Data Feminism Network Podcast (Data Feminism Network)

In this episode, the DFN team discusses Race After Technology by Ruha Benjamin. We unpack examples where technology and automation yields unfair, inequitable outcomes. 

If you enjoyed this episode, we encourage you to support the author by purchasing the book. 

Follow @ruha9 on twitter, check out her website, and her new book Viral Justice. 

We are joined by Anita Raj, Mallika Dehingia, and Arnab Dey from the Center on Gender Equity and Health at UC San Diego.

In this episode, we discuss the trio's series of briefs on "Big Data and Gender in the Age of COVID-19" and explore how big data - such as Twitter data and Google Trends - can help fill gaps in traditional data collection and provide unique insights into a range of issues affecting women and girls.

Big Data and Gender in the Age of COVID-19

In this episode, Ali and Simran discuss Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. We unpack a different type of book than in previous episodes, discussing the intersection of Indigenous wisdom and science to inspire ecological awareness and reciprocal relationships with land. 

If you enjoyed this episode, we encourage you to support the author by purchasing the book. 

For more information, check out Robin Wall Kimmerer's website. 

We are joined by the fantastic Nobukhosi Dlamini. Nobukhosi is the founder of Bahati Tech, a data protection and cybersecurity company, as well as the founder of the Girls in FinTech (or GIFT) Foundation, which mentors and encourages young girls from informal settlements in Cape Town to pursue careers in the FinTech sector.

In this episode, we discuss how to encourage women and girls to join and remain in male-dominated STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) industries.

We are joined by Nadia Ahidjo, Programme Manager For Girls' Education in Emergencies at Equal Measures 2030. Nadia has over 13 years’ experience supporting women’s rights organizations in numerous countries and she specializes in the application of gender analysis in philanthropy, advocacy and policy work.

In this episode, we discuss EM2030’s project on girls’ education in emergencies and explore how to leverage data to shift power from international organizations to grassroots women’s rights organizations in this field. 

FOLLOW: @Asmaaouu 

FOLLOW: @Equal2030

ARTICLE: Leveraging Data to strengthen Girls’ Education in Emergencies 

We are joined by Neeraja Penumetcha. Neeraja is the Senior Manager of Programs and Operations at Data2X. Data2x is housed by the United Nations and dedicated to improving the quality, availability and use of gender data in order to make a practical difference in the lives of women and girls around the world.

In this episode, we discuss the past, present, and future of gender data and its role in creating a more just and equitable society.

If you're keen to learn more about gender data, the connection between data and policy, and gender data gaps, this episode is for you!

In this episode, Mycala and Elettra discuss Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez. We unpack examples where algorithms yield unfair, inequitable results, from snow plough routes and vehicle safety standards to access to finance for female-owned tech startups. 

If you enjoyed this episode, we encourage you to support the author by purchasing the book. Use our FREE study guide as a supporting resource to help you absorb key themes and concepts. 

Follow @CCriadoPerez on twitter and check out Caroline Criado Perez's podcast, Visible Women, here. 

We are joined by the wonderful Silvana Fumega, Research and Policy Lead of the Latin American Initiative for Open Data (ILDA). At ILDA, Silvana works to promote data publishing and the ethical use of data. In the past few years she has focused her work on Open Government Data and Freedom of Information policies.

In this episode, we explore the consequences of binary categories in data collection, the default perspective in our society and in our data, and frameworks on how to create more inclusive data practices.

ARTICLE: Inclusive decision-making depends on producing the right data 

FOLLOW: @ildalatam

FOLLOW: @SilvanavF

Learn more about ILDA 

Welcome back to season two of the Data Feminism Network podcast. This season, we will be sharing some of our favourite data feminism books with you, to give you a foundation of literature to explore how algorithms and data can exacerbate inequality.

In this episode, Mycala and Jade discuss Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O’Neil. We unpack examples where algorithms yield unfair, inequitable results, from prison sentencing to university and teacher ratings.

If you enjoyed this episode, register for our upcoming Weapons of Math Destruction book club!

• Register here for Monday March 6, 9am PST / 12pm EST
• Register here for Tuesday March 7, 5:30pm PST / 8:30pm EST

We also encourage you to support the author by purchasing the book - use our FREE study guide as a supporting resource to help you absorb key themes and concepts.

To listen to another podcast which features Cathy O'Neil referenced by Jade in this episode, click here. 

Check out Cathy O Neil's website here. 

In this episode, Ali and Jade reflect on DFN's three-part Data Feminism Book Club Series, hosted in collaboration with Toronto Womxn in Data Science. This episode serves as a recap, for those of you who weren't able to attend the event live, and a reflection, for those of you who did attend but want to dive deeper. We feature snippets of our Q&A with co-author Lauren F. Klein and comments from our partner, Kishawna, Founder and Executive Director of Toronto Womxn in Data Science.

