Well here we are again doing another Journal entry!
I can't even begin to describe how saddened I am about the fact that not many suprises have come up specific to my research question. I thought that my topic, while I knew a lot about it, would have sent me on different research avenues - but no, nothing.
I think if I had to really nail down things I would tell you that learning more about cultural differences and how they drive the way success is measured for both men and women. The history and the family dynamics that drive how decisions are made, how structure dictates everything that happens within a community and etc.
I have a wonderful family life and a cheerleader of a husband who loves that I have succeeded at my career, that I make a good wage even if it is more than him, and that I have a will and a want to do more that I already have. I don't see a glass celing, I don't see any limitations - I just see an amazing future for me and am glad that my husband is on board for whatever and whereever we go from here.
But, it isn't like that everywhere - and it is painful to read about it and talk about it none the less so I always enjoy reading about horrific situations that happen around the world because it not only drives me to do more and prove the world wrong; but it also reminds me how lucky I am to be in the family dynamic that I am. I can't imagine not having the unlimited support that I do.
Till Next Week,
Meg Palmer
Friday, May 29, 2015
Week 8 PR
This week has been the greatest week yet!! I love the weeks where everything comes together and you start seeing you hard work turn in to something amazing. I told myself that buy the end of the weekend that I would have the FINAL FINAL rough draft completed and I would be well on my way to getting done with the end of the quarter.
According to my inital plan for this week, I should be completed and making sure that my paper and presentation align wtih each other. There will be additional detail in the presentation because of additional time allowed to me to discuss the topic with those listening. I do think however that I am right on track even tho being not as 100% as completed as I wanted.
My Issues: The only issue that I am having right now is cutting my content down and ensuring that my paper isn't going to be 40 pages long and the presentation isnt going to be 4 hours long. I tend to get excited about topics and go on and on about them.
Progress: I think the only thing that hindered my progress this week were personal and work issues. Not only did we have a 3 day weekend but we also expierenced a death in our family along with multiple work events that took my attenion away. However, I should be ready to soon submit my draft to the writting center - even tho I am confident that everything is good.
What I Am Doing Next: For this week and moving forward I am going to continue to get my rough draft and presentation going. Also, I need to work on what I am going to do for publication at the end of the quarter - and that is a whole different issue at the end of the day. I think that I am going to look in to seeing if some of the web friends that I have out there with professional websites would want to publish my stuff. Have a lot of thinking to do on that one!
According to my inital plan for this week, I should be completed and making sure that my paper and presentation align wtih each other. There will be additional detail in the presentation because of additional time allowed to me to discuss the topic with those listening. I do think however that I am right on track even tho being not as 100% as completed as I wanted.
My Issues: The only issue that I am having right now is cutting my content down and ensuring that my paper isn't going to be 40 pages long and the presentation isnt going to be 4 hours long. I tend to get excited about topics and go on and on about them.
Progress: I think the only thing that hindered my progress this week were personal and work issues. Not only did we have a 3 day weekend but we also expierenced a death in our family along with multiple work events that took my attenion away. However, I should be ready to soon submit my draft to the writting center - even tho I am confident that everything is good.
What I Am Doing Next: For this week and moving forward I am going to continue to get my rough draft and presentation going. Also, I need to work on what I am going to do for publication at the end of the quarter - and that is a whole different issue at the end of the day. I think that I am going to look in to seeing if some of the web friends that I have out there with professional websites would want to publish my stuff. Have a lot of thinking to do on that one!
Monday, May 25, 2015
You Know What They Say About Assuming...
I chose to write the paper that I did because it was a topic that I was already extrememly interested in and very well read in. I didn't so much have assumptions about the topic that I was researching as I did an already founded knowledge base, so throughout my research I didn't get suprised or shocked too much.
With that being said - when looking at the uprise of women in technology and how their success in different countries around the world hindered or limited their success due to traditions, cultural influences or government control, I think that I was most suprised about some of the sociological differences that you find in other countries. Not shocked in the "oh my, I didn't realize the rest of the world was different than me" but more in the "are you kidding me about that" sense.
