersectionality and LGBTQ+
WHAT IS INTERSECTIONALITY AND LGBTQ+?
When talking about equity in computer science, we often talk about groups of people who identify as one or two marginalized identities at a time. However, one marginalized identity that is often left out of the conversation is that of LGBTQ+ students.
LGBTQ+ people have been a part of CS since its inception, so why does it appear that data related to LGBTQ+ people in the field doesn’t exist? In this two part series we will examine the intersectionality of our and our students identities, the history of LGBTQ+ people in CS, LGBTQ+ 101, and ways we can create safe and supportive CS classrooms for our LGBTQ+ students. Additionally, we will offer a special event for all CS teachers to learn about how they can run a CS GSA takeover at their own schools. This will provide educators with a take away project that they can replicate and use as a way to engage the LGBTQ+ students at their own school in computer science.
How CS4All is Incorporating This Practice
Session 1:
Understanding the Intersectionality, History, and Basics of LGBTQ+ Students in CS
Session 2:
LGBTQ+ Equity, Inclusion, and Representation: Creating Safe and Supportive Classrooms for Queer Students GSA Takeover!
Who CS4All is Partnering With:
Megan Bowen, has been an educator for almost 12 years. She is currently the Director of Educational Technology and CS teacher at Salem Academy Charter School in Salem, MA. As a CSTA Equity Fellow Alum, she has worked to create more awareness around the needs of LGBTQ+ students in the CS classroom. In 2015, Megan was invited to participate in the White House LGBTQ Tech and Innovation Summit to collaborate in identifying technology and computer science needs as they relate to the LGBTQ community. Megan graduated from Grand Valley State University with a B.A. in English and Sociology, and then with a M.Ed. in Educational Technology. Her master’s thesis focused on increasing the number of women in STEM fields. Megan started out teaching middle school digital literacy in Grand Rapids Public School, where she fell in love with educating students on the power of technology. Her career has led her in several directions, she has held positions that include district wide technology integration specialist, after school STEM program manager, and even worked in the private sector as an instructional designer for a short time.
Megan has been at Salem Academy 6 years and built their CS program from the ground up. As a proud queer Mexican-American, she has experienced the impact that inequities have had on STEM fields and classrooms. Because of this she has been dedicated to using computer science as a way to create equity in all spaces, especially the outdoors. Megan has specialized in integrating CS and the outdoors in unique and innovative ways that provide students of color with safe spaces to explore outdoor activities that they might not normally have access to. Megan was recently featured in EdWeek and on Code.org for this work that she has been doing. She has also worked in collaboration with Jane Margolis, Jean Ryoo, and other CSTA Equity Fellows to create teacher resources for the CS graphic novel “Power On!” and in July she will begin serving a three year term on the ACM Education Advisory Council. Additionally, she runs several after school activities for students including makerspace, robotics club and team, CS Honor Society, and S.A.G.A (Sexuality and Gender Alliance).
Resources
These 3 latina teachers are pushing the boundaries of computer science class.
EdWeek article featuring the work that Megan is doing in the classroom.
LGBTQ History Month: An Informal Exploration on the History of LGBTQ CS Education
Blog post written by Megan about the history of LGBTQ+ history in CS education and the gap in data.
Hacking in to Get Out: CS as a Vehicle for Equity in Outdoor Spaces
Blog post on Megan’s model for integrating CS and the Outdoors.
Creating Equitable Learning and Engagement with CSTA Equity Fellow Megan Bowen
A brief interview with Megan and her perspective on equity in CS.
Key Terms
What are the key terms within this pedagogy?
INTERSECTIONALITY: The complex, cumulative way in which the effects of multiple forms of discrimination (such as racism, sexism, and classism) combine, overlap, or intersect especially in the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups
QUEER: An umbrella term that is inclusve of all LGBTQ+ identities.
LESBIAN: Women who are primarily attracted to other women.
GAY: Traditionally used to refer to men who are attracted to other men. In-group use with any gender.
BISEXUAL: A person who experiences attraction to some men and women.
ASEXUAL: Experiencing little or no sexual attraction
PANSEXUAL: A person who experiences attraction for members of all gender identities/expressions.
INTERSEX: Term for a combination of chromosomes, gonads, hormones, internal sex organs, and genitals that differs from the two expected patterns of male or female.
TRANSGENDER: A term used to describe someone whose gender identity differs from the sex they were asigned at birth.
NONBINARY: A term used to describe someone whose gender identity cannot be defined by the gender binary system
CISGENDER: A gender description for when someone’s sex assigned at birth and gender identity correspond in the expected way
HETEROSEXUAL: Someone who is attracted to the opposite gender.
