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Article
Data Our Bodies Tell: Towards Critical Feminist Action in Fertility and Period Tracking Applications
Technical Communications Quarterly (2019)
  • Maria Novotny, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
  • Les Hutchinson, Michigan State University
Abstract
This article situates reproductive applications as an emerging“do-it-yourself ”health technology in need of feminist technical communication action. The authors focus on Glow, a fertility and period tracking application, and argue that though this application promises user’s self-empowerment over their reproductive health, individual agency is often reduced. The authors consider how technical communication scholars can intervene in fertility and period tracking applications through a redesign of how consent is obtained when collecting user’s personal health information. 
Keywords
  • fertility tracking application,
  • feminist action,
  • health technologies,
  • reproduction,
  • agency,
  • consent
Publication Date
May 22, 2019
DOI
10.1080/10572252.2019.1607907
Publisher Statement
Date provided is the online early release publication date.

Citation Information
Maria Novotny and Les Hutchinson. "Data Our Bodies Tell: Towards Critical Feminist Action in Fertility and Period Tracking Applications" Technical Communications Quarterly (2019)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/les-hutchinson/3/