Selfe's Main Claims

"The Un-Gendered Utopia and the same old gendered stuff" was my group's section. In Selfe's essay, one of the main claims is, "computers are complexly socially determined artifacts that interact with exsisting social formations and tendencies-including sexism, classism, and racism-to contribute to the shpaing of a gendered society" (306). The evidence Selfe provides for this main claim is the advertisement on page 314 about the nokia monitors. It shows an elegantly dressed woman staring into the computer screen as if its another set of eyes. It's projecting the image that since she uses these monitors, that other people (mainly women) should do so as well. They want it to project a sense of beauty, by saying that if you buy this monitor, you can be like her. In this advertisement, they are targeting women.
Another claim Selfe makes is, "men use technology to accomplish things; women benefit from technology to enhance the ease of their lives to benefit their families," (308). Her evidence is displayed on page 309 (figure 10) when it shows the family all gathered around the computer screen with the keyboard in the father's hands. This shows that the man is "in control" of the computer and productively entertaining his family while the wife and children are enjoying it. Both of these advertisments display strong examples of the gender roles of different sexes. Selfe wonders if, as old fashioned as they may be, are they still present among us today?