How do wearable technologies change what we think we know about gender and race? What privacy might we trade when we give data to fitness technologies in the name of health? Why does facial recognition software routinely fail to accurately categorize those with darker skin tones? What might menstrual trackers do with the information we give them and how might it change our experiences while using social media? This course will explore how everyday technologies are shaping what we believe about gendered and racialized bodies and in turn how our bodies are used to reinforce assumptions about gender and race in the tech industry. Students will be challenged to think about what it means to occupy a gendered and / or racialized body in todays’ automated society.

Course Requirements:

Students will be expected to use or engage with wearable technologies, or health / fitness / biometric apps via web or mobile interface throughout the course. Reports of approximately 2-3 pages, will be submitted throughout the semester about students’ experiences with these technologies using social scientific perspectives. 

Students will engage in groups of 3 to 4 to present an analysis of a particular technology at the end of the semester. Final research papers of 12 to 15 pages will be submitted by groups. There will be no exams. Students’ grades are evaluated by individual 2 to 3 page reports and the final group research paper which will include a record of individual contributions. 

Additionally, this course requires regular and meaningful participation in class discussions and deep engagement with reading assignments.

Intended Audience:

This course is accessible to all undergraduate students but prior engagement with gender studies literature and familiarity with the social scientific study of race and racism (either as an individual or in a curricular setting) is recommended. Students with an interest in intersectional feminism, data feminism, Black feminism, and tech justice are encouraged to take this class!