Algorithms of oppression : how search engines reinforce racism /
A revealing look at how negative biases against women of color are embedded in search engine results and algorithms Run a Google search for "black girls." What will you find? "Big Booty" and other sexually explicit terms are likely to come up as top search terms. But, if you type...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
New York :
New York University Press,
[2018]
|
| Subjects: |
| Summary: | A revealing look at how negative biases against women of color are embedded in search engine results and algorithms Run a Google search for "black girls." What will you find? "Big Booty" and other sexually explicit terms are likely to come up as top search terms. But, if you type in "white girls," the results are radically different. The suggested porn sites and unmoderated discussions about "why black women are so sassy" or "why black women are so angry" presents a disturbing portrait of black womanhood in modern society. In Algorithms of Oppression, Safiya Umoja Noble challenges the idea that search engines like Google offer an equal playing field for all forms of ideas, identities and activities. Data discrimination is a real social problem. Noble argues that the combination of private interests in promoting certain sites, along with the monopoly status of a relatively small number of Internet search engines, leads to a biased set of search algorithms that privilege whiteness and discriminate against people of color, specifically women of color. Through an analysis of textual and media searches as well as extensive research on paid online advertising, Noble exposes a culture of racism and sexism in the way discoverability is created online. As search engines and their related companies grow in importance, operating as a source for email, a major vehicle for primary and secondary school learning, and beyond, understanding and reversing these disquieting trends and discriminatory practices is of utmost importance. |
|---|---|
| Physical Description: | xv, 229 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| ISBN: | 9781479837243 1479837245 9781479849949 1479849944 |