Sarah Kircher, Taylor Kochanowski, Isaiah Johnson

ENGL 137H

November 19, 2021

Work Plan: History of a Public Controversy – Universal Healthcare in the United States

Part 1: TED Talk Work Day Activity Summary

Duties of Each Member:

1. Sarah Kircher – scribe – gathering research, organizing research, working on video script, narration, gathering images/visuals, video editing
2. Taylor Kochanowski – goal keeper – gathering research, organizing research, working on video script, narration, gathering images/visuals
3. Isaiah Johnson – park ranger – gathering research, organizing research, working on video script, narration, gathering images/visuals

Timeline

• Nov. 20 – Nov. 28 – Thanksgiving break – complete research and solidify organization of research, nail down aspects of the controversy, work on storyboard, begin writing script
• Nov. 29 – Come prepared with completed research and organization, complete script
• Dec. 1 – Begin gathering images and videos, begin narration
• Dec. 3 – Finish gathering images/visuals, complete narration, put video together
• Dec. 5 – Submit video rough draft for peer review on Dec. 6
• Dec. 6 – Complete peer review, begin video editing
• Dec. 8 – Clean everything up and double-check all the work
• Dec. 10 – Final video submission due @ 11:59pm

Day 1:

Our group discussed possible public controversy topics including:

• Standing for National Anthem
• Police brutality
• Sexual education
• Standardized testing
• Critical race theory
• Student debt
• Gun control
• Universal healthcare

Day 2:

After discussing many topics, we decided to choose the public controversy of universal healthcare in the United States.  We started our research by investigating readings on the topic of universal healthcare, including Bernie Sanders’ 2020 proposal of universal healthcare, the United States’ current healthcare system, the healthy debate of universal healthcare (looks at the for and against arguments), and more.  In addition to this, we chose to compare and contrast American healthcare and other nations with universal healthcare, including effects on healthcare professionals, the economy and taxes, prices of medical school, and the citizens of the various nations.  Lastly, we looked at various statistics regarding the percentage of uninsured U.S. citizens, the number of countries providing universal healthcare, and the prices of healthcare.

• Medicare for All: Bernie Sanders’ Proposal 
• What does healthcare in the U.S. look like? 
• What are some factors that affect access to healthcare?
• Universal Health in USA: A Healthy Debate  
• Physician General Practitioner Salary in the United States
• 10 Most Expensive Private Medical Schools  
• Studying Medicine Abroad – Med Schools in Europe 

Day 3:

We used our research from the articles in order to explore and answer the stasis questions.

• Conjecture
  • What is a flashpoint in the universal healthcare controversy?
    • A current flashpoint in the universal healthcare controversy is Bernie Sanders’ 2020 proposal of Medicare for All in the United States.  Sanders’s plan would guarantee healthcare to everyone in the United States because it is their right to receive care.  This plan would also expand coverage to include dental, vision, hearing, long-term care, mental health services, prescription drugs, and more.
  • How did the universal health controversy begin and what are its causes?
    • Americans having accessible and affordable healthcare has been an ongoing problem in the United States.  In 2010, 16% of Americans were uninsured.  Even though the uninsured rate has lowered to 8.5% of the American population, this still leaves 27.5 million Americans uninsured.  The Affordable Care Act became law in 2010 during former President Barack Obama’s presidency.  This act represented the largest expansion of the government’s role in regulating healthcare for the country, especially the percentage of uninsured.  In addition to this, the ACA planned to move the United States closer to universal healthcare through the expansion of health coverage for Americans of all income levels, ages, races, and ethnicities.  Even though the United States does not have universal healthcare insurance coverage for all Americans, the movement toward securing the right to healthcare for all Americans is increasing.  The rate of uninsured Americans increases the importance of this controversy of whether the United States should implement universal healthcare coverage.
• Definition
  • What exactly is universal healthcare?
    • According to the World Health Organization, “Universal health coverage means that all people have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship.  It includes the full range of essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care” (Universal Health Coverage).
  • What kind of public controversy is it?
    • This public controversy relates to the healthcare system in the United States.
  • What are the two arguments of the controversy?
    • There are two arguments of the universal healthcare controversy – for and against the implementation of universal health coverage into the United States’ healthcare system.  The argument for universal health coverage in the United States argues that it may lead to a healthier population and help alleviate the economic costs of an unhealthy population.  In addition to this, it would encourage sustainable, preventative health practices by addressing and preventing the growing chronic disease crisis.  The argument against universal health coverage in the United States argues that there would be significant upfront costs and many logistical challenges because the implementation of universal health coverage would be complicated.  In order for this to happen, there would be an increase in federal taxes and the potential for inefficiency in care, including long waiting times and an increase in primary care and emergency care visits.
• Quality
  • How serious is the controversy?
    • The universal healthcare controversy is very serious because it concerns Americans and their access to quality, affordable healthcare in order to take care of themselves and their loved ones.  In addition to this, it concerns the United States and the rate of uninsured Americans, who need access to quality healthcare. 
  • Whom might it affect (stakeholders)?
    • The implementation of universal healthcare in the United States will affect many people in positive and negative ways.  For example, someone with low socioeconomic status would be positively affected because they would have access to quality healthcare.  Whereas, higher-income citizens may be subjected to paying higher taxes in order to implement universal health coverage into the U.S. healthcare system.  Universal healthcare in the United States would also affect doctors, hours spent working, and their pay rate.
  • What are the costs of solving the problem?
    • Many proposals for the implementation of universal healthcare in the United States include the increase of federal taxes, especially for higher-income citizens.  Some of the proposals believe that the increase of federal taxes would not be enough to fully fund this plan.  Cost estimations for the proposal are from 32 to 44 trillion dollars across 10 years, and the deficit estimations are from 1.1 to 2.1 trillion dollars per year. 

