Risman, B. J. (2004). Gender as a social structure: Theory wrestling with activism. Gender and Society, 18(4), 429-450. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891243204265349

Gender as a Social Structure: Theory Wrestling with Activism

Gender is a social structure embedded in individual, interactional, and institutional dimensions of society.

Hamilton College

The socio-ecological framework for understanding the gender gap in computer science integrates concepts from both Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory of child development and Risman's gender structure theory.

Theoretical Foundations of the Socio-Ecological Framework for the Computer Science Gender Gap

Michell, D., Szabo, C., Falkner, K., & Szorenyi, A. (2018). Towards a socio-ecological framework to address gender inequity in computer science. Computers and Education, 126, 324-333. https://10.1016/j.compedu.2018.07.019 

Towards a Socio-Ecological Framework to Address Gender Inequity in Computer Science

There are 4 key systems influencing human development: 
- microsystem- individual, parents, teachers, peers
- mesosystem- relationships between multiple microsystems (e.g. parent-teacher differing expectations)
- exosystem- systems that affect but do not contain an individual (e.g. SES, parental employment and networks, public policy and education, the media)
- macrosystem- overarching sociocultural values and beliefs

Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory of Child Development

Risman's Gender Structure Theory

- deficits in women (lack of interest, experience, skills)
- deficits in computer science teaching (reaching female students less effectively)
- deficits in the "image" of computer science (more favorable to male students)

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