This panelist group comprises of Ph.D. students from the University of Texas at Dallas in the Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication program. We are interested in exploring AI critically and will dive deep into applying a feminist lens in the development of AI.

1. A I F O R A L L :
USING FEMINIST STS
FOR INCLUSIVITY
SXSW 2024

2. About us
This panelist group comprises of Ph.D.
students from the University of Texas at
Dallas in the Arts, Technology, and
Emerging Communication program. We
are interested in exploring AI critically
and will dive deep into applying a feminist
lens in the development of AI.
A I F O R A L L - U S I N G F E M I N I S T S T S F O R I N C L U S I V I T Y

3. Our Panelists
Angie Vo
Ph.D Student
Moderator
Nishanshi Shukla
Ph.D Candidate
Abby Cole Angelica Martinez
Ph.D Student Ph.D Candidate
A I F O R A L L - U S I N G F E M I N I S T S T S F O R I N C L U S I V I T Y

4. As AI is exponentially growing, it is essential that we take responsibility for
developing inclusive AI and empowering all groups through feminist science and
technology studies (STS).
This panel of Ph.D. students explores AI critically to apply a feminist lens in AI
development and implementation. Designing intersectional inclusive AI empowers all.
Through feminist science and technology studies (STS) the scholars explore the
multilinear implications of historical, cultural, and social power structures on AI and
vice versa. The panel analyses the absence of a feminist STS lens through case
studies, providing a foundation for raising questions and creating proactive solutions
for using and designing AI for a more inclusive future.
About Our Panel
A I F O R A L L - U S I N G F E M I N I S T S T S F O R I N C L U S I V I T Y

5. Takeaways:
Takeaway 1:
To lay theoretical
background for need
and establishment of
inclusivity and
intersectionality in AI
through feminist STS
and critical data studies
Takeaway 2:
To explore what
happens in the
absence of a feminist
STS lens. This includes
language and training
biases, which further
marginalizes groups
Takeaway 3:
To find ways to be
proactive in applying
this feminist lens for
using and designing
AI for a more
inclusive future.
A I F O R A L L - U S I N G F E M I N I S T S T S F O R I N C L U S I V I T Y

6. Theoretical frameworks
• Feminist / Intersectional Science and Technology Studies
• Critical Data Studies
• Critical Algorithm Studies
• Critical Code Studies
• Communication and Cultural Studies
A I F O R A L L - U S I N G F E M I N I S T S T S F O R I N C L U S I V I T Y

7. • AI Bias:
⚬ Incomplete/skewed dataset
⚬ Bias in design of features and modeling techniques (case study here)
⚬ Biased language
￭ Algorithms of Oppression How Search Engines Reinforce Racism
￭ Man is to Computer Programmer as Woman is to Homemaker? Debiasing Word
Embeddings
What happens in the absence of a Feminist STS lens?
A I F O R A L L - U S I N G F E M I N I S T S T S F O R I N C L U S I V I T Y

8. How can we be proactive in applying
this lens to our future developments?
• Academic conversations:
⚬ AI-mediated communication (AI-MC) and the social construction of gender, arguing for
designs that embrace non-binary gender terminology
⚬ AI in journalistic writing (drawing from Carey’s ritual view of communication, Hall’s
circuit of culture, and Harraway’s concept of situated knowledges)
￭ Establishing trust through the contextualization and prioritization of information in a
way that outperforms artificial intelligence.
A I F O R A L L - U S I N G F E M I N I S T S T S F O R I N C L U S I V I T Y

9. QUESTIONS?

10. THANK
YOU

11. CONTACT
angie.vo@utdallas.edu
nishanshi.shukla@utdallas.edu
abby.cole@utdallas.edu
amm180028@utdallas.edu