Part 2: Our Multi-Media Project

The healthy debate centers on the controversy between those for and against the implementation of universal healthcare in the United States.  It is highly debated whether or not the United States should make healthcare universal for U.S. citizens, especially those who are currently uninsured.  According to a recent journal article from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, “Universal Healthcare in the United States of America: A Healthy Debate,” the disadvantages of universal healthcare include significant costs upfront and several logistical challenges, but universal healthcare can lead to an overall healthier population.  Even though the implementation of universal healthcare would be challenging in the United States, some critics argue that this change is necessary, which would benefit long-term public health and the economy of our country.  This controversy is critical as healthcare is ranked one of the most important issues in regards to voting, and currently, it is one of the United States’ most important socio-political topics.

In order to historicize this controversy, we plan to investigate Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2020 proposal for universal healthcare.  Medicare for All would provide everyone in the United States with free comprehensive healthcare coverage at the time of service, and it will be expanded to include dental, hearing, vision, long-term care, in-patient, and out-patient services, mental health services, substance abuse treatment, reproductive and maternity care, and prescription drugs.  Even though Sanders’ proposal dives deeply into the various benefits for Americans with the implementation of Medicare for All, the economic side of the plan is thoroughly discussed.

In our video, we plan to use various forms of media in order to clearly and effectively present the universal healthcare public controversy.  At the beginning of the video, we will show a clip of an interview with Bernie Sanders regarding his proposal for Medicare for All in order to present a recent attempt at implementing equal access to healthcare in the United States.  Next, we will dive deeper into Sanders’ plan by showing and discussing some of the sections of his proposal in order to clearly explain to the audience what his plan proposed.  Later in the video, we will discuss current healthcare in the United States, including the Affordable Care Act implemented by former President Barack Obama.  In addition to this, we will show current statistics within graphs or tables of uninsured Americans.  Once we get into discussing the controversy, we will display various images from our country and other countries regarding healthcare, including protests, graphs, or computer graphics.  Throughout the video, we plan to include subtle background music in order to bring everything together. 

Framing Questions:

1. Would universal healthcare help or hurt the United States?
2. How would the implementation of universal healthcare affect America’s economy?
3. Would universal healthcare cause private insurers to become obsolete?
4. How would healthcare professionals react to a reformed American healthcare system?
5. How would universal healthcare affect Americans with varying degrees of socioeconomic status?

Oral Content

Topic: Women in STEM

Purpose: To make the audience more aware of the importance of women in STEM having a mentor/support system, the obstacles women face in STEM careers, and the significance of having women in STEM careers while relating these aspects back to my personal experiences

Thesis Statement: Through my research on the paradigm shift of women into male-dominated STEM fields from traditional female jobs and personal experiences, I have learned the various obstacles women face in STEM careers, the importance of women in STEM having a mentor, and the significance of having women in STEM occupations.

