Technical Constructing and Gender in the Information Society

The project follows the proposition that technical and `social` constructions are in a close mutual relationship in which gender is a significant category. It aims at the examination of the social construction of technical constructing as a gendered activity. The question is how technical constructing can be considered a gender-coded human productivity and what ideas of gender are assigned to it. The study focus is based on the history of construction sciences. The construction theories of the engineering and the computer science are the major part and will be examined regarding their gender implications. Put in concrete terms, the social-scientific examination aims at historical and current theoretical knowledge of technical constructing as represented in textbooks and in construction scientific sources. In the future as part of a follow-up project stage (to be applied for separately), job profiles of technical constructing are to be empirically examined. The project is supposed to determine the gender-relevant features while historically and synchronically comparing various fields and approaches of technical constructing. The examination focuses especially on a critical perspective regarding possible transformations in the concepts of today`s technical constructing. To the most part, such transformations can be expected in the context of current societal transformation processes (information society). Proof and a critical reflection of gender transformations in the history of technical construction theories provide the opportunity of change. With their help it is possible to generate a critical knowledge of change in the social shaping of technology. First, new images can be made available that argumentatively support a case for the presence and professionalism of women in technology. Second, such an analysis holds critical reflection potentials of how to apply the term construction in the social sciences and in gender studies. So the results of the project are supposed to work into the field of technology as well as into the theoretical discussion in the social sciences.