The creation of the first "female" robot shows some intresting things
about our times.
We have had robots for quite some time now, they have mostly been used
in the industry to build cars and replace (male) workers.
It seem that BBC has had no doubt that all of these machines where
males since they now point out that the first female robot has been
produced.
So what functions does it have and what makes it unique? And what does
that say about the view on the functions of women in our society?
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4714135.stm
"She has flexible silicone for skin rather than hard plastic, and a
number of sensors and motors to allow her to turn and react in a
human-like manner. "
"She can flutter her eyelids and move her hands like a human."
"Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro of Osaka University says one day robots
could fool us into believing they are human. "
"Repliee Q1Expo can interact with people. It can respond to people
touching it. It's very satisfying"
"Professor Ishiguro believes that it may prove possible to build an
android that could pass for a human, if only for a brief period. "
....
Compared to the non-female robots, that there is no atemp to make
human this robot is not made for industrial work but rather for
serving and communication.
It can also flutter its eyelids and react to touching in a way that is
"realy satisfying". Which gives us some clues for the future plans for
the development of this robots that apear to be females.
The idea of what a female robots should be good for acording to
contemporary patriarchy seems in other words to be a maid and a
fucktoy.
A definition of what a woman is good for, that is not that far from
how patriarchy views women of flesh and bone, in other words.
This proves once again that specific charactersitics and functions
does more to define what is male and female in the patriarchal eye
than for example an ability to give birth. To be submisive is to be
female for patriarchy and to work in a factory is not to be a female.
Once again Dr Frankentein gives birth but this time he does not create
a monster out of his own image but rather a slave out of his image of
what a woman is.
/ Wendal
Can comment on articles and discussions
Well at least it'd free real women from those roles.
On the other hand it'd reinforce some really dodgy stereotypes.
Not too sure what to make of it, really.
Mind you, the Church of Satan'll be happy. They've been advocating robot fucktoys for years.