Digital Intimacies, Assemblages, and Fit Femininities

Abstract

Continuing with the discussion about objects and new materialisms, in this chapter we look toward digital health and fitness technologies and the ways in which new materialisms can contribute to theorizing human-technology relations. Similar to other chapters, we begin with an overview of existing literature and common approaches used to explore gendered experiences of digital fitness and health, specifically mobile apps and self-tracking. This is then followed by a discussion of how new materialisms can offer alternative perspectives and ways of understanding these human-technology relationships. We focus specifically on three approaches within new materialisms: Donna Haraway’s cyborg and companion species, Jane Bennett’s vital materialism, and Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari’s affect theory. This leads to a case study where we use affect theory and assemblages to examine mothers’ engagements with Fitbits, following the various flows, intimacies, and affordances within these relationships. We conclude with a discussion overviewing the important contributions new materialisms can make to thinking about the ever-growing field of digital health and technology.