Feminist Technology
Linda Layne (Newnham, 1979)
University of Illinois Press
Is there such a thing as a 'feminist technology'? If so, what makes a technology feminist? Is it in the design process, in the thing itself, in the way it is marketed, or in the way it is used by women (or by men)?
In this collection, feminist scholars trained in diverse fields consider these questions by examining a range of products, tools, and technologies that were specifically designed for and marketed to women. Evaluating the claims that such products are liberating for women, the contributors focus on case studies of menstrual-suppressing birth control pills, home pregnancy tests, tampons, breast pumps, Norplant, anti-fertility vaccines, and microbicides. In examining these various products, this volume explores ways of actively intervening to develop better tools for designing, promoting, and evaluating feminist technologies.
Recognizing the different needs and desires of women and acknowledging the multiplicity of feminist approaches, "Feminist Technologies" offers a sustained debate on existing and emergent technologies that share the goal of improving women's lives.
Publication date: 25 June 2010
978-0252077203
Added: 5 August 2010
blog comments powered by Disqus
