A Level Sociology OCR Practice Exam

What do Haraway's cyborg politics seek to address?

1. Promotion of gender-specific roles in technology

2. Encouragement of masculine language in society

3. Phallocentric language blocking communication

4. Exclusion of women from technology

The correct answer is: Phallocentric language blocking communication

Haraway's cyborg politics aim to address issues related to language and representation, specifically concerning gender and technology. Phallocentric language, which is language that centers male perspectives and reinforces male dominance, creates barriers in communication and understanding across genders. By critiquing this language, Haraway advocates for a more inclusive discourse that recognizes and values diverse identities and experiences, particularly those of women and marginalized groups in the context of technology. Her argument is rooted in the idea that traditional gender roles and the binary understanding of gender limit the potential for alliance-building and social change. By highlighting the limitations imposed by phallocentric language, Haraway encourages the development of new forms of communication and identity that transcend these traditional barriers. This is crucial to her vision of cyborg politics, which emphasizes hybrid identities and the breakdown of rigid categorizations, promoting a more fluid understanding of gender and technology. The other choices do not align with Haraway’s aims. The promotion of gender-specific roles in technology runs counter to her perspective, which seeks to dismantle rigid binaries. Encouragement of masculine language would reinforce existing power structures rather than challenge them. Similarly, the notion of excluding women from technology is opposed to Haraway’s vision, which aims to include all identities in