A Feminist Salon: Finding and Making Our Carrier Bags for Feminist HCI

Various feminist theories have been implemented in HCI and design over the past two decades. These feminisms are diverse in their lineages, spanning intersectionality, critical race theory, posthumanism, disability studies, and much more. In addition to the diversity of theories employed, how they are used is equally varied, bringing a rich depth to research methodologies, design, and evaluation to HCI. While plurality and diversity are strengths and defining features of feminism, they can also serve as barriers to entry for junior researchers or others interested in entering the field. In this workshop, we seek to address this challenge by bringing together feminist scholars to openly discuss and share their challenges, experiences, and breakthroughs when using feminist theory in their work. This full-day workshop focuses on setting a vision for feminist HCI by naming and co-creating introductory material for feminist HCI. This material, our carrier bags, serves as the stories we want to tell about feminist HCI to future generations: how does feminist theory shape research? What connections does feminist theory bring forward? What does it mean and feel like to be a feminist HCI scholar?  Specific outcomes of the workshop will include a living resource of feminist HCI literature and a speculative textbook for feminist HCI.

9.30 Introduction to the workshop topic, participants, and organisers

10.00 Show and tell

10.30 Coffee break

11.00 Sharing visions for a collective feminist HCI

12.30 Lunch break

13.30 Small group activities:

- Feminist HCI literature collation

- Feminist HCI textbook development

- Other activities suggested by the group

14.00 Coffee break

15.30 Wrap-up small group activities

16.30 Sharing group outcomes

17.30 Go out for dinner