Definition of Feminism

• The theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.

• Organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests.

Definition of Technology

• The branch of knowledge that deals with industrial arts, applied science, engineering

• The terminology of any art, science, etc.• A technological process, invention, method

or the like• The sum of the ways in which a social

group provide themselves with the material objects of their civilization

“the Information Age”

• What does the term mean?

• What fuels the “information age”?

• What knowledge, abilities and skills are necessary to succeed in the “information age”?

Gender stereotypes

• Characteristics of “masculine”

• Characteristics of “feminine”

Some philosophical concepts

• Essentialism versus existentialism– Essence presuppose existence – Existence presupposes essence

Other important concepts

• “Gendering” of technologies

• “Black box”

• Gender and the concept of “skill”– “de-skilling”

• Public versus private sphere

Theories of feminism-technology

• Eco-feminism– Science and technology are bad—avoid them

• Liberal Feminism– Science and technology are good—fix women

so they fit in

• Social Feminism– Science and technology should be fixed and

then women will fit in

Theories regarding impact of technology and science

• Technological Determinism: technology is independent, autonomous factor causing fundamental changes in society

• Social Shaping Approach: recognizes that the relationship between society and technology is reciprocal

Questions about science and knowledge

• Sociology of Scientific Knowledge: science is affected by the society in which it is developed

• The idea of knowledge: is it patriarchal? How much is it shaped by the society surrounding it? How does the ‘scientific method’ really work?

Questions about work and labor

• Labor Process Debate: relationship between capitalists and workers is major factor in technology development

• Intersection of gender-economics-technology: what is the effect of women’s lower wages on technology development?