Short answer
Designers must move beyond a binary understanding of gender and actively consider the diverse ways masculinities are expressed and experienced when developing new products and systems.
- Field
- Innovation & Design
- Source
- Academic Publication (2023)
- Method
- Scoping Review
- Sample
- 126 papers
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
A comprehensive review of 30 years of research reveals a significant, yet often overlooked, body of work within Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) that engages with masculinities, moving beyond a singular focus on gender to explore its diverse manifestations. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Academic Publication. Using Scoping review with 126 papers, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers must move beyond a binary understanding of gender and actively consider the diverse ways masculinities are expressed and experienced when developing new products and systems.
Masculinities in HCI: A 30-Year Research Trajectory
A comprehensive review of 30 years of research reveals a significant, yet often overlooked, body of work within Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) that engages with masculinities, moving beyond a singular focus on gender to explore its diverse manifestations.
Academic Publication · 2023
Key Findings
- 01The field of HCI has a 30-year history of engaging with masculinities, though this work is often not explicitly framed as such.
- 02Research on masculinities in HCI has evolved, addressing issues of privilege, power, and patriarchal harms, as well as participation, plurality, and transformation.
- 03There is a call for a broader focus on masculinities to avoid placing the burden of change solely on women and genderful individuals.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers must move beyond a binary understanding of gender and actively consider the diverse ways masculinities are expressed and experienced when developing new products and systems.
How to apply
When conducting user research or ideating for a new design project, actively seek out and include perspectives from individuals who identify with a wide range of masculinities. Consider how your design choices might be perceived by these diverse groups.
Project actions
- 01When defining your target audience, consider the spectrum of gender identities and expressions, including various masculinities.
- 02In your user research, ask open-ended questions that allow participants to express their experiences related to gender and technology in their own terms.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a comprehensive historical overview of a specific research area.
- +Identifies gaps and suggests future research directions.
Limitations
The scope of this review is limited to a specific conference, and the definition of 'masculinities' can be complex and vary across cultures and individuals.
Reliability & validity
The reliability of the review depends on the consistency of the researchers in identifying and categorizing papers related to masculinities. Validity is enhanced by the systematic approach to paper selection and analysis, but may be limited by the subjective interpretation of 'masculinities'.
Think critically
How might the historical focus on 'masculinities' in HCI, as identified in this review, influence the design of future technologies, and what are the potential ethical considerations?
Design Principles
"Design for gender inclusivity by acknowledging and representing the plurality of gendered experiences, including diverse masculinities."
Understanding the historical and evolving discourse around masculinities in HCI is crucial for designers and researchers aiming to create more inclusive and equitable technologies. This insight highlights the need to consider a broader spectrum of gendered experiences in design practice.
What This Means for Your Design
This research looked at how technology design (like apps or websites) has thought about men and different types of masculinity over the last 30 years. It found that there's a lot more to explore than just one idea of being a man, and designers should think about this diversity.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this review when discussing the importance of considering diverse gender identities and expressions in your design process, especially if your project touches upon user interaction or representation.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights the evolving discourse on masculinities within Human-Computer Interaction, suggesting that design practice should move beyond singular gendered assumptions to embrace a more pluralistic understanding of user experiences. Incorporating this nuanced perspective can lead to more inclusive and impactful design outcomes.
Source
Questions About This Research
- What does the research say about masculinities in hci: a 30-year research trajectory?
- Designers must move beyond a binary understanding of gender and actively consider the diverse ways masculinities are expressed and experienced when developing new products and systems. Evidence: Academic Publication (2023).
- Why does "Masculinities in HCI: A 30-Year Research Trajectory" matter for design?
- Understanding the historical and evolving discourse around masculinities in HCI is crucial for designers and researchers aiming to create more inclusive and equitable technologies. This insight highlights the need to consider a broader spectrum of gendered experiences in design practice.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers must move beyond a binary understanding of gender and actively consider the diverse ways masculinities are expressed and experienced when developing new products and systems.
- What were the main findings?
- The field of HCI has a 30-year history of engaging with masculinities, though this work is often not explicitly framed as such.. Research on masculinities in HCI has evolved, addressing issues of privilege, power, and patriarchal harms, as well as participation, plurality, and transformation.. There is a call for a broader focus on masculinities to avoid placing the burden of change solely on women and genderful individuals.
- What research method was used?
- Scoping Review with 126 papers.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Academic Publication.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When conducting user research or ideating for a new design project, actively seek out and include perspectives from individuals who identify with a wide range of masculinities. Consider how your design choices might be perceived by these diverse groups.
- What are the limitations?
- The review is limited to papers published in the ACM CHI conference proceedings, potentially excluding relevant work from other venues. The interpretation of 'masculinities' may also be subjective.