While I understand and realize that women in other countries have it harder per say than I do, but it is always hard for me to process that while I am living in 2015 and it is okay for me to make more money than my husband - there are other countires where this is just not accepted. Where women are urged not to get educated and just be the stay at home wives who have children. I understand that that is the family dynamic, but when there are women who don't accept that the backlash is horrifying.
I think that the message that I will be communicating through my paper will shock some, but inspire most. The women that will be discussed have made significan controbutions to the world (many parts of it forgotten) that have done a lot of good - and if continually focused on and developed more could be a game changer in the future.
I can't wait for the whole paper to come along - but I am also not the type of person to pic a topic on my own that I don't already know a lot about.
With that being said - when looking at the uprise of women in technology and how their success in different countries around the world hindered or limited their success due to traditions, cultural influences or government control, I think that I was most suprised about some of the sociological differences that you find in other countries. Not shocked in the "oh my, I didn't realize the rest of the world was different than me" but more in the "are you kidding me about that" sense.
While I understand and realize that women in other countries have it harder per say than I do, but it is always hard for me to process that while I am living in 2015 and it is okay for me to make more money than my husband - there are other countires where this is just not accepted. Where women are urged not to get educated and just be the stay at home wives who have children. I understand that that is the family dynamic, but when there are women who don't accept that the backlash is horrifying.
I think that the message that I will be communicating through my paper will shock some, but inspire most. The women that will be discussed have made significan controbutions to the world (many parts of it forgotten) that have done a lot of good - and if continually focused on and developed more could be a game changer in the future.
I can't wait for the whole paper to come along - but I am also not the type of person to pic a topic on my own that I don't already know a lot about.
Week 7 PR
This week has been a good week for me progress wise. I believe that by the end of next week I will have my presentation almost ready to go - I am always tweaking things along the way, and my rough/almost final draft will be ready to go. I am happy happy with my progress, believe I am if not right on schedule a little ahead. I am currently expanding the scope and message of my paper.
Issues: No this week. Just looking for the right additional information to put in there.
Progress: Continued to work on my rough draft and fill in holes where the paper might be lacking or needing additional information. I am ensuring that my paper doesn't go over the length I am allowed but that can sometimes be an iddue to the amound of information I would like to communicate.
Future: I am just going to keep trucking and ensuring that my paper is at the highest of calibar for both classes.
Issues: No this week. Just looking for the right additional information to put in there.
Progress: Continued to work on my rough draft and fill in holes where the paper might be lacking or needing additional information. I am ensuring that my paper doesn't go over the length I am allowed but that can sometimes be an iddue to the amound of information I would like to communicate.
Future: I am just going to keep trucking and ensuring that my paper is at the highest of calibar for both classes.
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Welcome To Week Six
MEMORANDUM
To: Those Reading This Blog
From: Meg Palmer - The One Writing This Blog
RE: Research Results
Date: 5/17/2015
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Over the past six weeks I have been researching "Global Feminism & How Technology Has Driven It". It hasn't always been the easiest topic to research or discuss overall, but the information sure is coming together nicely. Through the course of this post I am going to walk you through the different topics of what I have found along my researching way and how it is driving my paper and over all message to those reading it.
Background Of This Topic
Years ago I wrote a paper that outlined the struggle of women in the US and their journey to break through the glass ceiling that was holding them back while men ran the world. Well, when we were thinking about what topics we wanted to write out papers on it really hit me (also helps that I am a huge news reader) that technology is the next weapon for women in order to continue their progression for social equality in a world that still tends to believe women should live a step behind the men that "should" be leading things.
There have been women in countries (IE: Middle East, Japan, China and etc) that are breaking sociological and governmental boundaries that have ruled their countries for thousands of years and how or what the social roles for men and women are. Women who learned to program, got a computer and not only built an empire but also fought to change the way their community, families, government and the world in general viewed them. They wanted to change their story and leave a lasting impact for generations to come.
How Do I Study and/or Research?
I am the type of person who is always thinking 85 steps ahead. I do not make a list of resources and then go back and build my paper off of that. What I do is start writing my paper and then simultaneously do my research and fill in the holes or supporting information as needed. It works well, is usually quite powerful and makes the process a lot simpler than using a mind map, white board or any other option out there and available for me; but again this method is what works for me.
What Were My Limitations?
