Gender and Technology

The delivery of new technologies to communities in developing countries has been seen by many as the key to economic and social progress. However, women’s experiences have shown that this is a gross over-simplification. Technologies of various kinds, in varying social contexts, offer opportunities to challenge existing barriers to economic and political participation; however, they can be used to consolidate existing power imbalances. This collection of articles considers the technologies of many kinds, including those intended to save women’s labor, and enable them to control their fertility, and learn and communicate using computer technology. Writers include Radhika Gajjala, Annapurna Mamidipudi, Heather Schreiner and Maggie Foster.