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255);" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">Amazon recently changed the way
they organize their toy section. You can <a
href="http://gizmodo.com/amazon-didnt-really-eliminate-gender-taxonomy-for-toys-1702707355">no
longer filter toys by gender</a>. But they still have separate landing
pages for boys' and girls' toys, with some of the same sub-categories:
for boys, "Pretend Play" features the outfit of a fire fighter; for
girls, princess outfits. Ouch.
<p>Gender stereotypes like these run deep. Whether your attention is
turned to toys or STEM education (and STEM jobs), it's going to take
more than removing a label to knock those stereotypes down. </p>
<p>One way to address this opens some programs only to people in an
underserved demographic. <a
href="http://www.meetup.com/Girl-Develop-It-Cincinnati/">"Girl Develop
It"</a> teaches technology and web development classes to women. Their
HTML/CSS and coding classes aren't specialized for this audience. But
they do create an environment where women can be part of the STEM
community in whatever way they choose.</p>
<p>There's a difference between "There's room for you at this table" and
"We've reserved this table just for you." With so much STEM programming
available (and Melanie just <a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/news/232483/STEM-Programming-at-Your-Library-No-Excuses.htm">blogged
about a long list of ready-to-go programs</a>), try giving a program a
second time for a more specific audience. Let's take extra steps to
support diversity so no one's left saying, <a
href="http://blog.melchua.com/2015/04/28/on-the-diversity-readiness-of-stem-environments-its-almost-as-if-i-could-only-enter-the-makerspace-as-a-janitor/">“It’s
almost as if I could only enter the makerspace as a janitor.”</a></p>
<ul>
<li>Nathan Swartzendruber, SWON Technology Educator</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h2 id="yourstemsecondincommand">Your STEM second in command</h2>
<p>Ready to put on a STEM program at your library and want a second set
of hands? Invite Nathan out to help. Whether you're planning a program
that uses SWON's <a href="http://swonlibraries.org/?page=tech_to_lend">Tech
to Lend</a> equipment or something entirely different, Nathan is glad
to join your team. Contact him at <a
href="mailto:nathan@swonlibraries.org">nathan@swonlibraries.org</a> with
requests.</p>
<hr>
<h2 id="cominguponthecalendar">Coming up on the <a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_list.asp">calendar</a></h2>
<ul>
<li><strong>Memorial Day - SWON Libraries Office Closed</strong><br>May
25, 2015</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=599239&group=">SWON
Libraries Spring 2015 Membership Meeting</a></strong><br>May 26, 2015 -
MidPointe Library System, West Chester Branch</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=608469&group=">Jamie
LaRue on Administrative Conversations</a></strong><br>May 26, 2015 -
Online</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=608480&group=">Geek
Out @ Your Library</a></strong><br>May 28, 2015 - Online</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=575841&group=">Outreach
(Special Interest Group) Meeting</a></strong><br>May 29, 2015 -
Location TBA</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=612244&group=">Using
YouTube to Enhance Your Marketing</a></strong><br>June 2, 2015 - Online</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=574714&group=">Public
Library Adult Program Planners (Special Interest Group) Meeting</a></strong><br>June
3, 2015 - Boone County Public Library, Main Branch</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=612265&group=">Winning
Library Grants</a></strong><br>June 4, 2015 - Online</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=459392&group=">SWON
Executive Board Meeting</a></strong><br>June 5, 2015 - SWON Meeting
Room</li><li><strong><a
href="http://swonlibraries.org/events/event_details.asp?id=575784&group=">Ethnic
Librarians & Staff (Special Interest Group) Meeting</a></strong><br>June
5, 2015 - UC Blue Ash Library</li>
</ul>
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