From Maria to Siri: Cinematic Female Robots and the Reproduction of Gender in Artificial Intelligence

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: Toplumsal Cinsiyet Özel Sayısı, 514 - 533, 27.09.2025

Süleyman Duyar

https://doi.org/10.25295/fsecon.1701017

Abstract

The study considers the depiction of artificial women in film history and the way that depiction relates to modern artificial intelligence from a feminist point of view. Research analyzes how artificial female depictions repeat gender stereotypes. However, the primary focus of the study is the analysis carried out through cinematic narratives and visual representations, and technological applications are considered as a supporting context to understand the cultural framework created by these filmic discourses. This repetition occurs in works ranging from Maria in the 1927 movie “Metropolis” to current voice-controlled digital helpers like Siri and Alexa. The concept of “digital authority” gives the study its structure. Through it, we can comprehend how technological authority becomes established plus kept from a gendered view. Qualitative content analysis is used in the research methodology. It looks at artificial female depictions in certain films and current artificial intelligence. This analysis is based on feminist film theory and technoscience points of view. General traits in cinematic artificial female figures are that they show traditional female roles, such as serving, obeying, as well as emotional support. These representation patterns moved to current technologies, so voice-controlled digital helpers often use female voices plus are equipped with feminine personality traits. The study places importance on the idea that technological advances commonly strengthen current gender norms and that more inclusive and fair methods must be adopted in the design of artificial intelligence systems. For the purpose of overcoming gender inequalities in technology production, this research highlights the importance of putting feminist perspectives into artificial intelligence design processes.

Keywords

Gendered AI , Digital Femininity , Fembots

Maria'dan Siri'ye: Sinematik Kadın Robotlar ve Yapay Zekada Toplumsal Cinsiyetin Yeniden Üretimi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, sinemada yapay kadın figürlerinin tarihsel temsilini ve bu temsillerin modern yapay zekâ teknolojilerindeki yansımalarını feminist bir bakış açısıyla incelemektedir. Araştırma, 1927 tarihli “Metropolis” filmindeki Maria'dan günümüzün sesli dijital asistanları Siri ve Alexa'ya kadar uzanan süreçte, yapay kadın temsillerinin toplumsal cinsiyet kalıplarını nasıl yeniden ürettiğini analiz etmektedir. Bununla birlikte, çalışmanın temel odak noktası sinematik anlatılar ve görsel temsiller üzerinden gerçekleştirilecek olup, teknolojik uygulamalar bu filmsel söylemlerin yarattığı kültürel çerçeveyi anlamak için destekleyici bir bağlam olarak ele alınmaktadır. Çalışmanın teorik çerçevesini oluşturan “dijital otorite” kavramı, teknolojik otoritenin toplumsal cinsiyet perspektifinden nasıl kurulduğunu ve sürdürüldüğünü anlamak için kullanılmıştır. Araştırma metodolojisi, feminist film teorisi ve teknobilim perspektiflerine dayanarak, seçili filmlerdeki yapay kadın temsillerinin ve güncel yapay zekâ teknolojilerinin nitel içerik analizini içermektedir. Bulgular, sinematik yapay kadın figürlerinin genellikle hizmet etme, itaat etme ve duygusal destek sağlama gibi geleneksel kadın rollerini yansıtacak şekilde tasarlandığını göstermektedir. Bu temsil kalıplarının, sesli dijital asistanların çoğunlukla kadın sesi kullanımı ve kadınsı kişilik özellikleriyle donatılması şeklinde günümüz teknolojilerine taşındığı tespit edilmiştir. Çalışma, teknolojik yeniliklerin mevcut toplumsal cinsiyet normlarını pekiştirme eğiliminde olduğunu ve yapay zekâ sistemlerinin tasarımında daha kapsayıcı ve eşitlikçi yaklaşımların benimsenmesi gerektiğini vurgulamaktadır. Araştırma, teknoloji üretiminde toplumsal cinsiyet eşitsizliklerinin üstesinden gelinmesi için, feminist perspektifin yapay zekâ tasarım süreçlerine dahil edilmesinin önemini ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

Yapay Zekâda Cinsiyet , Dijital Kadınlık , Kadın Robotlar

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