Sexing Code: Subversion, Theory and Representation

Critically investigating the gender of programming in popular culture, Sexing Code proposes that the de facto representation of technical ability serves to perpetuate the age-old association of the male with intellect and reason, while identifying the female with the body. Challenging this division, in which code is situated within the male sphere, the discussion highlights women¹s contributions in the writing and theorizing of code, particularly in the digital arts, hacking, and hacktivism. Presenting an accessible and lively discussion, Sexing Code demonstrates that the gendering of programming selectively confers the privilege of authorship and is therefore a salient factor in the production of culture in the twenty-first century.