GENDER TECH. HOW TECHNOLOGY CONTROLS WOMEN’S BODY (Laterza)

Laura Tripaldi, scientist and writer, author of Gender Tech. Come la tecnologia controlla il corpo delle donne ("Gender Tech. How technology controls women's bodies", Laterza)

Roberta Fulci, science writer and radio host

What are the hidden aspects of 'gender technologies' such as contraceptive pills, pregnancy tests, or ultrasounds? While these devices have undoubtedly promoted emancipation and liberation from the constraints of 'nature,' they have also paved the way for new and more insidious forms of violence and discrimination. One of the most original intellectuals of the new generation, both a scientist and a feminist, delves into the controversial aspects of these technologies and invites us to reflect on their cultural and political significance. Technologies like the contraceptive pill, pregnancy tests, ultrasound scans, and period-tracking apps have radically transformed women’s relationship with their bodies. They have empowered greater emancipation, fostering reproductive self-determination and liberation from the constraints imposed by 'nature.' However, this technological progress has also revealed oppressive side effects: from the still under-researched consequences of synthetic hormones to the control of fertility in vulnerable populations; from the use of ultrasounds as a tool for anti-abortion propaganda to the monetization of sensitive personal data. Every time the female body has been subjected to scientific scrutiny, it has risked being objectified. Far from being neutral tools, these devices remain imprinted with the traces of the patriarchal culture that produced them: behind their promises of emancipation lies an increasing ability to exercise pervasive control over women's private lives.