FREE Data Feminism Study Guide 

Data collection, femicides and policy change: Lessons from Mexico (Article by Brenda González)

Follow: @laurenfklein 

Follow: @WomxnDSTO 

We are joined by Joanna Lindner-Pradela, Director of Knowledge Translation and Equality Insights at the International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA). Joanna oversees IWDA’s flagship program to redefine how poverty is measured, Equality Insights.

In this episode, we discuss the limitations of current poverty measures, the ways in which Equality Insights challenges these limitations, and how a gender-sensitive poverty measure will help us meet our commitments to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Learn more about Equality Insights 

FOLLOW: @Equal_Insights 

FOLLOW: @jojomaia

REGISTER: Invisible Women book club series

We are joined by the brilliant Amanda Austin, Head of Policy and Advocacy at Equal Measures 2030. Amanda manages global, regional, and national-level advocacy and policy positioning on behalf of Equal Measures 2030, where she works with their partners to connect data and evidence with advocacy and action on gender equality.

In this episode, we explore some of the biggest challenges faced by feminist organizations in using data to drive their advocacy efforts, opportunities presented by citizen-generated data, and actions stakeholders can take to support data-driven feminist movements. 

We are joined by DFN's very own Jade Greer, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Data Feminism Network.

In this episode, Jade and Ali discuss a range of annoying, infuriating, and, at times, hilarious data fails. From the automobile industry, to recruiting tools, to child welfare systems, we explore the unintended consequences of data gaps, algorithmic bias, and systemic racism. Whether you're an expert or completely new to the realm of data feminism, this episode is for you!

REGISTER: Invisible Women Book Club Series BOOK: Invisible Women by Caroline Criado-Perez  BOOK: Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O’Neil  BOOK: Automating Inequality by Virginia Eubanks WEBSITE: Algorithmic Justice League  ARTICLE: 10,000 Women Die each year because of bad design 

We are joined by the wonderful Naomi Nyamweya. Naomi is the Research Officer for Malala Fund where she conducts data-driven research and policy analysis to support Malala Fund’s advocacy for girls’ education. She’s also taken on an advisory role at DFN as one of our board members as she’s passionate about bringing more women and minorities into the world of data.

In this episode, we introduce the principles of data feminism, illustrate how standard practices in data science reinforce existing inequalities, and explores how we can leverage data to challenge and change unequal distributions of power.

Welcome to the Data Feminism Network. We are a community-hub for individuals who are passionate about leveraging data for gender equality, and for those who are keen to learn more. At DFN, we work to promote equitable and gender-sensitive data systems for better, more inclusive decision-making. Whether you're a data science and technology expert, a social justice advocate, or completely new to the realm of data feminism, DFN is the perfect place to deepen your knowledge. Follow our podcast and other events on social media @DataFeminismNetwork on Instagram and @DataFemNetwork on Twitter.

We are joined by co-author of Data Feminism Lauren F. Klein. Data Feminism presents a new way of thinking about data science and ethics - one that is informed by intersectional feminist thought. Today, data science is a form of power. It has been used to expose injustice, improve health outcomes, and topple governments. But it has also been used to discriminate, police, and surveil. This potential for good, on the one hand, and harm, on the other, makes it essential to ask: Data science by whom? Data science for whom? Data science with whose interests in mind?

In this episode, Lauren talks about her background, walks us through the writing process, and provides advice on how to implement the principles of data feminism.

FREE Data Feminism book access 

Follow: @laurenfklein

Data Do No Harm Guide

We are joined by Tara Cookson, Canada Research Chair and Assistant Professor of Gender, Development and Global Public Policy at the University of British Columbia and the Co-Founder and Director of Research at Ladysmith. Ladysmith is a feminist research consultancy that works with international organizations to collect, analyze and take action on gender data. 

In this episode, we discuss gender data projects with a focus on Ladysmith's Gender Data Kit and their current project, Cosas de Mujeres.

FOLLOW: @tpcookson 

Learn more about Ladysmith 

We are joined by internationally recognized researcher on men, masculinities, and violence prevention, Dr. Michael Flood. Dr. Flood has made a significant contribution to scholarly and community understanding of men’s and boys’ involvements in preventing and reducing violence against women and building gender equality. He also is a trainer and community educator with a long involvement in pro-feminist advocacy and education.

In this episode we explore how male privilege works to maintain gender inequalities, the ways in which feminism benefits men, and strategies for engaging men in the fight for gender equality. It takes more than one gender to have gender inequality and more than one gender to work towards justice!

FOLLOW: @MichaelGLFlood 

Learn more about Dr. Flood’s work

In this episode, our Founder, Ali Dunn, and Director of Strategic Initiatives, Jade Greer, share the story behind the founding of Data Feminism Network. From inception to present, this episode unpacks how and why we built the DFN community. You'll learn a bit about us; what inspires us, what excites us, and why we do what we do.