Feminist Futures of Work

The future of work is at the centre of debates related to the emerging digital society. Concerns range from the inclusion, equity, and dignity of those at the far end of the value chain, who participate on and off platforms, often in the shadows, invisible to policymakers, designers, and consumers. Precarity and informality characterize this largely female workforce, across sectors ranging from artisanal work to salon services to ride hailing and construction. A feminist reimagining of the futures of work—what we term as “FemWork” —is the need of the day and should manifest in multiple and various forms, placing the worker at the core and drawing on her experiences, aspirations, and realities. This volume offers grounded insights from academic, activist, legal, development and design perspectives that can help us think through these inclusive futures and possibly create digital, social, and governance infrastructures of work that are fairer and more meaningful.

Arora Payal :

Payal Arora is a digital anthropologist and author of award-winning books, including The Next Billion Users with Harvard Press. Her expertise lies in digital cultures, inequality, and inclusive design. She is a Professor and Chair in Technology, Values, and Global Media Cultures at Erasmus University, and Co-Founder of FemLab.Co, a future of work initiative.Raman Usha :

Usha Raman is a professor in the Department of Communication, University of Hyderabad. Her research and teaching span the areas of journalism pedagogy, critical studies of science, health and technology, feminist media studies, and digital culture. She was elected Vice President of IAMCR for the period 2020-2024. She is co-founder of FemLab.Co, an IDRC-funded initiative on feminist futures of work.König René :

René König is a sociologist interested in the co-evolution of the internet and society. He has worked in the field of Technology Assessment and is currently a PhD student at the University of Stuttgart.

"To bring a world of just and equitable work into being, we need truly inclusive visions and strategies. This powerful book deploys a feminist lens to do just that from a diverse range of perspectives."
Prof. Mark Graham, Professor at Oxford Internet Institute and Founder of Fairwork foundation

"For over a century, feminism has fought for women’s rightful, equal place in economies and societies. This thoughtfully conceived, keenly perceptive, and accessibly written book continues the quest, capturing the modern-day struggle of women’s working lives in a digital world. A must-read for anyone interested in promoting more equitable and inclusive labour markets -- today and in the future."
Sabina Dewan, President & Executive Director, JustJobs Network.