The Intersection of Technology and Feminism
Catherine d’Ignazio, a software engineer and researcher, is dedicated to transforming the way we collect and analyze data on femicide. Her approach not only seeks to systematize information, but also to humanize it, thus mobilizing society to defend fundamental rights. An associate professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and author of ‘Counting Feminicide: Data Feminism in Action’ (2024), D’Ignazio proposes a data feminism that opens new avenues for political action.
What is Data Feminism?
Data feminism poses a fundamental question: how can data science be applied with a feminist perspective? In a world where data is increasingly powerful and becomes an asset, it is essential to understand how it can be used for social justice. D’Ignazio highlights that companies that handle large volumes of data, such as Google or Facebook, have found a source of wealth in it, and this raises concerns about privacy and ethics in its collection.
The Importance of Ethical Research
With a background in programming and a passion for technology, D’Ignazio reflects on how new digital tools can be used to build a more just world, where the rights of all people, including LGBT and racialized communities, are guaranteed. She proposes that research must start from an analysis of power to create alternatives that benefit marginalized communities.
Feminist Hackathons: Creating New Tools
Feminist hackathons are an example of how a space can be created to address often-ignored issues in technology. These events have generated tools for reproductive health and racial justice, with a focus on creating safe and inclusive spaces for women and children.
Data Collection: An Act of Resistance
Since the 1980s, women’s groups have been collecting data on femicides. Today, more than 190 groups around the world do so, challenging official figures and government policies. D’Ignazio highlights the work of Maria Salguero in Mexico, who has dedicated her efforts to collecting information that is often ignored by authorities.
Humanizing Data
Organizations that work with data on femicide are constantly seeking to humanize these figures. Actions such as the exhibition of empty chairs in Argentina serve to remember the victims and make visible the gravity of this phenomenon. In this way, the data becomes a powerful tool for social awareness.
Building a Future Without Violence
Gender-based violence shows different patterns depending on the region, and feminist groups are working to expand legal definitions of femicide. Through data collection, they seek to highlight the structural violence suffered by women, as well as to pressure for changes in public policies.
A Global Community of Practice
D’Ignazio highlights the importance of creating a community of practice between activists from different countries, to share knowledge and resources. This collaboration is essential to building a technology ecosystem that responds to the needs of affected communities.
A Path Towards Transformation
The real goal of data collection is not just to record numbers, but to mobilize that information to bring about change. Activists need resources to communicate their findings effectively, whether through reporting or social mobilizations.
Final Thoughts on Collective Action
The work of D’Ignazio and her colleagues is an example of how technology can be used to promote social justice. While companies seek to appropriate data, it is essential to build alternatives that put technology at the service of the common good. Change is possible if data is harnessed to identify and combat inequalities.