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As Faith Wilding notes in her article, Where is the Feminism in Cyberfeminism?, the actual concept of cyberfeminism is open, fluid, and not yet defined with consensus by those who are engaged in its development as a new feminist theory. "Cyberfeminists have the chance to create new formations of feminist theory and practice which address the complex new social conditions created by global technologies" (Wilding, p. 10). Wilding argues for a definition of cyberfeminism that connects theory with practice, in order to best understand and situate women's lived encounters with new information technologies.
Like feminism, cyberfeminism is open to definition but contains gender as the common overarching element. Cyberfeminism takes feminism as its starting point, and turns its focus upon contemporary technologies, exploring the intersections between gender identity, the body, culture and technology. Cyberfeminism is also engaged in both theory and practice, unwilling to remain critical of new information technologies without exploring the potential for challenge and change. Dr. Sadie Plant's concept of cyberfeminism, and the Cyberfeminist Manifesto writings of the VNS Matrix, offer perhaps the best starting point into this new cyberfeminist discussion.
Dr. Plant uses the term cyberfeminism to indicate an "alliance" or "connection" between women and technology, where "women have always been the machine parts for a very much male culture" (geekgirl interview, p. 1, at http://www.geekgirl.com.au/geekgirl/archives/index.shtml). As technology becomes more advanced, and full societal access to technology more widespread, women are becoming liberated from the traditional patriarchal power structures that surround and engulf them. In turn, gender roles and gender identity are breaking down, where our societal notions of being human, feminine, and masculine are in transition.
While Dr. Plant offers a theoretical understanding of cyberfeminism as a concept and a paradigm shift, the VNS Matrix is engaged with the practice of cyberfeminism in daily life. As they say, "the impetus of the group is to investigate and decipher the narratives of domination and control which surround high technological culture and explore the construction of social space, identity and sexuality in cyberspace" (VNS Matrix Web site at http://sysx.org/vns/). In the creation and publication of their manifesto, as well as their electronic art projects, the VNS Matrix works at breaking down the patriarchal structuring of technology as a masculine space alienating to women. One overarching element behind both positions is that feminists must reject the negative structuring of technology for women, or fall into the trap of perpetuating this patriarchal model and definition.
Cyberfeminism as New Theory Bibliography