Gender and Technology
FGSS 212
Spring 2011
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
SISP 208, HIST 262 |
What is gender? What is technology? What is the relationship between them? This course examines the ways in which science and technology are shaped by and in turn help constitute various notions of gender. Through classroom readings, discussions, films, case studies and writing assignments, we will explore what gender and technology are as well as how they work in society. We will address: how technical knowledge systems have intersected historically with identity and social order; varieties of concepts of gender; the relationship between gender and technological development, transfer, adoption and adaptation; the rise and reception of technical knowledge as a social system for the establishment of consensus about the nature of reliable truth; how different kinds of technical work and technical knowledge historically have been understood to belong to different social groups; proposals for change; future of gender/future of technology systems; how concepts of gender and technology are reproduced in popular mass culture and everyday life.
The materials emphasize gender but our discussions and readings will also engage with disability, race, class and other social categories that have shaped participation in technical endeavors. Students will study a variety of technologies and technology systems (e.g. telecommunications, medical/public health, transport, military, computer, and capital investment, environmental engineering). No background in science or feminist theory is required but students will find science or gender-related coursework relevant to the course. Willingness to read the science/engineering sections of feminist media and THE NEW YORK TIMES or LOS ANGELES TIMES as well as the news sections of SCIENCE and NATURE is essential. The course satisfies the requirement for a Gateway course in FGSS and counts toward the Gender and History concentration in History. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Designing, Creating, and Realizing, Information Literacy |
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS FGSS |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (FGSS) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
GENDER & TECHNOLOGY: A READER, ed. Lerman et al. (2003)
DOING GENDER DIVERSITY: READINGS IN THEORY AND REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE, ed. Plante et al. (2010)
FEMINIST TECHNOLOGY, ed. Layne et al. (2010)
Weston, A RULEBOOK FOR ARGUMENTS, 4th edition (2009)
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly response paper, Midterm presentation/paper, 10 pp. Final paper |
| Instructor(s): Tucker,Jennifer Times: .M.W... 01:10PM-02:30PM; Location: FISK312; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 16 | | SR major: 0 | JR major: 0 | | |
| Seats Available: 0 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 0 | JR non-major: 0 | SO: 8 | FR: 8 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 5 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 1 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 4 |
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