Jenny Kennedy

Papers

Total Citations

158

H-Index

About

Jenny Kennedy is a leading voice in the critical study of gender, technology, and domestic life. Her research dissects the social and cultural implications of smart home devices, with a particular focus on how artificial intelligence and digital assistants are reshaping intimacy, caregiving, and labor within the home. Kennedy is best known for her landmark book, *The Smart Wife* (2020), which has garnered over 150 citations and is widely recognized for coining the term to describe the pervasive feminization of digital assistants. The work critically examines how these friendly, perpetually available, and often flirty AI companions reinforce problematic gender stereotypes. Her more recent work, such as "Alexa's Got a Hunch" (2022), extends this analysis into the emerging "Internet of Emotions," investigating how Amazon’s Alexa is being designed to recognize and respond to human feelings, effectively automating caregiving roles. Through her incisive scholarship, Kennedy has become an essential figure for students and researchers exploring the intersection of feminist theory, human-computer interaction, and the politics of the smart home.