posted
Neat site, although some of those robots seem a little creepy if they are around humans a lot. Like I wouldn't trust a baby to Nanc-E. Sharp looking metal tentacles + baby = no-no.
Posts: 1960 | Registered: May 2005
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posted
Notice how the tasks each robot does are genderized. The lawn bot is Gar-e (a guy's name), while the vacuum cleaner is Sall-e, the laundry bot is Wend-e, and the nanny bot is Nanc-e. I find that somewhat disturbing.
I guess it adds to the overall disturbingness of the theme, in one way, but in another way I suspect the creators never even thought about that, but just let their unconscious bias come forth.
My vacuum robot is male. I named him Daneel. I know a lot of people call theirs Rosie. Do we really need to continue the gender-stereotyped roles into machinery, though?
Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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quote:My vacuum robot is male. I named him Daneel. I know a lot of people call theirs Rosie. Do we really need to continue the gender-stereotyped roles into machinery, though?
I'll be honest, and this is not meant to be disparaging to anyone of the opposite sex, but I can't recall one instance in my entire life where I saw a woman mowing the lawn. Perhaps I need to get out more.
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Tatiana: Notice how the tasks each robot does are genderized. The lawn bot is Gar-e (a guy's name), while the vacuum cleaner is Sall-e, the laundry bot is Wend-e, and the nanny bot is Nanc-e. I find that somewhat disturbing.
I guess it adds to the overall disturbingness of the theme, in one way, but in another way I suspect the creators never even thought about that, but just let their unconscious bias come forth.
My vacuum robot is male. I named him Daneel. I know a lot of people call theirs Rosie. Do we really need to continue the gender-stereotyped roles into machinery, though?
The gender-stereotypes you mention were a deliberate choice on director Andrew Stanton's part. It's just one more layer to show that while this ultra-high-tech society might -seem- like the dream of "A Better Tomorrow Through Technology" has come true, ultimately it's really about the demeaning and dehumanizing effects of ultra-consumerism.
Posts: 6689 | Registered: Jan 2005
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quote: I'll be honest, and this is not meant to be disparaging to anyone of the opposite sex, but I can't recall one instance in my entire life where I saw a woman mowing the lawn. Perhaps I need to get out more.
Perhaps you do need to get out more! I'm a woman and I mow the lawn all the time, and that's not with a riding mower either for a 1/2 acre!!! My husband can't mow -- too asthmatic. And I see other women around my neighborhood who mow. Maybe it's a Georgia, USA thing. Posts: 315 | Registered: Dec 2005
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I have mowed lawns plenty of times. And my friend Barbara does hers always.
My mom once (so the story goes) was mowing the lawn while greatly pregnant, as my dad sat on the front porch drinking a beer. A male neighbor drove by and yelled out in admiration, "Way to go, Charlie!"
Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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Umm..yeah. You do. Lots of women mow the grass. I used to until we got a riding lawnmower and I hate trying to drive the stupid thing. I really want a push mower again - I can use it for exercise.
The only gender stereotype that is always true in my household is that I do not grill. If we're grilling outside, that's hubby's thing - he cooks meat on an open flame, while I do vegetables in the kitchen. Everything else - all other cooking, laundry, vacuuming, etc we share.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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I'm sure Andrew Stanton will be pleased that his film is setting gender relations back 50 years. Posts: 6689 | Registered: Jan 2005
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