In 20th century United States, a mid-class woman¿s ¿first shift¿ was her home. A ¿second shift¿ emerged when women maintained a family and a job. A ¿parallel shift¿ of work and family sponsibilities appeared with a mobile phone and a ¿third shift¿ arose when women added education to maintaining home and job. This study illuminates the previous shifts in association with computer technology and introduces the ¿fourth shift¿ of computer technology demands that permeate a woman¿s life. As the women expressed the challenges of work, family, career, and school, a theme emerged that proposes a ¿fourth shift¿ has been added to a woman¿s environment. A nascent feminist communication theory called The Fourth Shift Theory emerged from the ¿fourth shift¿ theme¿s relationship to the patterns of background, patriarchy, and societal change. Although technology is not gendered and does have benefits for women, there are barriers for women that accompany the ¿fourth shift.¿ The Fourth Shift Theory asserts that gender-typed computer technology proficiency is necessary in a woman¿s world in order for her to function and manage her responsibilities.
