Interdisciplinary approaches are necessary to create an integrated framework that considers the impact of gender, race, class, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, ability, and other identity factors on how technology is designed and used in society. This approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of how technology affects people's lives and identities beyond simply considering the technical aspects of the technology itself. By incorporating queer studies into this framework, scholars can gain insight into how different technologies may be experienced differently based on one's gender, sexual orientation, and relationship status.
Artificial intelligence tools may reinforce heteronormative gender roles or perpetuate negative stereotypes about LGBTQ+ individuals. Queer perspectives also help identify new ways to design technology that reflect diverse sexual practices and desires.
Gender studies provide another important lens through which to view emerging technologies. Technology has long been seen as a male-dominated field, leading to products and services that primarily cater to men and masculine ideals.
Women and nonbinary individuals often have unique needs when it comes to using technology, such as safety concerns related to online harassment or lack of access to privacy features. Addressing these issues requires a deep understanding of gender dynamics and power structures within technology development processes. Gendered experiences with technology extend beyond individual users, encompassing larger social systems and institutions like workplaces, educational institutions, and healthcare providers.
Feminist scholarship further expands our understanding of the intersectionality of technology use by examining how gender norms shape people's interactions with digital media.
Research shows that women are more likely than men to experience cyberbullying and other forms of online harassment due to pervasive misogyny in online spaces. Feminist approaches emphasize the importance of creating safe and inclusive online communities that respect all genders and identities.
Feminist theory can inform strategies for addressing broader societal issues such as digital divide between urban and rural areas or socioeconomic class disparities in internet access.
Activism plays a crucial role in challenging these disparities and promoting equality in technology use and development. Interdisciplinary approaches help identify new tactics for advocating for change at various levels of society, from grassroots organizing to policymaking. By combining queer studies, gender studies, and feminist perspectives, activists can push for policies and products that promote equity and inclusion while also addressing broader systemic issues.
Transgender individuals may need access to healthcare services delivered via telemedicine but face discrimination in accessing virtual care without appropriate representation in AI algorithms or support staff training. Activists could leverage interdisciplinary approaches to demand changes in government regulations, corporate practices, or cultural norms that lead to greater acceptance of diverse bodies and identities.
An interdisciplinary approach integrating queer studies, gender studies, and feminist scholarship offers innovative strategies for activism, scholarship, and social change related to emerging technologies. This framework enables us to consider how technology impacts people's lives beyond technical specifications and provides insights into designing more equitable solutions that reflect everyone's needs and desires.
How can interdisciplinary approaches integrating queer studies, gender studies, feminism, and emerging technologies produce innovative strategies for activism, scholarship, and social change?
Activists, scholars, and advocates across fields must work together to understand how various forms of oppression intersect with each other. Interdisciplinary research on the relationship between identity, society, and technology is necessary to create meaningful change. This requires collaboration among diverse stakeholders who may have different perspectives but share similar goals.