G3ND3R

Considering my interest in the convergence of the Internet and Democracy., Two articles were recommended to me recently. One had the intriguing title: The Internet is a fine place for Women. In this article, the author Charles W. Huff discusses online gender relations. He also argues that the tremendous capacity for communication provided by the internet makes it especially attractive to the female user.

The other to an article called Gender Gap in Cyberspace originally published in Newsweek in 1994 by a bestselling author named Deborah Tannen. Dr. Tannen is a well respected professor of Linguistics at Georgetown University. Much of the work she has done for both the academic audience and the general audience centers around the differences in communication between the genders. Dr. Tanner's article explains that Gender Differences in communication are responsible for her lack of expertise. This anecdote served as an illustration of the differences between the genders that serve as a stumbling block for many women who otherwise may have considered computer science as a career of hobby. This is why I am so hopeful.

This article serves in stark contrast with information that is more recent. Much of this latter information mirrors the conclusion of Hiroshi Ono and Madeline Zavodny of the Stockholm School of Economics. For the sake of context much of their abstract is quoted below:

The objective of this study was to "examines whether there are differences in men's and women's use of the Internet and whether any such gender gaps have changed in recent years."

Methods.We use data from several surveys during the period 1997–2001 to show trends in Internet usage and to estimate regression models of Internet usage that control for individuals' socioeconomic characteristics.

Results.Women were significantly less likely than men to use the Internet at all in the mid-1990s, but this gender gap in being online disappeared by 2000. However, once online, women remain less frequent and less intense users of the Internet.

Conclusions.There is little reason for concern about sex inequalities in Internet access and usage now, but gender differences in frequency and intensity of Internet usage remain.

Although, the Internet is still far from a Utopian Sanctuary. It gives me hope to realize that that is particular aspect of the digital divide is becoming less divisive.

Hiroshi Ono, Madeline Zavodny (2003)
Gender and the Internet^* Social Science Quarterly 84 (1), 111–121.

Huff, Chuck. "The Internet in a Fine Place for Women." A Virtual Commonplace. Dec. 2007. Computers and Society. 5 Apr. 2007 -http://college.hmco.com/english/amore/demo/ch4_ r3.html-.

Tannen, Deborah. "Gender Gap in Cyberspace." A Virtual Commonplace. 16 May 1994. Newsweek. 5 Apr. 2007 -http://college.hmco.com/english/amore/demo/ch4_r1.html-.