UWAS-C0060 - Gender and Technology, Lecture, 21.4.2022-2.6.2022

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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: 21.04.2022 - 02.06.2022

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Maria Villa Largacha, Kaisa Karvinen, Louna Hakkarainen

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    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?

Assessment Methods and Criteria

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Successful completion of the course requires finishing the assignments and 80 % attendance in the weekly class sessions.

Workload

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    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 for whole curriculum period:

    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.

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    5 Gender Equality

    10 Reduced Inequality

    17 Partnerships for the Goals

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information

  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    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

    Teaching Period:

    2020-2021 Spring V

    2021-2022 Spring V

    Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=UWAS-C0060

    Registration for Courses: Sisu replaces Oodi on 9 August, 2021. Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-in-aalto-arts

    WebOodi

Rules of Conduct - Students´ Rights and Responsibilities (in force from 1 August 2020)

Aalto University Code of Academic Integrity and Handling Violations Thereof