1. Introduction
   1. Hook – In high school, I had a stellar academic record, held several leadership roles in the school community, and formed positive relationships with peers and teachers.  However, my experience in Advanced Placement Computer Science was different.  I was not accepted.  It was not because of my skills, but it was because of my gender.  I was the only female, and it was the thought of the boys in the class that I did not belong.  My confidence was shaken, I didn’t believe in myself, and I did not know how I was going to pursue a future career in STEM.  Without the support of my mentors, I am not sure that I would be going into a STEM major today.
   2. Through my research on the paradigm shift of women into male-dominated STEM fields from traditional female jobs and my personal experiences, I have learned the various obstacles women face in STEM careers, the importance of women in STEM having a mentor, and the significance of having women in STEM occupations.
2. Body
   1. Main Idea 1 – My first point is even though the shift of women from traditional female careers to male-dominated STEM careers have several positive effects, there are many negative effects due to this shift, including unconscious gender bias and sexual harassment towards women, which is seen through their daily treatment by their male counterparts.
      1. Support – These negative effects on women in STEM, including gender stereotypes, unconscious gender bias, and sexual harassment, causes many women to leave their positions.
         1. Gender Stereotype – The stereotype that has been created and normalized that boys are better at STEM subjects and careers is a major and underestimated obstacle for girls and women in STEM.  This stereotype leads to unconscious gender bias towards women in STEM.
         2. Unconscious gender bias – This unconscious gender bias towards women in STEM is seen through the devaluation of women and women’s lack of acknowledgment.  In a recent survey of women in male-dominated STEM fields, “…82% of women in STEM say their contributions are ignored.”
         3. Sexual Harassment – Occasionally, women in STEM face sexual harassment due to gender bias.  Sexual harassment within the workplace includes verbal harassment, pressure to have sex in exchange for a promotion or raise, and physical assault.  According to a survey of working women in STEM conducted by the Information Technology Intelligence Corporation in Boston, about one-third of survey participants said that they have experienced several episodes of sexual harassment.  Even though many women in STEM have put years of hard work and effort into their careers, these negative effects cause many women to ultimately leave their jobs.
      2. Support – As a woman in STEM, I have faced mistreatment due to the gender stereotype of men being “better” in these fields compared to women and unconscious gender bias. 
         1. Since the boys next to me believed that they were better than me, they chose to not even acknowledge me every day.  When we would complete assignments and coding labs, I would work alone, and even though the boys were confused on certain aspects of the assignments, they still would never work with me or even consider maybe I knew what I was doing.  This lack of acknowledgment shook my confidence, and I started to doubt my own coding abilities.  At this point, I did not know if I would be able to make it in a male-dominated field.
   2. Main Idea 2 – My second point is highlighting the importance of role models and mentorships for women in STEM, which not only motivates women to join STEM fields but also increases retention of women in STEM by creating a support system.
      1. Support – Female mentorships benefit women in STEM by helping them overcome perceived gender stereotypes which can be obstacles in their advancement in STEM careers.  
         1. By sharing information about their experiences, mentors teach mentees how to navigate the male-dominated STEM world.  
         2. Positive mentors provide needed emotional support, which is key for women to thrive in STEM.  
         3. Mentoring reduces feelings of isolation and creates a personal connection to the company while increasing commitment to the organization. 
         4. Mentoring is essential in helping women be successful in male-dominated STEM fields, retaining women, and promoting longevity in STEM careers.
      2. Support – As a woman in STEM, I have had several positive mentors, who have supported and encouraged me to pursue my passion for math and a career in STEM.  My computer programming teacher, Mr. Harris, supported me and believed in me and my coding abilities even when I did not.  He knew that I felt alone, and I was beginning to lose confidence in myself and my skills.  Because of Mr. Harris and his constant support, encouragement, and kindness, I began to regain my confidence and believe in myself and my skills.  Once I felt confident in myself again, I decided to offer my help to two boys sitting next to me who were struggling.  From that day on, everything changed. 
   3. Main Idea 3 – My third point is that having women in STEM positions is significant because women are just as qualified as men and have shown that they have the right to study or work in STEM fields based on their knowledge, skills, performance, and success.
      1. Support – Due to women’s equal access to education compared to men, more women are going to college and receiving higher education than ever before.  
         1. By women earning a STEM degree, they have proven they have the knowledge to pursue a career in STEM
         2. In addition to this, they have the necessary skills to succeed, including confidence, organization, efficient communication, and time management.  
         3. Through obtaining a degree in STEM, women have performed successfully in STEM-based courses, internships, and experiences throughout college.
         4. Women have earned their rightful place in STEM careers with men as shown through their hard work, dedication, and success within the field.
      2. Support – After I reached out to the struggling boys, I was finally viewed as an equal and I proved to them that I was meant to be there just as much as them.  This confirmed my feelings about pursuing a future in Mathematics and Computer Science.  As the only girl in the class, I was able to bring new ideas and fresh approaches to their problems in which they did not think of previously, and in the end, they appreciated my help.
3. Conclusion
   1. Throughout my personal experiences, I had to learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable to grow as a person and develop the confidence to continue taking male-dominated classes.
   2. In reflecting on my experiences, I realized the importance of having a mentor who believes in you when you do not believe in yourself.
   3. Having women in these careers is important so to keep this number increasing, our country needs greater changes of attitudes towards women in STEM and mentoring programs that support girls and women in STEM.
   4. For our country and STEM-based companies to grow, we need knowledgeable, skilled, and successful young women in these fields.  The efforts and experiences of women in STEM today will influence and pave the way for women in STEM of future generations.