While the topics itself is fairly easy - I have come to roadblock after roadblock regarding getting the complete story or how the success of a female who created a technological advancement and/or e-commerce success story and how it relates back to the communities that they live in. What was the political fall out? How is it helping to change the way sociological boundaries are not only tested but also shifted? What about personal fall out with their families and etc? That has made it really hard because I have wanted to paint a complete story but I am generally getting 3/4 of the way there and missing just that key thing (not always knowing what that thing is) that is needed to make it whole.
What Are My Results So Far?
I have narrowed down all of my options to which females I am going to report on:
To: Those Reading This Blog
From: Meg Palmer - The One Writing This Blog
RE: Research Results
Date: 5/17/2015
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Over the past six weeks I have been researching "Global Feminism & How Technology Has Driven It". It hasn't always been the easiest topic to research or discuss overall, but the information sure is coming together nicely. Through the course of this post I am going to walk you through the different topics of what I have found along my researching way and how it is driving my paper and over all message to those reading it.
Background Of This Topic
Years ago I wrote a paper that outlined the struggle of women in the US and their journey to break through the glass ceiling that was holding them back while men ran the world. Well, when we were thinking about what topics we wanted to write out papers on it really hit me (also helps that I am a huge news reader) that technology is the next weapon for women in order to continue their progression for social equality in a world that still tends to believe women should live a step behind the men that "should" be leading things.
There have been women in countries (IE: Middle East, Japan, China and etc) that are breaking sociological and governmental boundaries that have ruled their countries for thousands of years and how or what the social roles for men and women are. Women who learned to program, got a computer and not only built an empire but also fought to change the way their community, families, government and the world in general viewed them. They wanted to change their story and leave a lasting impact for generations to come.
How Do I Study and/or Research?
I am the type of person who is always thinking 85 steps ahead. I do not make a list of resources and then go back and build my paper off of that. What I do is start writing my paper and then simultaneously do my research and fill in the holes or supporting information as needed. It works well, is usually quite powerful and makes the process a lot simpler than using a mind map, white board or any other option out there and available for me; but again this method is what works for me.
What Were My Limitations?
While the topics itself is fairly easy - I have come to roadblock after roadblock regarding getting the complete story or how the success of a female who created a technological advancement and/or e-commerce success story and how it relates back to the communities that they live in. What was the political fall out? How is it helping to change the way sociological boundaries are not only tested but also shifted? What about personal fall out with their families and etc? That has made it really hard because I have wanted to paint a complete story but I am generally getting 3/4 of the way there and missing just that key thing (not always knowing what that thing is) that is needed to make it whole.
What Are My Results So Far?
I have narrowed down all of my options to which females I am going to report on:
- Ruzwana Bashire - Founder and CEO of Peek.com
- Oxford Graduate
- Investment banker background - was extremely successful in a career that generally is a boys club
- Faced mass opposition because of "the color of her skin and that she is Muslim"
- Sexual abuse survivor
- Created software "Peek.com" to help businesses run their business smarter and within 2 years introduced a mobile version
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruzwana_Bashir
- Erica Kochi - Founder and CEO of UNICEF Innovation Unit
- Japanese
- Named one of Time Magazine's Top 100 influential people in the world
- Yale graduate
- Created an open source program that has:
- Tracked millions of births in Africa
- Tracked efforts and medicine distributed throughout Africa
- Countless Mobile Apps
- Faced mass opposition for trying to change the future of a country that most thought should be left alone
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erica_Kochi
- Autumn Ratke - American Bitcoin CEO
- From Wisconsin
- Worked with and held executive positions at multiple Fortune 500 companies throughout her career
- Began her career with Richard Branson
- Worked to make a global impact during her career
- Ended her own life while living in Singapore
- http://hollywoodlife.com/2014/03/05/autumn-radtke-first-meta-ceo-five-things-to-know-bitcoin/
I Am Feeing The Implications Now
There aren't that many implications to my research thus far however, with that being said while each and every subject of my research and paper can be related to each other through their contributions that will last for decades to come...that is it. It has been extremely hard to tire these women together and tell a story that doesn't sound super choppy. However, I have been able to bring in news clippings, pop culture references and other information found along the way that have helped tie it all together.
