The Labor Tech Research Network<http://labortechresearchnetwork.org/> is excited to launch our blog! We seek pieces that broaden discussions about the intersection of labor and technology, and how it is embedded in transnationalism, feminism, and anti-racism. Our first post is “Gender, Technology, and Empowerment: Reflections on the 67th Commission on the Status of Women”<https://medium.com/@labortechresearchnetwork/gender-technology-and-empowerment-reflections-on-the-67th-commission-on-the-status-of-women-68d2df4d50bf> by Rianka Roy<https://sociology.uconn.edu/person/rianka-roy/>, a PhD student in Sociology at the University of Connecticut. In it, Rianka reflects on her participation in the 67th Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations, held recently at the headquarters in New York. Over 7,000 civil society members representing nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other feminist activist groups from around the world participated in the hybrid event. Rianka reflects on panels concerning the digital divide, health, and sex work, occasionally critiquing how these issues were framed by participants (for example, the presence of “carceral feminism” in some discussions). A huge thank you to Rianka for helping us launch the blog! Submissions Our goal is to create a space for: commentary on things that are happening at the moment, for reflections personal experiences, and for up-to-date accounts of your research. This is meant to break out of formal publishing channels, and give us a chance to write more informally. So while we accept traditional pieces, we also welcome nontraditional formats that address labor and technology in the spirit of our mission, stated below in our description. These formats are inclusive of, but not limited to: * Reflections on and/or analyses of current events, conferences, workshops, and advocacy gatherings * Companion pieces to recently published academic articles (i.e., versions that are in more public-facing language style) * “A typical day in X job” (e.g., routines of a tech worker, or day in the life of a striking graduate student), presented as biographical accounts, personal experiences, or fieldnote-style descriptions * Statements of solidarity * Reviews of things you have read, watched or listened to that are accessible to the public, and resonate with our mission. These could be books, essays, movies, documentaries, podcasts, etc., and are not limited to recently released works. * Fiction or poetry excerpts on labor and technology themes * Video and audio content on labor and technology * Descriptions of film, art, and design by our members * Summaries of LaborTech meetups around the world Guidelines * Eligibility is open to members and nonmembers. * Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis, without deadlines. * Collective, multiple, or single authors permitted * Target word count is variable, depending on the submission. * It is helpful (but not required) to pitch the idea to us first. * Send submissions to labortechresearchnetwork@gmail.com<mailto:labortechresearchnetwork@gmail.com>. About the Labor Tech Research Network Labor Tech Research Network is an interdisciplinary and transnational group of experts concerned with technology and work. We are scholars, tech workers (broadly conceived), union organizers, policymakers, journalists, nonprofit researchers and staff, activists, and more. We aim to reframe conversations about technology and labor towards issues of power, inequality, and social justice from an anti-racist, feminist, and transnational perspective. Starting as a reading group in the Center for Social Computing at UC Irvine in 2013, we have recently transitioned into a formal organization with over 450 members affiliated with over 45 countries. We are committed to sustained reflection on the promise and perils of technological developments, especially as they impact the workplace. To learn more about us, please visit our website.<http://labortechresearchnetwork.org/> If you would like to join our group, please use this form<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVIjhPI66lwskeAGacEWNkg6Ae66kvjCmGM6lTcbtXe3UgAg/viewform?usp=sf_link> :) We look forward to your pitches! Your editors (alphabetically), Adam Badger Srravya Chandhiramowuli Rukimani PV Karina Rider Yijia Zhang -- Karina Rider, PhD Postdoctoral Researcher Social Media Collective, Microsoft Research New England Organizer, Labor Tech Research Network<http://labortechresearchnetwork.org/> @kaareeenah // karinarider.com