Bridging Performative Arts, Feminist Pedagogy and Technology: A Framework for Inclusive Learning Strategies to engage Young Women from Marginalized Communities in Computing Education
Marie-Monique Schaper, Rosa Gil, Mercè Teixidó, Rocío Segura Nebot, Miruna Bivol, Milagros Sáinz · 2026
Gender disparities persist in computing education and disproportionately affect girls and young women from marginalized communities. Addressing these inequities requires reconsidering not only the content of education, but also the ways it is taught and the perspectives that are given priority. This paper introduces a novel interdisciplinary framework that bridges theatre education, feminist pedagogy, and computing education to inform critical, creative, and socially responsive approaches to non-formal and formal learning contexts. Drawing on a narrative review across these domains, we identify 12 educational principles that foreground equity and cultural relevance in computing education. We illustrate the framework through a case study within the #ACTFEM program aimed at motivating young women from marginalized communities to participate in computing activities. For the IDC community, this work advances discussions on feminist HCI, theatre-inspired practices, and computational empowerment, positioning it as a space where social innovation, such as inclusion, community impact, and transformative change play a crucial role in advancing the field.