Importance of Feminism and Gender Studies in ICTs

Technology
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Subject
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Technology
The concept of feminism, gender, and multiple oppression is a complicated subject to understand for most people. Gender goes far beyond male or female, and the entire spectrum of genders can cover everything from transgender individuals to those with agender identities. Various studies have been put forward to explain the concept of feminism, gender, cultural identities, and race. This paper will focus on some of these studies and their interpretation of such concepts.
Synthesis
Radhika Gajjala and Annapurna Mamidipudi's study focuses on cyberfeminism, international development, and technology. According to this study, cyber feminists believe that feminist perspectives should be built into developing information and communication technologies (ICTs). This is an excellent example of how cyberfeminism connects feminism with it. This study also explains the challenges that women face in electronic spaces. The authors examine the concept of feminism and its relation to the cultural notions of femininity and "masculinity. This study determines that different people identify themselves as a feminist or a feminist. This is because there exist many kinds of people within the feminist community. The researchers found that the participants do not see themselves as a feminist without identifying with femininity and masculinity. These are some of the key terms utilized in the study.[Gajjala, Radhika, and Annapurna Mamidipudi. "Cyberfeminism, technology, and international'development'." Gender & Development 7, no. 2 (1999): 8-16.]
The study by Ulf Mellström focuses on the intersection of cultural boundaries, race, and gender. It also focuses on why women dominate Malaysian cyberspace. It also focuses on the western bias on gender when it comes to technology-related studies. Mellström explains that one of the main reasons these western studies are so biased is that technology has historically been a patriarchal concept. Femininity and masculinity are among the key terms used throughout the article. The male perspective is taken into account when it comes to the use of technology. However, Mellström also points out that Malaysian women are equally important in technology development. This is because they are the ones using and maintaining the technology that has been handed over to them by men. Both Malaysians and westerners have given the technology a masculine image while ignoring the role of women in using these technologies. Mellström suggests that Westerners and Malaysians should include these women as stakeholders in all technological studies involving Malaysia.[Mellström, Ulf. "The intersection of gender, race and cultural boundaries, or why is computer science in Malaysia dominated by women?." Social studies of science 39, no. 6 (2009): 885-907.]
Critical Engagement
Radhika Gajjala and Annapurna Mamidipudi are both international development and technology experts. They are very familiar with their subject matter, and they can easily explain the complex issues involved in gender, feminism, and various cultures. However, some of their terms are unclear. For example, the word "intersectionality" is not explained well by the aut...