1
|
Weßel M, Ellerich-Groppe N, Schweda M, Koppelin F. [The Perspectives of Stakeholders on Users of Care Robotics at the Intersection of Age and Gender - Results of a Qualitative Analysis]. DAS GESUNDHEITSWESEN 2023; 85:1037-1042. [PMID: 37220788 PMCID: PMC11248739 DOI: 10.1055/a-2055-9496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Having to face the challenges posed by a shortage of skilled care workers and an increasing number of older people in need of care, policy makers and economic enterprises perceive care robotics as a promising solution. However, studies have shown that potential users have little interest in technology and that technology developers have little knowledge about the needs and wishes of potential users. Against this background, this paper explores, based on 16 qualitative interviews with stakeholders from the area of technology development, marketing, and nursing care (science), which assumptions and expectations regarding age and gender of users are relevant in this field. The results revealed three perspectives of the stakeholders regarding the users of care robotics: 1) the need to take age and gender in development and implementation of care robotics was acknowledged, 2) the relevance of other social categories, such as education, culture and illness, was mentioned, and 3) the relevance of social categories was rejected altogether. These results are discussed in the context of discourses about diversity in care-robotics and conclusions are drawn for user-centred and diversity-sensitive technology development and implementation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Merle Weßel
- Abteilung Ethik in der Medizin, Department für Versorgungsforschung, Fakultät VI - Medizin und Gesundheitswissenschaften, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Niklas Ellerich-Groppe
- Abteilung Ethik in der Medizin, Department für Versorgungsforschung, Fakultät VI - Medizin und Gesundheitswissenschaften, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Mark Schweda
- Abteilung Ethik in der Medizin, Department für Versorgungsforschung, Fakultät VI - Medizin und Gesundheitswissenschaften, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Frauke Koppelin
- Jade Hochschule Wilhelmshaven/Oldenburg/Elsfleth, Fachbereich Bauwesen Geoinformation Gesundheitstechnologe - Studienort Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Accounting for Diversity in Robot Design, Testbeds, and Safety Standardization. Int J Soc Robot 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s12369-023-00974-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
AbstractScience has started highlighting the importance of integrating diversity considerations in medicine and healthcare. However, there is little research into how these considerations apply, affect, and should be integrated into concrete healthcare innovations such as rehabilitation robotics. Robot policy ecosystems are also oblivious to the vast landscape of gender identity understanding, often ignoring these considerations and failing to guide developers in integrating them to ensure they meet user needs. While this ignorance may be for the traditional heteronormative configuration of the medical, technical, and legal world, the ending result is the failure of roboticists to consider them in robot development. However, missing diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations can result in robotic systems that can compromise user safety, be discriminatory, and not respect their fundamental rights. This paper explores the impact of overlooking gender and sex considerations in robot design on users. We focus on the safety standard for personal care robots ISO 13482:2014 and zoom in on lower-limb exoskeletons. Our findings signal that ISO 13482:2014 has significant gaps concerning intersectional aspects like sex, gender, age, or health conditions and, because of that, developers are creating robot systems that, despite adherence to the standard, can still cause harm to users. In short, our observations show that robotic exoskeletons operate intimately with users’ bodies, thus exemplifying how gender and medical conditions might introduce dissimilarities in human–robot interaction that, as long as they remain ignored in regulations, may compromise user safety. We conclude the article by putting forward particular recommendations to update ISO 13482:2014 to reflect better the broad diversity of users of personal care robots.
Collapse
|
3
|
Weßel M, Schweda M. Recognizing the Diverse Faces of Later Life: Old Age as a Category of Intersectional Analysis in Medical Ethics. THE JOURNAL OF MEDICINE AND PHILOSOPHY 2023; 48:21-32. [PMID: 36519751 DOI: 10.1093/jmp/jhac038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Public and academic medical ethics debates surrounding justice and age discrimination often proceed from a problematic understanding of old age that ignores the diversity of older people. This article introduces the feminist perspective of intersectionality to medical ethical debates on aging and old age in order to analyze the structural discrimination of older people in medicine and health care. While current intersectional approaches in this field focus on race, gender, and sexuality, we thus set out to introduce aging and old age as an additional category that is becoming more relevant in the context of longer life expectancies and increasing population aging. We analyze three exemplary cases on the individual, institutional, and public health level, and argue that considering the intersections of old age with other social categories helps to accommodate the diverse identities of older people and detect inequality and structural discrimination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Merle Weßel
- Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Mark Schweda
- Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Craiut MV, Iancu IR. Is technology gender neutral? A systematic literature review on gender stereotypes attached to artificial intelligence. HUMAN TECHNOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.14254/1795-6889.2022.18-3.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence implies computer systems capable of mimicking human-like intelligence and competencies. In the nowadays society it is an exciting topic, thus, technology’s gender features and roles are of great interest as well. As the literature is still scarce and inconsistent, the present paper aims to develop a systematic literature review on gender stereotypes attached to technology (virtual assistants and robots). The main goals are to emphasize the labels given to technology from a gender perspective, the perceived competencies of the gendered technology, the most relevant variables responsible for the way gender issues are perceived in connection with technology, and the proposed solutions for diminishing the technology gender stereotypes. Forty-five scientific papers have been selected and analyzed. Findings suggest that the most intelligent technologies are designed as females, male-gendered technology performs better in task-solving, and users’ age and technology’s visual representation are important variables in perception.