Visual Content

1. Slide 1 – Introduction – women in STEM picture – explains the STEM acronym with a word and simple graphic for each letter
2. Slide 2 – Man and woman standing at different ladders – shows the ease for men in STEM and the obstacles for women in STEM
3. Slide 3 – Man’s brain vs. woman’s brain – shows gender stereotypes of boys are “better” than girls in STEM subjects
4. Slide 4 – Man on a higher pedestal compared to a woman – shows women are not acknowledged and devalued in STEM
5. Slide 5 – Man over woman’s shoulder while working – shows sexual harassment in the workplace
6. Slide 6 – Mentors – female mentoring group – shows how mentoring relationships can be helpful and positive for mentees
7. Slide 7 – Significance – group of women in STEM fields – shows women are needed in STEM fields and they are able to accomplish great things
8. Slide 8 – Conclusion – pictures of young girls in STEM – shows the experiences of women today will impact and affect the experiences of girls and women in STEM in the future

After two peer review sessions, I received helpful and relevant feedback from Maddie and Maggie that will immediately help to improve my writing in my paper.  During the revision stage, I will look at combining the shift’s positive effects paragraphs into one paragraph, so the information is clearly stated without repetition.  I also plan to strengthen the first cause paragraph, which discusses women’s increased desire for higher education, and I will improve this paragraph by adding one or two sentences of more in-depth analysis building off what I currently have.  Overall, I will thoroughly proofread my essay, focusing on editing, or deleting any sentences, phrases, or information that is repetitive.

Throughout the research process, I discovered many interesting pieces of information, regarding women in STEM occupations.  Prior to researching this topic, I had no idea how many women face gender bias and sexual harassment within the workplace.  In addition to this, gender stereotypes, gender bias, and sexual harassment towards working women in STEM typically influence them to have to leave their job.  On a more positive note, I learned that out of all the STEM fields, mathematics has the most representation of women within the field, making up 47%.  Hopefully, within the next four years, I will be adding to that statistic as a woman in math!

As a woman in STEM, I realized the importance of this paradigm shift, and the need to explore it more in-depth.  Women have continued to fight for equality within the male-dominated workplace because they have earned the right to be there based on their knowledge, skills, performance, and success within the field, which is not always realized.  I think it is important to recognize that women are just as qualified for those positions as men, but they face barriers within the workplace that their male coworkers do not, such as not receiving acknowledgment, unconscious gender bias, harassment, and more.  Women should be encouraged and praised for going into the workforce, especially male-dominated STEM fields, but instead, they are made to feel lesser compared to their male counterparts.  Today, girls and teenagers need to be encouraged and inspired by positive role models to pursue a career related to their interests.

Lastly, this paradigm shift project has helped me develop as a writer and improve my writing skills and abilities.  This paper is very different and heavily analysis-based compared to the essays from high school.  To write a strong paper, I needed to develop a longer thesis statement to fully progress the argument within 10 pages.  Throughout all my English classes up until this point in my educational career, this is the longest paper I have ever written.  In the essay, I utilized factual-based writing within the before and after shift paragraphs by including statistics and evidence to support that a shift did occur.  In addition to this, I strengthened my abilities to write stronger analytical claims as topic sentences and develop these statements with credible evidence and analysis.

Overall, this project has pushed me to become a stronger researcher and writer, and I look forward to seeing what else I can accomplish throughout this course.

Introduction

1. Hook – introduce the reader to the topic
   1. Brief anecdote of my personal experiences – Comp Sci and WIM
   2. Describe how I was feeling to capture the attention of the audience
2. Establish that a shift happened – point to evidence of a shift
   1. The shift of women choosing to study and work in male-dominated fields from stereotypical female occupations is evident throughout the past three decades.
      1. After World War II, women began to permanently work outside of the home in typical occupations for women.
      2. From the 1970s to the 1990s, societal changes such as family planning, access to birth control, motivation towards career development, and the desire for higher education supported women working outside the home.
      3. Beginning in the 1990s and throughout the present day, women have made the change to study and work in male-dominated fields due to the increase in jobs in fields such as business, science, and technology.
      4. Due to this increase in business and STEM careers now, more than ever, women are earning degrees at a higher rate than their male counterparts.
3. Thesis – a declarative statement of what changed and why the change matters
   1. Throughout the past three decades, the shift of women working in stereotypical female occupations to studying and working in male-dominated STEM fields was caused by several factors, leading to various positive effects and consequences, which matters because women are equally as qualified as men, and women have earned their right to work in these fields based on their knowledge, skills, and performance.

