PnO presents: New feminist questions on climate change x technology?

PnO presents:

New feminist questions on climate change x technology? 

Venue: CBS, Kilen, K.1.53

 

Presenter: Professor Yvonne Benschop

 

Professor Benschop will present ongoing work under the title 

“New feminist questions on climate change x technology?”, after which we will have a discussion. 

The session is hosted by the PnO group, who welcomes all interested to join (no registration necessary).

 

Introduction:

Climate change and technology (broadly defined, including ICT, digitalization and artificial intelligence) are arguably amongst the most pressing Grand Challenges for organizations and society today, as they reconfigure the division of labor and potentially make for dramatic shifts in how work is done and who gets to do it. The connection of these challenges with questions of gender, ethnicity and class inequalities is not self-evident. In my article Grand Challenges, feminist answers (2021, Organization Theory), I have discussed feminist theories and concepts on both climate change and technology. This introduced me to different strands of ecofeminism and technofeminism that articulate a systematic critique of dominant patriarchal and capitalist forms of organizing, and offer alternative ways of knowing. The combinations of climate change with feminist thinking and technological innovation with feminist thinking was very interesting, but I would like to use my sabbatical to take it one step further and explore what questions emerge at the crossroads of all three. My idea is to explore the possibility of a new, small scale research project at the crossroads of climate change, technology, and DEI (diversity, equality and inclusion) in organizations. For instance, technofeminist scholarship points out that the underrepresentation of women in technical design profoundly affects how the world is made; that there is a politics of gender trouble in technology. Where do questions of gender in intersection with other social categories come in in the design of climate technologies? Are there organizations/forms of organizing pushing for climate technology to undo inequalities and become emancipatory technology and what can be learned from these efforts? Does DEI work play a role in these organizations? From ecofeminism we learned that climate change cannot be reduced to a rational techscience innovation challenge, but needs to be seen as an affective, moral and political project redefining crucial relations between organizations and the environment, humans and nature. How does DEI work come into play in this redefinition?

 

As you can see, this is still very early stages, and I would like to engage in conversation with engaged critical scholars about how we can do research on these themes that can make a difference. I appreciate all input, suggestions for further readings, and possibilities for collaboration.