Gender, Technology, and the Designer's Work: A Feminist Review


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Kaygan P.

DESIGN AND CULTURE, vol.8, pp.235-252, 2016 (AHCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 8
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/17547075.2016.1172862
  • Journal Name: DESIGN AND CULTURE
  • Journal Indexes: Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.235-252
  • Keywords: gender, design, technology studies, women designers, WOMEN, MASCULINITY, ENGINEERS, QUESTION, POWER
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This article presents a critical review of the feminist design studies that have been concerned with women's disadvantaged position in technology-related fields of design. It explores these studies under two main research strands, the first of which is focused on revealing the contributions of the "exceptional" women hidden from the history of design, and the second is based on the assumption that women designers have a unique perspective that would enable them to understand better and satisfy the needs and expectations of the woman user. Drawing on the limitations of both strands, this article argues for the necessity of establishing dialogues with feminist technology studies, and in seeking the solution in the construction of gender and technology relations, rather than in women designers themselves.