Digital Diasporas: Labor and Affect in Gendered Indian Digital Publics

Digital Diasporas explores the ways in which digital technologies shape our lives and communities, highlighting the importance of affect and gendered digital labour in global socio-economic environments.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 25 June 2019
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield International

Digital technologies have become an integral part of our daily lives, shaping the way we work, play, and connect with others. They have created communities, conversations, and social movements that have emerged spontaneously and through careful offline planning. While we have used disembodied communication and transportation technologies in the past, we have never before actually synchronously inhabited these communicative spaces, routes, and networks in quite the way we do now. Digital Diasporas engages conversations across a selection of contemporary (gendered) Indian identified networks online, including "Desis" creating place through labour and affective network formation in Second Life, Indian (diasporic) women engaged in digital domesticity, and Indian digital feminists engaged in debate and dialogue through Twitter.

Through particular conversations and ethnographic journeys and linking back to personal and South Asian histories of Internet mediation, Gajjala and her co-authors reveal how affect and gendered digital labour combine in the formation of global socio-economic environments.

One of the key themes of Digital Diasporas is the impact of affect and gendered digital labour on the formation of global socio-economic environments. Affect refers to the emotional and psychological aspects of work, while gendered digital labour refers to the ways in which gender shapes the nature of digital work. Gajjala and her co-authors argue that affect and gendered digital labour are intertwined and have a significant impact on the way that work is organized and performed.

One of the ways in which affect and gendered digital labour combine is through the creation of global socio-economic environments. Global socio-economic environments are shaped by the interactions between different countries, regions, and communities. These environments are characterized by a range of factors, including economic growth, social inequality, and political instability. Digital technologies have played a significant role in shaping these environments, by providing new opportunities for work and by facilitating the flow of information and resources across borders.

However, the impact of digital technologies on global socio-economic environments has been uneven. While some individuals and communities have benefited from the opportunities provided by digital technologies, others have been left behind. This has led to a growing inequality and a sense of disempowerment among many people.

One of the reasons for this uneven impact is the gendered nature of digital labour. Women are often underrepresented in the digital workforce, and they are often paid less than men for the same work. This can have a significant impact on their economic well-being and their ability to participate in the digital economy.

Gajjala and her co-authors argue that affect and gendered digital labour can be addressed through a range of policies and practices. One of the most important policies is to promote gender equality in the digital workforce. This can be done by providing training and education to women, by creating more opportunities for women to work in the digital industry, and by ensuring that women are paid fairly for their work.

Another policy is to promote digital literacy and skills among women. This can be done by providing access to computers and the internet, by providing training and education to women, and by creating more opportunities for women to use digital technologies in their work and personal lives.

In addition to these policies, there are also a range of practices that can be used to address affect and gendered digital labour. One of these practices is to create more inclusive and diverse workplaces. This can be done by hiring a diverse range of employees, by providing training and education to employees on diversity and inclusion, and by creating a culture of respect and inclusion.

Another practice is to promote work-life balance. This can be done by providing flexible work hours, by providing paid parental leave, and by providing support for employees who are caring for family members.

Finally, it is important to address the impact of digital technologies on mental health. Digital technologies can be stressful and can have a negative impact on mental health. This can be addressed by providing access to mental health services, by promoting healthy work practices, and by creating a culture of support and care.

In conclusion, Digital Diasporas engages conversations across a selection of contemporary (gendered) Indian identified networks online, including "Desis" creating place through labour and affective network formation in Second Life, Indian (diasporic) women engaged in digital domesticity, and Indian digital feminists engaged in debate and dialogue through Twitter. Through particular conversations and ethnographic journeys and linking back to personal and South Asian histories of Internet mediation, Gajjala and her co-authors reveal how affect and gendered digital labour combine in the formation of global socio-economic environments. By promoting gender equality in the digital workforce, promoting digital literacy and skills among women, creating more inclusive and diverse workplaces, promoting work-life balance, and addressing the impact of digital technologies on mental health, we can create a more equitable and sustainable digital future for all.

Weight: 363g
Dimension: 214 x 140 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783481163