Patrick D. Hopkins’ “Introduction: The Intersection of Culture, Gender, and Technology,” in Sex/Machine: Readings in Culture, Gender, and Technology examines the way in which virtually all forms of technology are gendered. The overall claim Hopkins makes in this section is that, although technology is constantly advancing, it still entails the old stereotypes and polarizing dichotomies that are currently implemented in this patriarchal society in which we live in. Commencing his work, he explains that “[m]uch of the debate over technology in general, and technology’s effects on gender roles and identity in particular, is generated by the fear that new technologies are moving too fast, or too far, or in the wrong direction from traditional …show more content…
All throughout history, people associate these extremely vital technological instruments and creations with men; however, many of these have had female creators or have had some female influence. She proves this by including Edmund Fuller’s words that solemnly explain that “[f]or whatever reason, there are few women inventors, even in the realm of household arts [emphasis mine] […]” (Stanley 1983, 17). Stanley makes it her complete mission to discredit this absurd quote. For instance, we have been told numerous times that cavemen were the creators of fire; in actually Stanley states otherwise. She quotes Elise Boulding who suggests “it seems far more likely that the women, the keepers of the home base and the protectors of the young from the wild animals, would be the ones whose need for [fire] [sic] would overcome the fear for it” (Stanley 1983, 19). She then provides countless examples in which shows women were the either the tamers or creators of fire. For instance, Stanley cites Isis and Hestia, Unči Ahči, (Ainu), Chalchinchinatl, and Manuiki (Marquesas) (who are women from mythical history) who are associated with being guardians or deities of fire. She then proceeds to explain how many inventions that became vital in the Industrial Age were famously noted by men, but were actually created or assisted by women. …show more content…
In more modern times, the increased use of electric cars are being promoted in order to be environmentally safe and friendly; however, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the gasoline car was preferred due to its rugged, manly association. The electric car began to be associated with women due to the fact that “‘the electric is the vehicle of the home,’ adequate, that is, for homemakers who did not expect to take long trips, or frequent trips, or to get stuck in traffic jams” (Scharff 1991, 78). Moreover, “[…] gasoline vehicles, being powerful, complicated, fast, dirty, and capable of long-distance runs, belonged to men, while electric cars, being simple, comfortable, clean, and quite, though somewhat short on power and restricted in range, better suited women” (Scharff 1991, 76). This reiterated the constantly confinement of women at home; even though they had some liberation and wee able to actually leave their homes, the cars they used were designed to keep them in close proximity to their towns. Towards the end of her work, she states that “[t]he electric car, marketed primarily as a woman’s vehicle, provides a striking example of the influence of gender ideology on automotive production. Paradoxically, the electric’s failure also illustrates the impossibility of maintaining rigid distinctions in