With the full integration of technology into many aspects of daily life- personal, professional, and social- it is of importance to evaluate the usefulness of this technology from a multitude of perspectives. Increased focus on factors such as globalization, innovation, and diversity are escalating the need for these valuable perspectives. Therefore, it is important to not only investigate how technology is being used, but to understand more deeply who the users of the technology are. In an effort to do so, studies of IT users, workers, and behaviors must expand their examination beyond single-category analyses. Rather than looking at human differences through a single lens (such as race or gender alone), utilizing an intersectional perspective of multiple identities may uncover meaningful realizations about those interacting with technology. Intersectionality, in this context, reflects the position that the experiences of an individual are influenced by a myriad of factors including race, gender, age, socio-economic status, sexuality, geographic location, and education level, among others. These factors may interact in ways which provide a person with added opportunities or obstacles in their interaction with technology.

The notion of intersectionality of individuals with respect to IT is a developing research area which examines the complexity of how individual differences may interplay and interact. Studies on the topic have noted that the use of this perspective is critical understanding the ability to attract and retain minority talent in the IT workforce (Yakura, 2006; Kvasny, 2003); Kvasny et al., 2009; Trauth et al., 2008, Gurrier et al., 2009), the experiences of users of health-care IT systems (Warren, 2010; Morgan, 2009), and political participation (Lettis, 2006). In particular, the use of intersectional analyses will help to further the discourse around social inclusion and Information technology by developing an added breadth of knowledge around technology users.

This track invites papers that focus on the intersection of identity characteristics and/or human differences with respect to the use of, participation in, or behavior with information technology. I am interested in including papers that are both conceptually and empirically based. 

 Suggested Topics:

The topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

• The influence of the intersection of race, gender, and culture on adoption and use of information and communication technologies (ICT) 
• Analysis of the digital divide from a multilayered demographic perspective
• Demographic analyses of Information Technology workers and/or the underrepresentation of minority groups in technical work
• The role of intersectionality in health–care IT use and behavior
• How human differences improve or affect the use of or participation with ICT among socially inclusive communities
• The role of multiple user characteristics in information searching, retrieval, or human information behavior
• The analysis of multiple identities in cyberspace or social networking communities
• Use of technology for health, education and economic development for greater social inclusion of individuals and/or organizations

References:

Guerrier, Y., Evans, C., Glover, J., Wilson, C. (2009). ‘Technical, but not very….’: constructing gendered identities in IT-related employment. Work, Employment and Society, 23(3), 494-511.

Kvasny, L., Trauth, E.M., and Morgan, A. (2009). "Power relations in IT education and work: the intersectionality of gender, race, and class." Journal of Information, Communication & Ethics in Society, 7(2/3). 96-118.

Kvasny, L. (2003). "Triple Jeopardy: Race, Gender and Class Politics of Women in Technology", Proceedings of the ACM SIGMIS CPR Conference, Philadelphia, PA, April 10-12.

Lettis, N. (2006). Big 'p' politics, small 'p' advocacy": Political participation, intersectionality, and information technology in Northern Ireland. Proquest Dissertations and Theses Database, 68(2), (UMI No. AAT 3249591). Retrieved December 20, 2010, from Dissertations and Theses database.

Morgan, A.J. (2008). An analysis of the influence of human individual differences on web searching behavior among Blacks and Whites: A case of health information searching. Proquest Dissertations and Theses Database, 70(2), (UMI No. AAT 3346351). Retrieved January 5, 2010, from Dissertations and Theses database.

Trauth, E.M., Quesenberry, J.L., and Huang, H. (2008). "A Multicultural Analysis of Factors Influencing Career Choice for Women in the Information Technology Workforce." Journal of Global Information Management, 16(4), 1-23
Warren, J., Kvasny, L., Hecht, M., Okuyemi, K., and Ahluwalia, J. (2010). "Barriers, control and identity in health information seeking among African American women", Journal of Health Disparities and Research, 3(3), 68-90.

Yakura, E. (2006). Race and the IT workforce" in The Gender & IT Encyclopedia, E. Trauth (Editor), Idea Group Press

IMPORTANT DATES

January 3, 2012: Manuscript Central will start accepting paper submissions
March 1, 2012 (11:59 PM PST): Deadline for paper submissions
April 6, 2012: Authors notified of acceptance decisions
April 25, 2012: Camera-ready copy due for accepted papers

LINK:  http://amcis2012.aisnet.org/index.php/program/tracks-and-minitracks/177-sisit-ioiitupb

Please direct inquiries to Mini-Track Chair: