I believe it often serves as an extension of the self , and an extension and reflection of the society it operates in. I work at the computing department at the University of British Columbia, in the area of technical support. Despite what I think are sincere attempts to hire more women, it remains a department of primarily men. Based on my observations and experiences working there, I assert that it is similar to the rest of the computer industry in that it is very much enshrined in the masculine computer culture. It seems to me that the construction of gender in my workplace can be examined on virtually every level, from the hierarchical, authoritarian culture of UBC, to the individual exchanges between employees.
Every encounter is rich with meaning.
The second is how the computer itself is constructed as something to be mastered, and thus is often used as a method of controlling and mastering people. Since I work in the area of technical support, a large part of my role is to translate the technical words used in the computer industry to everyday language. The entire industry is awash in technical language and jargon. It is not just restricted to specialized publications, it is everywhere. Despite the complexity of a computer, I don't believe technical jargon and terminology is always necessary.