Impact of Female-Robots on Gender Equality & Women Rights
The advancement in technology has brought about the creation of female humanoid robots, which have been designed to perform various tasks, including household chores, caregiving, and entertainment. These robots have been marketed to fill the gap in the demand for labor, and to address the issue of caregiving for the elderly and disabled. While they have been touted as solutions to various problems, their impact on gender equality and women’s rights has become a topic of discussion.
Impact on Gender Equality
One view is that female humanoid robots reinforce gender stereotypes, as they are often designed to embody traditionally feminine traits, such as submissiveness and emotional responsiveness. This reinforces the notion that women are naturally suited to caregiving roles, and that they are expected to perform such duties without complaint. The use of female humanoid robots also perpetuates the belief that women are inferior to men and reinforces patriarchal structures, which can negatively impact the progress of gender equality.
Picture Credit: RAEng on Unsplash.com
On the other hand, female humanoid robots can also be seen as a way to advance gender equality by freeing women from traditional caregiving roles and allowing them to pursue other career opportunities. Female humanoid robots can perform tasks that are typically performed by women, such as cleaning, cooking, and childcare, allowing women to take on other roles that are traditionally held by men. This can contribute to a more equal distribution of labor, and help to challenge traditional gender roles. An study conducted by Shailendra Kumar & Sanghamitra Choudhury (in University of Oxford) states;
“Gendering AI robots doesn’t enhance acceptability because gender doesn’t affect robot operation or performance.”
Furthermore, this can also contribute to the empowerment of women by providing them with new opportunities and experiences. For example, female humanoid robots can be programmed to perform a wide range of tasks, including those that require physical strength and technical skills, which have traditionally been seen as male domains. This can help to challenge gender-based biases and open up new career opportunities for women.
Impact on Woman Rights
Another important factor to consider is the impact of female humanoid robots on the employment of women. While some people argue that the use of female humanoid robots will lead to job losses for women, others argue that it will create new job opportunities for women. For example, the development and deployment of female humanoid robots will require a workforce that is highly skilled in engineering, robotics, and programming. This will create new job opportunities for women who are interested in these fields, and provide them with the opportunity to enter new and growing industries. Study Shailendra Kumar & Sanghamitra Choudhury states;
“Even though most respondents disagreed that female robots are more empathetic than male robots, they agreed that they are regarded differently. Like sonography, AI will affect gender balance in countries like India. They agree that changing lifestyles and interpersonal difficulties may encourage people to live with AI robots.”
Conclusion
In a nutshell, female robots’ impact on gender equality and women’s rights is complex and multifaceted. While they can reinforce gender stereotypes, they can also provide new opportunities for women and help to challenge traditional gender roles. However, it is important to note that the development and deployment of female humanoid robots must be guided by ethical considerations that promote equality and respect for human rights. This includes ensuring that these robots are programmed to respect human dignity, and that they are not used to reinforce oppressive structures and gender-based biases.
