Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2017 - CMNS 455 D100

Women and New Information Technologies (Inactive) (4)

Class Number: 4510

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 4 – Apr 7, 2017: Tue, 8:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    75 units, including CMNS 253 (or 253W).

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Topics include the processes through which gendering of technologies takes place; information and communication technologies (ICTs), gender and public and private spheres; issues related to computerization of women's paid and unpaid work; and gender roles and the use of ICTs in relation to health; as well as the contributions which the study of gender and ICTs have made to theoretical debates within science, technology and society studies. Students with credit for CMNS 486 (in Spring 1998 or Spring 2000) may not complete this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

This weekly seminar is designed to explore tensions from a feminist science and technology studies (STS) framework, influenced by liberal, radical, socialist and contemporary approaches to gender and technology. Feminist STS expands the notion of what “counts” as a technology, and suggests that the gender-technology relationship is flexible and fluid. Topics include: the processes through which gendering of technologies takes place; information and communication technologies (ICTs); gender and public and private spheres; issues related to computerization of women’s paid and unpaid work; gender roles and the use of ICTs in relation to health; as well as the contributions which the study of gender and ICTs have made to theoretical debates within science, technology, and society studies.

Changes in technologies, particularly ICTs, have challenged feminist scholars to reconsider how feminist politics can influence women’s participation in the design and use of technology, and how technical changes can influence gender relations. In a society where access to technology constitutes a form of power, women’s participation in the traditionally male-dominated technical sphere has often been celebrated as emancipatory and empowering. Patriarchy can be dismantled as long as women possess the right digital tools to level the playing field. Yet, on the other hand, women’s participation in science and technology remains gendered, and inequity persists on a global level. Given that technology seems to reflect and privilege Western patriarchal values, would a more effective feminist position be an anti-technological one?

Grading

  • (Grading -- subject to revision with notice)
  • Paper Proposal 5%
  • Literature Review 15%
  • Final Paper 40%
  • Seminar Presentations 20%
  • Seminar Participation 20%

NOTES:

The school expects that the grades awarded in this course will bear some reasonable relation to established university-wide practices with respect to both levels and distribution of grades. In addition, the School will follow Policy S10.01 with respect to Academic Integrity, and Policies S10.02, S10.03 and S10.04 as regards Student Discipline. [Note: as of May 1, 2009 the previous T10 series of policies covering Intellectual Honesty (T10.02), and Academic Discipline (T10.03) have been replaced with the new S10 series of policies.]

A minimum CGPA of 2.25, and approval as a communication student is required for entry into most communication upper division courses.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Fox, M.F., D.G. Johnson and S.V. Rosser (eds.), Women, Gender, and Technology. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2006. ISBN:  0252073363.
ISBN: 9780252073366

Gajjala, R. and Y.J. Oh (eds.), Cyberfeminism 2.0. New York: Peter Lang Publishers, 2012. ISBN:  1433113589.
ISBN: 9781433113581

Additional readings will be made available online by the Instructor.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS