Abstract:
This dissertation employs a critical perspective on the meaning of diversity in the design of contemporary technologies, which may be based on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Different concepts of diversity are scrutinized from a perspective that is critical of existing power relations and has a concern for social justice. The combining framework that ties individual chapters of the dissertation together is American Black feminist theory. This tradition of thought, which is built on the experiences of Black women in the USA, can render visible structural inequalities in society and technology. The theory’s application to the study and design of diversity and technology in both US-American and European contexts helps discuss the social benefits and risks of contemporary ‘diversity-aware’ technologies and their ecosystems. By employing a critical perspective on power systems/relations inspired by American Black feminism, the dissertation picks up on a trend in computer science, where other theories of situated knowledge are increasingly applied to study and design new technologies.
The dissertation applies Black feminism to the study of diversity concepts that are embedded into the design of contemporary (AI-based) technologies, for example as a way to personalize content in computer systems that provide recommendations of content to users. Conceptualizing diversity for the design of technology is another trend in computer science. Here, diversity categories such as demographic and cultural notions of user difference are used to design for user satisfaction, fairness, or social inclusion. The dissertation scrutinizes so-called ‘diversity-aware technology.’ The Black feminist framework helps uncover shortcomings in the operationalization of diversity in mainstream computer science. The theory can also inspire a conceptualization of diversity that rejects the classifications of users, the use of historical data, and instead considers the lived reality of marginalized technology stakeholders. In the dissertation, mainstream notions of diversity are rethought, and diversity is (re)aligned with concerns for redistribution, civil rights, and social justice.
The dissertation expands an American Black feminist perspective to the European context. In an empirical study with Afghan refugee women in Germany, Black feminist theory helps understand the structural marginalization of Afghan women in their interaction with technology. The study finds limitations in how Afghan refugee women access and use technology and discusses the short-sighted path of a purely technical intervention for the social inclusion of refugees. Furthermore, in a series of expert interviews with designers based in Europe, the dissertation reconstructs critical perspectives on diversity and design with regard to social spaces – both virtual and physical. It compares American and European perspectives on power and participation in technology and urban design, highlighting cultural, social, and political specificities in engaging diversity categories and stakeholders.
The dissertation is guided by the following research questions, which become relevant in the research contributions of each chapter: What are different understandings of diversity in computer science and technology development? What are the social benefits and risks of working with diversity in technology design? How can diversity be conceptualized from a perspective that is critical of existing power systems/relation? What are the benefits and limitations of an American Black feminist approach to studying and designing diversity in relation to technology? The dissertation makes scientific contributions in two major ways. First, it analyses the definitions, discourses, methods, and implications of diversity in contemporary computer science and technology development with the help of American Black feminist theory. Second, the dissertation reflects on the theory of Black feminism itself as a tool to study diversity definitions, discourses, methods, and implications of diversity in computing.
The dissertation sits at the intersection of American studies, technology studies, computer science, and gender and feminist studies. It is relevant to computer scientists and designers of computer systems who seek guidance on the meaning of diversity and how (not) to leverage diversity in their designs. It is further relevant to scholars in the humanities, social sciences, and science and technology studies for its theoretical engagement with diversity, a critique of power, and its reflection on the implications of embedding diversity in technology. Finally, the dissertation offers inspiration to practitioners of all kinds, including activists, who aspire to design more just socio-technical futures.
Diversity