Body

1. “Literature review” or a review of the shift
   1. Before the shift
      1. Post-WWII
         1. Women began to permanently work outside of the home in typical occupations for women
            1. Teacher, nurse, midwife, cleaner, secretary
         2. “We thought Title VII laws and regulations in the mid-1960s and 1970s that made it illegal to deny women jobs in America were all that was needed to level the playing field” (MIT article)
      2. 1970s – 1990s
         1. “In 1970, women made up 38% of all U.S. workers and 8% of STEM workers” (US Census Bureau).
         2. Societal changes supported women working outside the home
            1. Family planning, access to birth control, motivation towards career development, desire for higher education
         3. “Since 1980, women have surpassed men in postsecondary education” (US Chamber)
   2. After the shift
      1. 1990s – present day
         1. Women working in male-dominated fields
            1. “A far better understanding now of the barriers that have disabled them and open discussion of these barriers, and the resulting recruitment of many sympathetic men to their cause, is accelerating progress” (MIT).
         2. Increasing Statistics
            1. “By 2019, the STEM proportion had increased to 27% and women made up 48% of all workers” (US Census Bureau).
            2. “During the period from 1990 to 2013, female graduates in physical sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics, statistics, and computer science, referred to in this report as core STEM fields, increased 130%” (US Chamber)
            3. “Female enrollment has increased by 239% since 1970” (US Chamber)
            4. “The participation of women in STEM jobs more than doubled over the past 20 years” (US Chamber)
            5. “Although still lagging behind men, female graduates with core STEM degrees are increasing faster than male graduates” (US Chamber)
         3. Breakdown of women in STEM
            1. 2019 – about 10.8 million workers in STEM jobs, according to Census Bureau estimates
            2. Women in math (47%), physical science (45%)
            3. Not as heavily represented in engineering (15%) and computer (25%) occupations
         4. Media Example
            1. “Hidden Figures” – Margot Lee Shetterly’s book – tells the “untold story of the black women mathematicians who helped win the space race” – doubly invisible at NASA
2. Analysis of Causes – reason, evidence, analysis
   1. What reasons do scholars give for the shift? What evidence exists to support these causes?
      1. Society encourages women to be scientists
         1. “Girls who grew up in America in the Sputnik era, as I did, were encouraged to become scientists” (MIT article).
      2. Higher education
         1. “Global data from the Catalyst Knowledge Center shows that in June 2018, more women globally are likely to pursue science through higher education” (Torgrimsen)
         2. “Although the gender gap starts to widen among Ph.D. graduates, there is a rise in women studying STEM fields for an undergraduate degree” (Torgrimsen)
         3. “Women are becoming more educated than ever before – making up half of all workers with postsecondary degrees” (U.S. Chamber)
      3. Role models/mentorships/peer networks/support systems – not only recruiting but in retention in female science
         1. “It’s much easier for girls to imagine a career in STEM if they see successful examples they can relate to.  Having teachers who mentor and encourage girls in these subjects can have an even greater impact than encouragement from their parents” (Torgrimsen)
         2. “One survey of leading STEM experts found that encouraging women to gain an interest in STEM starts at an early age and continues throughout their careers.  For instance, mentoring girls and women in STEM fields can have a sizeable impact” (US Chamber).
         3. Million Women Mentors
      4. Offering hands-on STEM exercises and experiences
         1. “Practical experiences, both inside and outside the classroom, can bring STEM subjects to life…Microsoft’s research highlights the importance of showing girls how the material can be applied in real-life situations, giving the topics more relevance in their lives” (Torgrimsen)
         2. Girls Who Code, Goldie Box
      5. Confidence and claiming credit for their work
         1. “Confidence and the belief in one’s own abilities is one of the most important keys to success.  Among women who have achieved success in STEM, 39% report being extremely confident in their abilities” (Torgrimsen).
         2. Confidence to stand up for themselves in a professional setting
      6. Increase in male-dominated fields
         1. “STEM education and STEM employment are both crucial.  The demand for STEM workers in the United States across industries is expected to grow faster than other occupations in the next decade” (US Chamber)
         2. “The number of STEM jobs increased by 21% more than non-STEM jobs” from 1993 to 2010 (US Chamber)
3. Critique of the shift – What are scholars saying about the consequences and implications of the shift?
   1. Implications of the shift – effects or results of shift
      1. Positive implications
         1. National STEM/STEAM Day – November 8th – encourage kids to explore their interests in fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and math
         2. “Women employed full-time, year-round in STEM occupations earned more than their non-STEM counterparts” (US Census Bureau)
            1. Better financial status
         3. Microsoft – conducting research and developing action guides in order to recruit and inspire girls to go into STEM – Microsoft Info
         4. The University of Waterloo – 1/10 universities worldwide to take bold action to achieve gender equality within and beyond their institution in the “HeForShe IMPACT initiative” – HeForShe Info 
         5. “Women in STEM are essential for building a strong economy and a bright future for American enterprise” (US Chamber).
            1. Need to solve companies’ toughest problems in new ways
            2. Keeps perspectives fresh and ideas innovative
      2. Consequences of shift for women in STEM
         1. Not as many women in the fields – systemic barriers
         2. Unconscious gender bias
            1. Women receive less acknowledgment compared to men in male-dominated fields.
            2. “The undervaluation of women in academic science and other fields was widespread in universities, labs, and companies” (MIT article).
            3. “Unfortunately, though, 82% of women in STEM say their contributions are ignored” (Torgrimsen)
            4. “Today, we know that unconscious (implicit) gender bias, probably more than family-work conflict, explains why progress for women in STEM fields has been so slow” (MIT article).
         3. Gender stereotypes
            1. “A major and underestimated obstacle for girls in STEM is the stereotype that has been created and perpetuated that boys are better at these subjects and careers” (UN Women)
         4. Family formation, marriage, children, and family obligations → most successful women in STEM were single and had no children
         5. “Leaky pipeline”
      3. Contention (disagreement)
         1. What are points of contention and what do they indicate?
            1. There is a growth of women in STEM, but it has not grown as much as it should due to obstacles women in STEM face daily
               1. Women in healthcare are the highest %
               2. Women in engineering are the lowest %
            2. Women receive less acknowledgment compared to men within male-dominated fields.
               1. “It wasn’t for lack of ground-breaking discoveries, but for lack of acknowledgment that they had made them” (MIT article).
            3. Women go into STEM and need to stay in careers
               1. Flexible schedules, workplace organizational factors – improve work environment and help balance family life – daycare and elder care, maternity leave
               2. It is easier for a single woman with no children
         2. How might points of contention be resolved?
            1. Women in these positions need to speak out.
               1. “Helping finally to end women scientists’ silence was the fact that the MIT women who had spoken out were such successful scientists” (MIT).
            2. Bring women into powerful leadership positions in these fields.
            3. Be confident
            4. Acknowledgment of work, ideas, contributions
            5. Retention of women in fields long-term 
      4. Significance
         1. What is the greater significance of the shift?
            1. Women are equally qualified as men – equal access to education
               1. More women are going to college and receiving higher education than ever before
            2. Women proved that they have the right to be there through their knowledge, skills, and performance
               1. Women have earned a degree and their rightful place in the workplace with men
         2. Why does this shift ultimately matter?
            1. “I came to see that when women and men made scientific discoveries of equal importance, the man and his discovery were valued more highly than the woman and her discovery” (MIT article)
            2. Life → two family member income to support family

