Feminist Challenges in the Information Age

In the last three decades, women's intervention in the social and natural sci­ ences, in medicine and technology has introduced new paradigms. We have to admit that it takes time and energy to influence these fields in a feministic way. Women do not only work for the growth of knowledge, but also for the trans­ formation of knowledge systems. This book is about using knowledge for action in an interdisciplinary effort focussing on information as a social resource. Women's approach to the information age is different, as becomes visible in this book: Women's scholarly explorations include not only developing technol­ ogy, but also improving communication and networking, as well as supporting democratic processes by taking advantage of the tremendous technological op­ tions. I am convinced that this approach is vital for living the information soci­ ety, and that it will also make fields relating to information technology more at­ tractive to women. This book is the outcome of the Project Area INFORMATION of the Interna­ tional Women's University (ifo) held at the University of Hamburg in the sum­ mer 2000. As the Deputy Minister for Science and Research of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg I was responsible for promoting this study program. The international gathering of 150 participants was a most exciting event. The experience of ifo has enriched me as a scientist, as a feminist and as a politician.