Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, students…
- Are familiar with the basics of intersectional feminism and understand how feminism has contributed to social studies of technologies, science and design.
- Understand that technologies and scientific facts are not neutral and don’t evolve according to an inherent technological or scientific logic, but that they are shaped by diverse social factors including gender.
- Are able to critically evaluate promises and pitfalls of new technologies to diverse groups of people and to examine different artefacts and their histories through a gendered lens.
Credits: 3
Schedule: 22.04.2021 - 03.06.2021
Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Maria Villa Largacha
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Louna Hakkarainen, Maria Villa Largacha
Contact information for the course (valid 29.03.2021-21.12.2112):
Teachers:
Louna Hakkarainen <louna.hakkarainen@gmail.com>
Kaisa Karvinen <kaisahkarvinen@gmail.com>
CEFR level (applies in this implementation):
Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):
Teaching language: English
Languages of study attainment: English
CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD
Content
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
Gender and Technology course is a space for collaborative learning and a facilitated reading group, which helps students to develop critical skills for analysing science, technologies and the process of design through a gendered lens as well as their own practice as designers, engineers, artists, researchers etc.
The course consists of pre-readings (e.g. academic texts), facilitated group discussions, lectures, guest lectures, and individual work (e.g. blog posts and learning diary) and reflection.
Examples of themes that will be covered during the course:
- Introduction to gender studies and feminist theories of technology: What is technology? How do we think about technology in relation to history? What does the feminist analysis bring to technology studies?
- Technology as culture: What role does technology play in embedding power relations? What is the connection between machines and masculinity?
- Technology as gendered: How do technologies reflect gender divisions and inequalities? How are power relations embedded in the technology itself?
- Cyberfeminism: Does the virtuality of cyberspace spell end to the embodied basis for sex difference? What does the cyborg metaphor seek to communicate? How are people’s lives entwined with technologies?
- Technofeminism: How do gender and technology mutually shape each other? And how technology and society constitute each other? What kinds of effects does marginalisation of women from the technological community have?
Applies in this implementation:
The course is organised around six different themes related to gender and technology. The themes of the class sessions are
- Introduction to feminist theories of technology: What is technology? How do we think about technology in relations to history? What does a feminist analysis bring to technology studies?
- Technology as culture: What role does technology play in embedding power relations? What is the connection between machines and masculinity?
- Technology as gendered: How do technologies reflect gender divisions and inequalities? How power relations are embedded in the technology itself? How are technologies affected by class relations of production?
- Cyberfeminism: Does the virtuality of cyberspace spell end to the embodied basis for sex difference? How does the fluidity of the virtual world transform gender discourse? What does the cyborg metaphor seek to communicate? How are people’s lives entwined with technologies?
- Technofeminism: How gender and technology mutually shape each other? How technology and society constitute each other? What kinds of effects does marginalisation of women from the technological community have? 6. Ecofeminism: What is the relationship between humans and the natural world? What are the parallels between oppression of nature and the oppression of women?
- Reflection and final remarks
The course encourages students to radically re-evaluate their relationship to their own practice as designers, engineers or artists and to look at the constructed and material surroundings in which they live and which they produce from a novel and critical angle. The course offers the students ideas and concepts through which they are able to elaborate their professional identity and to re-think and develop their creative practice.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
Successful completion of the course requires finishing the assignments and 80 % attendance in the weekly class sessions.
Applies in this implementation:
Structure of the course: The students are offered two articles/readings to read before each session from which they choose one.
- Pre-reading tasks: Each student is asked to write down three short exercises - pre-reading tasks - based on the article before each session: what is the key message of the article, how do they disagree with the author, and a question for the author.
- Group discussion: Each session starts with a group discussion about the pre-readings around the pre-reading tasks. The students will be divided into two groups based on the article which they read. The pre-reading tasks will guide the discussion and in the end of the discussion both groups will present their chosen article to the rest of the students.
- Lectures: After the group discussion there will be a 1–2 hours lecture followed by a discussion about the theme of the week. Individual work: The individual work load consist of producing blog posts based on the lectures and/or articles between the classes and a learning diary or an essay in the end of the course.
Workload
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
The course consists of 21h of group discussions and lectures (7 x 3 hours sessions), 50h individual work (blog posts and a learning diary or an essay) and 10h reflection.
80% attendance required.
DETAILS
Study Material
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
The course is based on literature from the interdisciplinary field of science and technology studies, more specifically literature on social construction of technology and feminist technoscience.
Prerequisites
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
No prerequisites
Registration for Courses
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
WebOodi
Applies in this implementation:
The course is best suited to master and doctoral level students.
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals
5 Gender Equality
10 Reduced Inequality
17 Partnerships for the Goals
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further Information
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
UWAS course selection criteria: Registration order is not the primary selection criteria for this course. In order to ensure that students from different programs and schools of Aalto University may take UWAS courses, the selection is also based on the variety of students' disciplines. Master's students are also welcome.
Minimum amount of students: 7
Applies in this implementation:
The course is best suited to master and doctoral level students.
- Teacher: Karvinen Kaisa
- Teacher: Villa Largacha Maria