Conclusion

1. Resolve the discussion
2. Suggest opportunities for further study on the issue
   1. Will the trend continue or morph into something else?
      1. The interest of women in STEM-related fields will continue to increase
      2. “For our country and our companies to advance, we need talented young people to be involved.  If we inspire them in science and engineering today, we secure our ability to innovate tomorrow.” – Patricia Elizondo, Senior VP, Xerox Corporation (US Chamber)
3. What is needed in the future?
   1. Greater changes in attitudes in society
      1. “We must change work cultures to inspire more women to lead” (US Chamber) – creating an inclusive culture
   2. Entry of more young women into STEM well before college
   3. “Continuous effort will be required to sustain and to build on the extraordinary gains that have been made” (MIT)
   4. “We must motivate young girls to pursue an interest in science and mathematics and teach these subjects in ways that are compelling” (US Chamber)
   5. “We need mentoring programs that support women and girls in STEM fields” (US Chamber) → encouragement, mentorships

For the Paradigm Shift project, I will be examining the shift of women choosing to study and work in male-dominated fields from stereotypical female occupations throughout the past three decades.  After World War II, women began to permanently work outside of the home in typical occupations for women, such as teacher, nurse, midwife, cleaner, or secretary.  From the 1970s to the 1990s, societal changes such as family planning, access to birth control, motivation towards career development, and the desire for higher education supported women working outside the home.  Beginning in the 1990s and throughout the present day, women have made the change to study and work in male-dominated fields due to the increase in jobs in fields such as business, science, and technology.  Now, more than ever, women are earning degrees at a higher rate than their male counterparts.

As a woman in STEM, I plan to pursue a degree in Mathematics and a career that uses my mathematical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.  Women have continued to fight for equality within the male-dominated workplace because they have earned the right to be there based on their knowledge, skills, and performance.  I think it is important to recognize that women are just as qualified as men, but they face barriers within the workplace that their male co-workers do not.  Women should be encouraged and praised for going into the workforce, especially male-dominated fields, but instead, they are made to feel lesser compared to their male counterparts based on their gender.  Gender stereotypes within the workplace need to be assessed and updated to embrace women and their many abilities.

I look forward to diving deeper into the shift of women studying and working in male-dominated in the past three decades.  In addition to my research, I hope to share my own experiences in STEM classes and my interactions with male classmates.  After reading my essay and listening to my TED Talk, I hope the audience can understand the experiences and hardships of working women in our efforts to gain equality and respect in the workplace.

