Purdue Women in HPC hosts workshop on gender stereotypes, bias
Purdue’s Women in High-Performance Computing (WHPC) group, which is part of a broader engagement initiative by the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing (RCAC) and led by RCAC staff members Katy Gunderson and Amanda Hassenplug, hosted a workshop on Feb. 9 about the “default male” phenomenon and the pervasive influence of gender stereotypes based on the book “Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men” by Caroline Criado Perez.
The event featured presentations from four Purdue faculty members, followed by an audience question and answer session.
- Allison S. Gabriel, Thomas J. Howatt Chair in Management and faculty director of the Purdue Center for Working Well, presented “Understanding Working Women’s Lives: An Exploration of Hidden Challenges of Postpartum in Organizations.”
- Jennifer Kaufmann-Buhler, associate professor of design history, presented “Sexism by Design” about the history of sexism in design practice particularly as it relates to office design.
- Christopher Munt, senior director, Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, and lecturer, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, presented “Bias and the Gender Binary: How Limited Thinking about Sex/Gender Reinforces Unconscious Social Bias.”
- Barbara Young, assistant professor of interior design in the Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Design Art and Performance, presented “Participation, Inclusion and Human Understanding: Feminist Practices of Interior Design.”
“I came to the workshop because I’d previously read the book ‘Invisible Women,’ so I thought it would be interesting to hear other people’s interpretations of it. Each of the presenters sparked a new and instructive conversation about the challenges of a world built around one single default identity, and the struggles of people who don’t have access to that default,” said George Lyle, IT security risk analyst.
“Attending the Purdue WHPC workshop was an enlightening experience that broadened my perspective on the nuances of gender in both professional and personal spheres,” added Sruthi Dasika, a doctoral degree student in environmental and ecological engineering.
“This workshop not only deepened my understanding of the complexities surrounding gender but also equipped me with a more nuanced perspective to apply in my teaching profession. The conversations and insights gained will undoubtedly influence my approach to inclusivity and diversity in both my professional and personal life.”
“This workshop provided insights into the multifaceted aspects of gender dynamics, by exploring the intricate intersections of gender in everyday contexts. I'm glad I was able to attend it and become a part of the conversation on gender bias with like-minded individuals,” said Anjali Bhati, a master’s degree student in computer graphics technology.
Purdue WHPC is led by women staffers affiliated with RCAC. WHPC is a diverse community encompassing undergraduate, graduate, staff and faculty men and women who are interested in exposing women to high-performance computing and encouraging their pursuit of research and careers in HPC and other technology fields.
Purdue WHPC organizes a range of activities including a scholarship program that supports travel for women students to industry conferences, regular meetings to discuss technical HPC-related issues of interest, opportunities to network with the WHPC community, a mentorship program, workshops, and exposure to external resources and opportunities.
To learn more about Purdue Women in HPC or be added to the mailing list, contact whpcinfo@lists.purdue.edu.