Thematic focus & discussions
San Sebastián-Donostia, Spain
June 17-18-19, 2024
The congress is articulated around four thematic areas or panels, headed by a keynote speaker who sets the agenda with a thought-provoking short presentation. The panels include the following topics: Panel 1: Intersectional feminism & platform work; Panel 2: Surveillance & online disinformation; Panel 3: Data platforms & infrastructures and and Panel 4: Deconstructing toxic masculinity: Media frames, gender realities, and feminist perspectives. Panel moderators are responsible for ensuring participation from the floor and facilitating multidisciplinary dialogue.
Although panelists are selected via a call for papers, this is not the typical congress where scholars are asked to present their work. There will be no presentations except for those of the keynote speakers. As a panelist, you can engage in a dynamic discussion with fellow experts in the field. The format involves responding to inspiring questions posed by a moderator, debating with fellow panelists, and sharing insights from your investigations on each panel topic. Additionally, we encourage you to propose new lines of work and potential areas for advancement within the field. The results will be collected to contribute to research, projects and networks.
If you wish to participate, send your abstract to antifeminstresistances@gmail.com (see more details about submissions below).
Panel 1: Intersectional feminism & platform work
Keynote speaker: Mayo Fuster Morell (Berkman Klein center for Internet and Society, Harvard University)
Moderator: Silvia Semenzin, Complutense University of Madrid
- Postcolonialism and interseccional feminism in technology
- Alternative feminist narratives in tech and concretely platform work.
- Tecnological Design biases
- Interdisciplinary approches to platform governance and economic models, technological design and knowledge policies, and gender design in platform economy
- Feminist digitalization, datafication and plaformization
The panel explores the multifaceted relationship between technology and feminist perspectives, through the specific context of platform economy and platform work, delving into postcolonialism, intersectional feminism, interdisciplinary and the need for alternative narratives in tech. The discussion also addresses design biases and the implications of feminist digitalization, datafication, and platformization. The panelists will draw on critical feminist positions to examine the existing power differentials and structural inequalities within the platform economy technology landscape, with a focus on promoting justice, equity, and care in technological decision-making. Concretely, the panel will examine how postcolonial and intersectional feminist frameworks can offer new insights into the ways digital platform technology and models design is developed, deployed, and experienced; explore challenging dominant perspectives and how the voices of those marginalized or excluded from tech development and discourse appear; address the presence of design biases in technology and economic models, and their impact on different social groups.
Panel 2: Surveillance & online disinformation
Keynote speaker: Maria Lozano Alia, Cybercrime Senior Consultant, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Moderator: Pilar Rodriguez, University of Deusto
- Digital surveillance, cyberbullying and gender disiformationHate speech, online misogyny and violence against women
- Algoritmic gender bias
- Radicalization, ideological bubbles and polarization through platforms
This panel focuses on the pervasive issues of online gender disinformation and hate speech, with a specific emphasis on digital surveillance, cyberbullying, online misogyny, online violence against women, algorithmic gender bias, and the role of online platforms in radicalization and ideological polarization. The panel brings together specialized scholars to discuss and address these critical challenges, providing a stage for sharing research and best practices to counter online gender disinformation and hate speech. The moderator will delve into the various dimensions of gender disinformation, online misogyny, and algorithmic gender bias, including their impact on democracy and equality and the role of digital platforms and unfair digital welfare systems.
Panel 3: Data platforms & infrastructures
Keynote speaker: TBC
Moderator: Diego Casado Mansilla, University of Deusto
- A feminist look at data platforms, tech design, and infrastructures
- Femtech and femapps
- Women in digital tech
- Data literacy for equality, participation, and empowerment
As a panelist, you will be able to engage in a thought-provoking discussion centered around the challenges and opportunities within digital platforms and infrastructures from a feminist lens. A feminist perspective on data platforms, tech design, and infrastructure involves examining these areas through the lens of gender equality, empowerment, and social justice. It challenges existing power structures and advocates for inclusive and ethical technological development. Some critical aspects of this perspective include feminist design and epistemic approaches, emphasizing the importance of feminist ways of knowing; a critical exploration of Big Tech, highlighting the need to challenge political and structural power inequalities within the technology industry; and the possibility of governable spaces that are diverse, accountable, and shaped by the people, reflecting the insights and experiences of feminist traditions. In the context of Femtech, femapps, women in digital tech, and data literacy, a feminist perspective involves addressing the challenges and barriers women face, exploring inclusive design and technology as a site of social and political struggle.
Panel 4: Deconstructing Toxic Masculinity: Media Frames, Gender Realities, & Feminist Perspectives
Keynote speaker: Elisa García Mingo, Professor at the Complutense University of Madrid and co-author of the report “Culpables hasta que se demuestre lo contrario. Percepciones y discursos de adolescentes españoles sobre masculinidades y violencia de género” (Guilty until proven otherwise. Perceptions and discourses of Spanish adolescents about masculinities and gender violence)
Moderator: Diego Alvarez, Polytechnic University of Valencia
- Toxic masculinities and new masculinities in tech and online content
- Media framing techniques and issues of representation
- Bias in recognition apps, and generative AI
The panel will pay special attention to the construction of toxic masculinity, examining its impact among women and men, while referencing the ‘Box of Masculinity’ report. It will delve deeper into media framing techniques, particularly examining how both male and female streamers shape perceptions, opinions, or attitudes on women’s reality to perpetuate toxic masculinity. It will also explore alternative frames that challenge the established frames employed to convey traditional masculinity, offering an expansive interpretation of the reality and experiences of women, gender roles, and feminism.