Gender Systems

“How are design frameworks used to shape gender equality reform in Iceland?” This question is at the forefront of Paula Gould’s work. As founder of Float and Gather ehf and Co-founder at WomenTechIceland, Paula uses systematic design to drive systems change daily. The most recent culmination of her work? Iceland's largest women’s strike in decades. Tens of thousands of Icelandic women, including the country’s female prime minister, took to the streets last October in a nationwide protest against gender inequality. In Episode 11 of To Be Designed, hosts Sam Stevens and Asha Yearwood chat about the importance of self-awareness in feminist spaces, the dynamics of creating change, and make their own connections to systems thinking and design. Despite Iceland’s progressive perception as a “Gender Utopia,” they learn that there is still room for improvement. They discuss Paula’s insight on the national women’s strike in Iceland and her experience as a woman in the industry. They also dive into the design of gender systems and why certain approaches to progress work better than others. ---- This episode was produced by Sriman Narayanan. Engineering by Ryan Kalgreen. Co-hosted by Sam Stevens and Asha Yearwood. Writing and research by Sam Stevens and Asha Yearwood. Editing by Ryan Kalgreen. Marketing by Asha Yearwood and Sam Stevens. Music by Drew McComas. Special thanks to Mark Schumacher, Casey Russell, and Paula Gould. To Be Designed is sponsored by the Segal Design Institute at Northwestern University.