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

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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.