I don't have any recommendations for change or new policies because I am just writing a research paper, but I can say that there are daily shifts on how and what I am looking for the information that I need to bring my paper together.
I love this topic and think that it needs to be talked about more - even the negative side of women trying to progress further up the ladder - but I personally think it takes a special type of person to have a non-bias voice about it all. Can't wait for the final outcome.
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Week 06 Progress Update
Oh lord week six has kicked my butt!! Not only have I had major roadblocks in my additional research because I am not getting the results that I want - but also my rough draft is exhibiting holes that I am trying to find worthy information fill. When looking at the plan that was formulated on week 3, I am still extremely on target, but I am going to try an alternate path and try researching from a different view point to see if I can find any of the additional information I am wanting to include.
To say that things this week personally and professionally has almost broke me, but I am happy with the progress that I am making. I am going to have to run away or slightly alter personal and professional life aspects in order to help me get to the next level and make sure that my driving plan stays on track to the finish line.
Issues I am Having: Currently while I am looking for some filler information I am having a length issue. I know that we are restricted to no more than 8k words, and I am already over that by a lot. I need to work this week to limit or finite the message I am trying to tell. From there I think that the length issue will work itself out.
What's My Progress: Since I am trying to tell a historical journey through my paper, the layout pretty much dictates itself. I need to look for images and supporting information further in order to take my paper to the next level.
What Does My Future Look Like: I am going to work this next week to formulate my 2nd rough draft and ensure that I have the information that I need for both my paper and presentation to be successful. I am excited to see it evolve and come together even more! If i need more resources and/or information I can do so as I am bringing the paper together. Before I get to far, I also think a requirements check for this class and Dr. Mathews class is needed to make sure I have checked all the boxes; I don't want to do redundant or un needed work.
To say that things this week personally and professionally has almost broke me, but I am happy with the progress that I am making. I am going to have to run away or slightly alter personal and professional life aspects in order to help me get to the next level and make sure that my driving plan stays on track to the finish line.
Issues I am Having: Currently while I am looking for some filler information I am having a length issue. I know that we are restricted to no more than 8k words, and I am already over that by a lot. I need to work this week to limit or finite the message I am trying to tell. From there I think that the length issue will work itself out.
What's My Progress: Since I am trying to tell a historical journey through my paper, the layout pretty much dictates itself. I need to look for images and supporting information further in order to take my paper to the next level.
What Does My Future Look Like: I am going to work this next week to formulate my 2nd rough draft and ensure that I have the information that I need for both my paper and presentation to be successful. I am excited to see it evolve and come together even more! If i need more resources and/or information I can do so as I am bringing the paper together. Before I get to far, I also think a requirements check for this class and Dr. Mathews class is needed to make sure I have checked all the boxes; I don't want to do redundant or un needed work.
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Week 5 Update
- Where should you be in your research journey (refer back to the plan you formulated in week 3)? Are you there?
- If you look at the plan that I made in week three - I am ahead of schedule. I am a person who has to continually build her paper and work a rough draft the entire time vs. just looking up stuff and reading things. I am most successful when I am filling in the blanks and then working to refine. Currently I am about 2 weeks away from having a finished rough draft and then will revisit, refine and revise as needed in order to get the clear vision and move on to my presentation.
- This hasn't changed since week 4 - no further update needed
- What issues did you hit, and what is your plan to overcome them?
- I didn't and haven't ran in to many issues. The biggest issues that I had in the beginning was locating examples of people who have driven the change in how the world view women in the technology world. However, most of those articles that you find are fluff pieces in women's magazines. So it was finding the women and then backing it up with publications in order to tell there stories. But, that was over came and I have moved on.
- Currently diving deeper in to political aspects and trying to find more current event news stories.
- What did you do to make progress this week? Is it more, or less, than you expected to do (use last week's items to guide this)
- Since I was ahead of schedule I just continued reading articles regarding my topic. Not to much movement on my paper.
- Still moving forward - ahead of schedule
- What do you expect to do next week?
- This week I will be building the sections of my paper, writing about specifics and weeding out the topics and/or informational directions I don't need to include in the paper. Again still ahead of schedule.
- I am fine tuning my paper this week in hopes to move on to my presentation.
