1. SOC3061- Lecture 04 Gender and Technology

2. Domestic technologies / Reproductive technologies Early feminist writings on reproductive technologies (1970s): endorse a form of Technological Determinism Early feminist writings on reproductive technologies (1970s): endorse a form of Technological Determinism New Technologies  free women from the tyranny of the household. Towards women’s equality New Technologies  free women from the tyranny of the household. Towards women’s equality E.g. the contraceptive pill  sexual revolution, sexual equality E.g. the contraceptive pill  sexual revolution, sexual equality

3. Domestic technologies Ruth Schwartz Cowan Ruth Schwartz Cowan Critique of Talcott Parson’s model for the crisis of the modern family. Critique of Talcott Parson’s model for the crisis of the modern family. Case-study. The mechanization of the household in the US (1920s-1930s): Case-study. The mechanization of the household in the US (1920s-1930s): - Middle-class wives do not get jobs - Mechanized housework is equally time-consuming - Isolated household: technology is not shared - New ideology of the perfect housewife-mother

6. Gender relations shape the design of domestic technologies. Gender relations shape the design of domestic technologies. E.g. white good /black goods E.g. white good /black goods Cockburn-Ormod: case-study on the microwave Cockburn-Ormod: case-study on the microwave Ann Jorum Berg: case-study on the “smart house” Ann Jorum Berg: case-study on the “smart house” Which priorities can be found in our domestic technologies? Alternative domestic technologies: Moyra Doorly on Victorian feminists and their project for cooperative residential neighbourhoods

8. Reproductive technologies IVF, egg donation, artificial insemination, surrogacy, cloning, etc. (changes in the notion of parenthood and family) IVF, egg donation, artificial insemination, surrogacy, cloning, etc. (changes in the notion of parenthood and family) In fact, our choices are highly constrained by economic and social factors. Many roads are not taken (e.g. delay in studying a male pill) In fact, our choices are highly constrained by economic and social factors. Many roads are not taken (e.g. delay in studying a male pill) History of fertility control are essentially technological determinist in their approach History of fertility control are essentially technological determinist in their approach

9. Nelly Oudshoorn on ideologies of gender as shaping medical technologies, and human bodies as well. Nelly Oudshoorn on ideologies of gender as shaping medical technologies, and human bodies as well. Male/female bodies as essentially different Male/female bodies as essentially different Gynaecology/ sex endocrinology: contraception research focuses on woman’s body until the 1980s Gynaecology/ sex endocrinology: contraception research focuses on woman’s body until the 1980s Contraceptive campaigns in Africa (hormonal implants) Contraceptive campaigns in Africa (hormonal implants) E.g. the gender discourse shaped the pill the pill shaped women’s bodies E.g. the gender discourse shaped the pill the pill shaped women’s bodies

10. A “social shaping” perspective Society and culture (priorities, agendas for research and design technologies) Society and culture (priorities, agendas for research and design technologies) Domestic and reproductive technologies, and ways of using them 