5-1 Discussion:
Gendered Technologies
The van Oost article you read this week (“Materialized
Gender: How Shavers Configure the Users’ Femininity and Masculinity”)
demonstrated how the technologies we use in our everyday lives are both the
products of a gendered culture and help reinforce those gender roles. For this
week’s discussion assignment, you are to perform a similar analysis.
Begin by selecting a television or magazine advertisement
for a technology of some form. Post a 2- to 3-paragraph analysis of the
underling gender assumptions and representations made within the advertisement.
You must support your argument with evidence from the learning resources using
appropriate APA standards. Be sure to address the following in your initial
post:
Describe the advertisement. What technology is being
advertised and how?
Who is the intended audience? Male? Female? Both? How do you
know?
Is the technology truly gendered or is it simply being
advertised that way?
What gender themes are present in the advertisement? Analyze
the underlying assumptions and representations.
How does this particular product challenge or reinforce
gender stereotypes in our society?
Your response to your classmates’ posts should successfully
accomplish one or more of the following:
Extend the discussion by providing additional thoughts or
examples.
Ask a probing question or challenge something in their post
that you believe needs more explanation or discussion.
For additional details, please refer to the Module Five
Discussion Rubric document in the Assignment Guidelines and Rubrics section of
the course.