Number Five: To Copy or Not To Copy
Hello Again,
Here we are another week, another topic. So this week I have been contemplating if or if not plagiarism is still an issue on college campus's or not. I have to say over all yes I think there are still issues with it. There are so many ways for a person to get information these days - internet, books, magazines, and the list goes on and on. But, what people who like to steal information think that because of the vast ways of getting information no one is going to figure it out.
I don't have many issues this because I am a person who reads so many different articles and sources before I actually begin writing. And while I might base my ideas off of what I am reading in one article - When my words get put on paper, I always read and re-read what I have written especially if I am being inspired by someone elses words.
The way that I protect myself is based off of a need for everything I write to sounds like me. I have a very specific voice, dialog and etc - I do not want someone to read my work and get a misconception of who I am. That always reminds me to make sure I credit where needed and let my voice drive the rest.
Till next week -
Meg
Here we are another week, another topic. So this week I have been contemplating if or if not plagiarism is still an issue on college campus's or not. I have to say over all yes I think there are still issues with it. There are so many ways for a person to get information these days - internet, books, magazines, and the list goes on and on. But, what people who like to steal information think that because of the vast ways of getting information no one is going to figure it out.
I don't have many issues this because I am a person who reads so many different articles and sources before I actually begin writing. And while I might base my ideas off of what I am reading in one article - When my words get put on paper, I always read and re-read what I have written especially if I am being inspired by someone elses words.
The way that I protect myself is based off of a need for everything I write to sounds like me. I have a very specific voice, dialog and etc - I do not want someone to read my work and get a misconception of who I am. That always reminds me to make sure I credit where needed and let my voice drive the rest.
Till next week -
Meg
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Week 5 Mind Map
On the left side there is the opening and closing sections.
On the right side there are the ladies that I am going to focus on.
The red line identifies a few places where I will be getting cultural relevant quotes from.
Monday, May 4, 2015
Week 4 Update
- Where should you be in your research journey (refer back to the plan you formulated in week 3)? Are you there?
- If you look at the plan that I made in week three - I am ahead of schedule. I am a person who has to continually build her paper and work a rough draft the entire time vs. just looking up stuff and reading things. I am most successful when I am filling in the blanks and then working to refine. Currently I am about 2 weeks away from having a finished rough draft and then will revisit, refine and revise as needed in order to get the clear vision and move on to my presentation.
- What issues did you hit, and what is your plan to overcome them?
- I didn't and haven't ran in to many issues. The biggest issues that I had in the beginnign was locating examples of peple who have driven the change in how the world view women in the technology world. However, most of those articlse that you find are fluff pieces in women's magazines. So it was finding the women and then backing it up with publications in order to tell there stories. But, that was over came and I have moved on.
- What did you do to make progress this week? Is it more, or less, than you expected to do (use last week's items to guide this)
- Since I was ahead of schedule I just continued reading articles regarding my topic. Not to much movement on my paper.
- What do you expect to do next week?
- This week I will be building the sections of my paper, writing about specifics and weeding out the topics and/or informational directions I don't need to include in the paper. Again still ahead of schedule.
Ethical Issues...
Welcome back to my blog this week.
Because the topic that I am writing about is how women globally have used technology to change their story and drive their society in a direction that empowers women not break them down and treat them like objects - there were great ethical issues to read about.
Because most of the women that I am going to reporting on and talking about are form countries such as China, Korea, various Middle Eastern countries and Africa - the ethical issues were not the only questions that came up but as for Ethical I couldn't read enough about them.
So for example in China, the internet and what you are allowed to do on it is highly regulated by the government. So, if a female created an ecommerce site without the support of the government - and not even support but approval - what would happen to her?! What laws were broken? What options did she have to work around ethical gray area to make her idea possible? There are extremes that play out that more often than not do not turn out positively for the person involved.
But, then again, we must ask the questions regarding the IOT and global economies.
Honestly, while the ethical issues are extremely interesting and important - for the focus of my paper it is the sociological and political aspects that really drive the message that I am looking for. Ethics change from each and every person you talk to because they are personal and influenced easily - but government regulations and reactions are what get people listening, acting and fighting for change.
Till next week.
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