gender affairs
empowering gender equality & diversity through gender-sensitive design
In this design-theoretical study, the productive design is placed in relation to the social construction of gender identities and the process of gender equality.
The common thread is the question of diversity empowering design and how, consequently, an open and equal society is possible with the help of gender-sensitive products. In the first part, fragmentary insights into elementary theoretical constructs are used to show the extent to which gender as a social construction consolidates social relations of hierarchy and inequality. In the second part, the findings are applied in a practical analysis of subjective and projective design in order to finally outline a gender-sensitive design approach. Looking ahead, the potential of additive manufacturing, mass customisation and parametric CAD is presented in regard to gender-sensitive design strategies.