Collapse
|
5
|
Faissner M, Hartmann KV, Marcinski-Michel I, Müller R, Weßel M. [Feminist perspectives in German-language medical ethics: a review and three hypotheses]. Ethik Med 2022; 34:669-686. [PMID: 36258779 PMCID: PMC9559163 DOI: 10.1007/s00481-022-00724-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Im internationalen Diskurs sind feministische Perspektiven auf die Medizinethik bereits etabliert. Demgegenüber scheinen diese bislang nur vereinzelt in den deutschsprachigen medizinethischen Diskurs eingebracht zu werden. In diesem Artikel untersuchen wir, welche feministischen Perspektiven im deutschsprachigen medizinethischen Diskurs vertreten sind, und schlagen weitere Ansätze für eine feministische Medizinethik vor. Zu diesem Zweck zeichnen wir mittels einer systematisierten Literaturrecherche feministische Perspektiven im deutschsprachigen medizinethischen Diskurs seit der Etablierung der Medizinethik als eigenständiger institutionalisierter Disziplin nach. Wir analysieren, welche Themen bereits innerhalb der Medizinethik aus einer feministischen Perspektive untersucht worden sind, und identifizieren Leerstellen. Basierend auf der Literaturrecherche, unseren eigenen Vorarbeiten sowie der Zusammenarbeit in der Arbeitsgruppe in der Akademie für Ethik in der Medizin „Feministische Perspektiven in der Bio- und Medizinethik“ stellen wir drei Thesen vor, die aus unserer Sicht einer Weiterentwicklung des deutschsprachigen medizinethischen Diskurses dienen können. Die erste These bezieht sich auf die Ziele feministischer Medizinethiken und besagt, dass diese (epistemische) Gerechtigkeit anstreben. Die zweite These stellt zentrale Eigenschaften von feministischen Medizinethiken als kritisch und kontext-sensibel heraus. In der dritten These diskutieren wir Intersektionalität und Postkolonialismus als theoretische Ansätze, die zu einer epistemisch gerechten, kritischen und kontext-sensiblen Medizinethik beitragen können. Wir argumentieren, dass feministische Perspektiven grundständig verankert werden sollten. Der Artikel schließt mit einem Ausblick auf die Arbeit der im letzten Jahr gegründeten Arbeitsgruppe in der Akademie für Ethik in der Medizin „Feministische Perspektiven in der Bio- und Medizinethik“.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam Faissner
- Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Präventivmedizin, LWL-Universitätsklinikum, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Alexandrinenstraße 1–3, 44791 Bochum, Deutschland
| | - Kris Vera Hartmann
- Institut für Geschichte und Ethik der Medizin, Medizinische Fakultät, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Deutschland
| | - Isabella Marcinski-Michel
- Institut für Ethik und Geschichte der Medizin, Medizinische Fakultät, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Deutschland
| | - Regina Müller
- Institut für Philosophie, Universität Bremen, Bremen, Deutschland
| | - Merle Weßel
- Ethik in der Medizin, Department Versorgungsforschung, Fakultät VI Medizin und Gesundheitswissenschaften, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Deutschland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Weßel M, Ellerich-Groppe N, Koppelin F, Schweda M. Gender and Age Stereotypes in Robotics for Eldercare: Ethical Implications of Stakeholder Perspectives from Technology Development, Industry, and Nursing. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2022; 28:34. [PMID: 35943612 PMCID: PMC9363362 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-022-00394-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Social categorizations regarding gender or age have proven to be relevant in human-robot interaction. Their stereotypical application in the development and implementation of robotics in eldercare is even discussed as a strategy to enhance the acceptance, well-being, and quality of life of older people. This raises serious ethical concerns, e.g., regarding autonomy of and discrimination against users. In this paper, we examine how relevant professional stakeholders perceive and evaluate the use of social categorizations and stereotypes regarding gender and age in robotics for eldercare. Based on 16 semi-structured interviews with representatives from technology development, industry, and nursing science as well as practice, we explore the subjects' awareness, evaluations, and lines of argument regarding the corresponding moral challenges. Six different approaches of dealing with categorizations and stereotypes regarding gender and age in care robotics for older people are identified: negation, functionalistic relativization, explanation, neutralization, stereotyping, and queering. We discuss the ethical implications of these approaches with regard to professional responsibility and draw conclusions for responsible age tech in pluralistic societies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Merle Weßel
- Division of Ethics in Medicine, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Niklas Ellerich-Groppe
- Division of Ethics in Medicine, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany.
| | - Frauke Koppelin
- Section Technology and Health, Jade University of Applied Sciences Oldenburg/Wilhelmshaven/Elsfleth, Ofener Straße 16/19, 26121, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Mark Schweda
- Division of Ethics in Medicine, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fossa F, Sucameli I. Gender Bias and Conversational Agents: an ethical perspective on Social Robotics. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2022; 28:23. [PMID: 35445886 PMCID: PMC9023424 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-022-00376-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The increase in the spread of conversational agents urgently requires to tackle the ethical issues linked to their design. In fact, developers frequently include in their products cues that trigger social biases in order to maximize the performance and the quality of human-machine interactions. The present paper discusses whether and to what extent it is ethically sound to intentionally trigger gender biases through the design of virtually embodied conversational agents. After outlining the complex dynamics involving social biases, social robots, and design, we evaluate the ethics of integrating gender cues in conversational agents, analysing four different approaches to the problem. Finally, we suggest which approach in our opinion might have the best chances to reduce the negative effects of biases and discriminatory visions of gender dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Fossa
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Irene Sucameli
- Department of Computer Science, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|