Research Report Review Part 2- strengths and weaknesses

(Part 2 comments on the strengths and weaknesses of this article in regards to my proposal.  It will be added to the final draft of the Research Report Review.)

A Review of:  Lamont, M. (2009). Gender, Technology, and Libraries. Information Technology & Libraries, 28(3), 137-142.

This article presents an interesting viewpoint on the topic of the more social and cultural aspects surrounding the issue of the gender gap that is present between the technological sector and the rest of the library field.  It gives definitions and instances of occupational segregation and subtle sexism and outlines many of the perceptions that society holds which may contribute to the disparity.  The fact that IT is associated with masculine qualities, such as skill, hard work, and learning tends to make it, along with other traditionally "masculine" professions, offer a better salary and be better thought of.  Typical feminized occupations, on the other hand, are associated with more innate and instinctual qualities, so it tends to be seen as only semi-skilled.  The societal and organizational culture surrounding the library field could be responsible for the gender gap and the wage disparity in IT work, because as the author notes, "sometimes perception create reality" (2009, pg. 141).  The research itself is straightforward and uncomplicated, but it could benefit from a broader approach with a wider range of years of the material which is examined and a larger selection of journals to draw numbers from.  The research and occupational data take up less than half of this article, while the discussion of societal perceptions is allowed to shine.  I agree with the author's belief that an understanding of the reasons behind the gender disparity will allow us to remedy the situation.