1. Hook
   1. Take a moment and consider what you think of when you hear the name Barbie? (*pause for a moment*) What comes to mind?  Do you think of a doll that is thin, white, dressed up with high heels, face full of make-up, blonde ponytail, and female?  Well, you are not alone in thinking this (*pull out classic Barbie and pause*), because this is the image that comes to most people’s mind.
2. Introduction
   1. Barbie is the perfect commonplace example.  Barbie was originally created to challenge the traditional role of an American woman in the 1950s. Over time, the body image of Barbie herself became a commonplace in what a typical female should strive to look like and be.  Within the last 10 years, this commonplace has been questioned.
   2. As a child, every girl wanted to be Barbie, live in her dreamhouse, and have all her clothes and accessories.  As a teenager, I realized that Barbie represented an unrealistic female appearance that negatively impacts girls’ body image today.
   3. To stay relevant, Barbie needed to change her look to reflect everyday people.  The “new” Barbie doll brings awareness to the issues of body image and the acceptance of all body types.  Young girls can see themselves in today’s Barbie dolls and continue to explore their future possibilities.
3. Body
   1. The creation of Barbie challenged the commonplace of women’s traditional role in society.
      1. In 1959, the commonplace belief of the role of an American woman was to be a supportive wife, raise the children, take care of the household, and she was not expected to work in a job outside of the home.  Handler’s Barbie doll challenged this traditional image of an American woman by creating a representation of an independent, beautiful, white female who could live any life she wanted.
         1. Even though the unrealistic body image of Barbie remained unchanged, the ideology of young girls exploring their future possibilities and believing they could do anything emerged.
            1. Barbie was advertised to young children through television commercials shown during children’s programs.
            2. The production of the Barbie doll with mature features created an alternative to the already existing baby doll.
   2. Over time, Barbie’s appearance was normalized in American society and became the expectation for ALL women.  Barbie’s look itself became its own commonplace.
      1. As stated in an article from The Conversation, Barbie has been criticized as “an agent of female oppression” (Witcomb).  Barbie’s mature appearance of perfect hair, slim body, many outfits, and an ideal first love with Ken created a different image for young girls, which may have consequences on their mental and physical health.
         1. It is seen through playing with popular toys that children copy social norms about gender roles and stereotypes, which could have negative effects on children playing with the Barbie doll (Witcomb).
         2. In 2006, British researchers found that young girls who were shown story books including images of Barbie ultimately had greater unhappiness with their body compared to young girls who were shown images of another doll with a realistic body type (Witcomb).
      2. According to researchers from Finland in 1994, if the Barbie doll was a real human, her BMI would be so low that she would not be able to menstruate (Lord).
      3. Through the 1980s and 1990s while maintaining the ideal female body type, Barbie and her friends represented diversity in color, ethnicity, and career goals.
         1. In 1980, the first African American Barbie was created as well as a Latina Barbie (Holland).
   3. Within the last 10 years, this commonplace has been questioned to prove that Barbie needs to look like the everyday person.
      1. The most significant defining moment in the Barbie doll is the current shift to more diverse and inclusive Barbies because she is more representative of race, ethnicity, and body types. She reaches a broader audience across the globe. As society’s norms have changed for women over time, so has Barbie’s looks and meaning.
      2. To keep up with the changing times, in 2016, Mattel launched a new release of Barbies, which celebrates various body types, sizes, hair, and skin colors.
         1. Now, Barbie is curvy, petite, tall, diverse, and has more expansive career options.
         2. The “new” Barbie doll brings awareness to the issue of body image and the acceptance of all body types and appearances.
      3. Young girls can see themselves in today’s Barbie dolls and continue to explore their future possibilities with her.
         1. According to the article, “Barbie Celebrates Role Models,” in 2021, Mattel celebrated role models and introduced new dolls to share women’s stories from various backgrounds and professions, including a doctor, journalist, broadcaster, athlete, chef, psychiatrist, artist, scientist, politician, and more.

4. Conclusion
   1. Initially, Barbie challenged the stereotypical gender roles of the 1950s by creating a new image of an independent, beautiful woman, who can accomplish anything.  The original Barbie was designed to be able to do anything but turned into an unrealistic representation of the female appearance with a large chest, thin waist, blonde hair, and white skin, which ultimately was normalized in America as the ideal body type. Even though Barbie’s age never changes, she has expanded career options, and represents more races, nationalities, and body types than ever before.  Over time, Barbie has changed to meet the developing needs of America and her consumers.  Barbie is still a very popular collectible toy among many children and adults today, because they can truly see themselves represented in her image.

Works Cited

“Barbie Celebrates Role Models.” Barbie, Mattel, 2021, barbie.mattel.com/en-us/about/role-models.html. Accessed 16 Sept. 2021.

Holland, Brynn. “Barbie Through the Ages.” History, A&E Television Networks, 2021, http://www.history.com/news/barbie-through-the-ages. Accessed 16 Sept. 2021.

