CMNS 353 - Gender nad the politics of Technology

Week 3

Transcript

1. Gender and the politics of technology CMNS 353
2. Social media assignment Issues? Problems with Buzzfeed? Late submission Comments on Canvas, always Grades? Next week
3. From lifeworld to system Lifeworld (Habermas) Gemeinschaft (Tönnies) System (Habermas) Gesellschaft (Tönnies)
4. Commodification
5. Rationalization
6. Rationalizatio and the hidden politics of technology
7. Rationalization (Martin Heiddeger Andrew Feenberg) According to Heidegger, science transforms nature into an object of planning and control. All aspects of the lifeworld that are not functional of cannot be transformed and measured are lost.
8. Who controls rationalization? Lifeworld (Habermas) Gemeinschaft (Tönnies) System (Habermas) Gesellschaft (Tönnies) Rationalization
9. Rationality is not an absolute concept In modern societies the selection is not made by individual consciousness, but institutionally through the constitution of technical disciplines. Therefore, different societies, different époques, have produced different rationalities.
10. Rationalizing human beings What happens when human beings are rationalized into social network profiles? Why these “variables” and not others? Why not eye color? Transparency as a value
11. Facebook and cisgender normativity A cisgender society (matches between gender identity, body and the gender assigned to them at birth) produces technologies which reinforce a cisgender conception of nature: human beings can only be men of women. Gender corresponds to sex.
12. De-reification Fortunately, we are not defined by technology. We, as users, can change technology. This means that we can change the rationality, and construct a new one, which respects our values. For instance, Facebook users hacked the profile page and removed their gender identity.
13. THE IMPOSSIBLE SOCIAL NETWORK
14. Test your imagination Using Facebook as an example, try to understand which values are currently represented or misrepresented within the platform. Then, try to understand which other values can be represented by adding/removing functionalities or by altering how the platform works or by changing the rules of the platform. Just as the LGBTQ community pressure led to a modification of Gender. •Authenticity •Autonomy •Boldness •Compassion •Citizenship •Community •Contribution •Creativity •Curiosity •Determination •Fairness •Faith •Fame •Friendships •Fun •Happiness •Honesty •Humor •Influence •Justice •Kindness •Knowledge •Leadership •Learning •Love •Meaningful Work •Openness •Peace •Pleasure •Popularity •Recognition •Reputation •Respect •Responsibility •Security •Self-Respect •Service •Spirituality •Stability •Success •Status •Trustworthiness •Wealth •Wisdom
15. QUESTIONS? Office Hour: Monday, 4.30 – 5.20 Room 8661 OR 8666 Let’s connect: - Twitter.com/albertolusoli - Linkedin: ca.linkedin.com/in/albertolusoli - Email: alusoli@sfu.ca Share your thoughts using #cmns353 Photo Credits: All pictures used in this presentation are protected by Creative Common License. THANK YOU!