BRIGITTE RATZER
Equal Opportunities Officer. Technology researcher. Feminist.
If it does not include everyone, it is not the truth. Brigitte Ratzer is Head of Office for Gender Competence at TU Wien and an expert in sex and gender analysis in science and technology research, gendered innovations, integration of gender dimension in research projects, and gender equality policy. Dedicated to bringing the balance to research, she is the heard and understood voice in the crowded world of academia and technology. Currently engaged in building up a network for transferring feminist and gender knowledge to engineering research groups and adding it to the curricula.
Brigitte Ratzer / © Eva Kelety
“Almost all areas of our lives are closely linked to the use of technologies. The challenge is to design technologies in such a way that they improve the quality of life of all people worldwide. ”
Robots in our society
What does robotics have to do with gender? And what are the responsibilities of researchers and research funders?
Humans & Computers
How should the interface between humans and computers be designed so that as many people as possible can use a product? And what does this have to do with gender?
Energy for all
How can a just energy transition succeed in which no people are disadvantaged? And what does gender have to do with it?
Inclusive design - why you should consider intersectionality
Seatbelts that are not safe for pregnant women and algorithms that only work for men with light skin. Why technical research and development must include people in their diversity.
Mobility for all
How can personal mobility be realised that is affordable, environmentally friendly and safe - and that responds to the needs of all people? What does gender have to do with it?
The longer I deal with technologies in our society, the more important it becomes to me to make as many people as possible understand the importance of this topic for each individual. How we work, how we are mobile, how we live, how we communicate, how we spend our free time, how we organise our everyday lives - almost all areas of our lives are closely connected to the use of technologies. Looking at technologies from a feminist perspective means analysing whether and how technologies currently serve mainly limited groups and limited interests. I want technologies that serve all people, animals and the environment. The design of technologies, just like laws, should be publicly discussed and negotiated. To make this possible, simple and clear translations are needed. Many of my publications and also the videos on individual technology topics aim to enable such a democratic discourse.
“I want us to see technologies as a means to shape our world. We must therefore design our technologies specifically to reduce social inequalities.”