Lord, M.G.. “Barbie.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Jun. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Barbie. Accessed 16 September 2021.

Witcomb, Gemma. “Barbie at 60: Instrument of Female Oppression or Positive Influence?” The Conversation, Conversation US, 2021, theconversation.com/barbie-at-60-instrument-of-female-oppression-or-positive-influence-113069. Accessed 16 Sept. 2021.

For the civic artifact speech, I am selecting the Barbie doll as my civic artifact.  As a child, I loved playing with Barbie dolls, but as I grew up, I realized that Barbie represented an unrealistic female appearance that negatively impacts girls’ body image. I am very passionate about women empowerment and as society’s norms have changed for women so has Barbie’s looks and meaning.

Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel, Inc. created the Barbie doll which was a spinoff of a popular German doll modeled after an adult woman.  After watching her daughter, Barbara, play with paper dolls, Handler realized it was important to allow young girls to explore their future possibilities through play. In 1959, the commonplace belief of the role of an American woman was to be a supportive wife, raise the children, take care of the household and she was not expected to work in a job outside of the home.  Handler’s Barbie doll challenged this traditional image of an American woman by creating a representation of an independent, beautiful, white female who could live any life she wanted.  Barbie was advertised to young children through television commercials shown during children’s programs. The production of the Barbie doll with mature features created an alternative to the already existing baby doll.

The need for Barbie in its original form has lessened because today’s brands and companies have recognized that not everyone looks like the original Barbie.  The original Barbie doll is an unrealistic representation of the female appearance with a large chest, thin waist, blonde hair, and white skin. Even though Barbie’s age never changes, she has expanded career options, and represents more races, nationalities, and body types than ever before.  Over time, Barbie has changed to meet the developing needs of her consumers.  Barbie is still a very popular collectible among many generations today because there is a Barbie doll who looks like everyone.

Barbie is unique because she initially challenged a commonplace of the traditional role of a woman in society in the 1950s.  Over time, Barbie’s appearance was normalized in American society and became the expectation for all women. Barbie’s look itself became its own commonplace. Within the last 10 years, this commonplace has been questioned to prove that Barbie needs to look like the everyday person – curvy, petite, tall, a variety of skin tones, and more.  The “new” Barbie doll brings awareness to the issue of body image and the acceptance of all body types.  Young girls can see themselves in today’s Barbie dolls and continue to explore their future possibilities.

In the This American Life podcast, Ira Glass, the host of the show, profiles Penn State and discusses how and why it was named “the #1 Party School in America” in 2009 by the Princeton Review.  He profiles the university with Sarah Koenig, one of the producers of This American Life, whose home is only blocks away from Penn State’s main campus in State College, PA.  Throughout the podcast, Glass and Koenig mention various commonplaces and ideologies regarding Penn State University and its students.

A commonplace refers to something that is not new (common), and it can be found anywhere.  An activity routinely seen on weekends on college campuses is drunken, ill-behaved college students who disrupt life for local residents.  College freshmen girls dress provocatively to grab the attention of upperclassmen so they can enter into fraternity or apartment parties.  It has become commonplace for police to not only protect residents’ homes, properties, and well-being, but also to protect the health and safety of college students, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. While the podcast specifically notes State College, these commonplaces can be seen on college campuses and in their surrounding communities across the nation.

An ideology is a network of shared ideas that is specific to a certain group.  At Penn State, “We Are” culture dominates everything.  In the podcast, former Penn State President, Graham Spaniard, discussed that the ideology among Penn State students and alumni is that Penn State is the best in everything.  Spaniard talked about that the overwhelming number of votes from Penn State students was the reason that Penn State was named “the #1 Party School in America.” This ideology is summed up in the statement, “If God isn’t a Penn State fan, then why is the sky blue and white?”

Another ideology specific to Penn State is the direct connection to football and drinking on fall weekends among college students, parents, and alumni at tailgates, residence halls, off campus housing, and fraternities.  In the Penn State community, drinking is deeply embedded in generations of families of Penn Staters.  One alumnus even said, “it’s a tradition,” as many alumni and their families come to football games and tailgate where they drink publicly outdoors before the game begins.  The mood of the Penn State community rises and falls with the success of the football team.

In conclusion, the commonplaces and ideologies surrounding Penn State University influence the decisions that students make, which ultimately reflects upon the university. It is commonplace thinking that many college students have a sense of entitlement and a sense of infallibility that they can do anything they want including drinking underage with no thought or care of the consequences for themselves or others.  The strongest ideology that comes out at Penn State is the importance of tradition, football, and a combined sense of pride between the university, its alumni, its students, and the community.  The students, faculty, and community members of State College should be made more aware of these commonplaces and ideologies for real and long-lasting change to happen.