[Noisebridge-discuss] Invitation to participate in UC Berkeley study on IT careers, men, and marriage

[Aaron Platt]

Hi Noisebridge!

My name is Aaron Platt. I'm a doctoral student in the sociology
dept at Berkeley, and I'm wondering if you might be able to help me
out with my dissertation research.

My research asks how the structure of men's careers in new economy
industries (IT, new media, web design -- though IT in particular)
affects the way they think about whether, when, and whom to marry.

I am focusing on 24-36 year-old, never-married, white,
college-educated, heterosexual males. I am focusing on this
demographic group because, traditionally, marriage for them has been
preceded by obtaining full-time work at a firm where they can see
working for most of their lives.  Careers in new economy industries
have quite a different shape, and I am interested in how these men
square middle class cultural models of when to marry with the
realities of these ambiguously structured careers.

I'd be interested in speaking with you about three items in particular:

1) I know very little about these sectors, in terms of the work, the
careers, how you get into them, what kinds of people work them, the
demands, the skills, the misconceptions, etc.  I'm reading plenty, but
I find I learn more quickly in conversations.

2) Though I'm still in the pilot stages of my project, and I'd be
interested in hearing about your trajectory through the worlds of
work, romance and marriage.

3) I'm looking for other people to interview.  If you know anyone who fits
the demographic criteria for my study, I'd be grateful if you'd ask
whether they'd be interested in participating in this study.  You are of
course free to decline to do this without it affecting your ability to
participate in the study.

If you're interested and available sometime in the next few weeks, shoot
me an e-mail at aaron.platt at gmail.com.  I can meet you anywhere in
Oakland, Berkeley, or San Francisco.  The interview will last 1-2 hours,
depending on your availability and interest.

I know your time is valuable, I and greatly appreciate your considering
participating.

Thanks!

Best,
Aaron Platt