Joana Vilela Fernandes
Papers
2
Total Citations
7
H-Index
2
About
Joana Vilela Fernandes is a critical voice at the intersection of technology, gender studies, and socio-legal theory. Her research focuses on the ethical and political implications of artificial intelligence, particularly how robot citizenship exposes and amplifies existing human rights and gender inequalities. Fernandes’s most cited work examines the landmark case of Sophia the robot, which was granted Saudi citizenship in 2017. Through this lens, she argues that the robot’s citizenship—granted in a nation with severe restrictions on women’s rights—serves as a stark allegory for global gender (in)equality. Her papers, including “Robot citizenship and gender (in)equality” (2022, 4 citations) and “Robot citizenship and women’s rights” (2019, 3 citations), are foundational in the emerging field of robot rights and feminist technology studies. By dissecting the symbolic power of Sophia’s citizenship, Fernandes challenges the tech industry’s portrayal of AI as neutral, revealing how such acts can reinforce patriarchal structures. Her work is essential reading for scholars and students exploring the social justice dimensions of robotics, offering a compelling critique of how technological progress can inadvertently mirror—and even worsen—societal inequities.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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