gender and technology

On the 15th of April, a war broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), exposing the civilian population to death, and displacement. This is an update on what we need to know and how limited internet access is not allowing the Sudanese people to exercise their freedom of expression. 

As part of the Feminist Internet Research Network, we are including a series of short pieces on reflections by researchers on the ground. Here the author reflects on whether domestic workers are sufficiently aware of their rights and of unions that they could be part of, regardless of whether they use online platforms or find work using more traditional routes.

This edition takes a closer look at the realities of the women who are working for and with their communities through enabling, weaving, sustaining installing, running and advocating for community networks. Community networks are zones of autonomy around infrastructure and technology that hold the promise of connecting the unconnected and also are becoming creative and feminist sites of…

Zenzeleni, which means ‘do it yourself’ in isiXhosa, has become exemplary of the unique challenges and remarkable successes of a community network in the global south. In this interview, Sol Luca de Tena discusses how the cooperative business model for Zenzeleni has evolved to center community needs and priorities.

Advances in biological sciences suggest that in the future it would be possible to give birth to babies outside of the woman's body, and this upsets assumptions that connect reproductive labour to fixed gender roles. What are then the implications for feminist imaginations and futures?

Between the crisis brought about by the anti-gender backlash, the strength of new voices speaking about intersectionality and gender expression from the LGBTI communities in different parts of the world - NOW marks a moment when we should look at what should be our priorities and concerns in relation to internet and technology.

Across Brazil, Bulgaria, Poland and at the international level there is a vicious and concerted attempt to dilute the language around gender in policy and UN mechanisms which targets any gains in gender equality, advocates exclusion of LGBTIQ people and restrictions on sexual and reproductive rights. The attack on gender is real and here, what are we going to do about it?

The rollout of the Huduma namba is taking place over Kenya. This article traces the experience of one young woman Nyangi as she tries to get a card, and more broadly the problems and hurdles posed by the system of digital identity.

How do we map the impact that research has in the world? Research can drive policy change, interventions in discouurse, societal transformation and activism. Here is a tool to map where your research can be most effective.

In this interview, Serene Lim dives deep into what are the gender implications of making a community network in a remote area of the Philippines - from tackling gender stereotypes to the distribution of labour of running a community network to the benefits of access for communities often overlooked by telecommunications companies.