I appreciated taking Women and Computers because it gave me tools to explore the diversity of the Internet.
Before this class, all I did online besides research for school was check my email and Facebook, and use Google maps.
Thanks to this class, I now have a blog, learned about several of the various women contributors to the Internet, learned how to create online cartoons, and appreciate how important Internet access can be for women on a global level. I hope to continue to utilize all the great tools of the Internet as I continue with my education.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Women's Contributions
I was interested to learn about Caterina Fake, one of the co-founders of the Flickr photosharing website. Two people chose her to talk about so that shows she has been very influential.
Amy did a presentation on her as did Becky.
I was interested to learn that not only is she highly educated, but her interest in the Internet began with an interest in gaming. I guess I usually stereotype online gamers as men, so it's a nice surprise to learn that women also enjoy gaming online. It was good to learn that Fake is also working on her new project, called Hunch. It proves that knowledge around the Internet is constantly updating and evolving.
Amy did a presentation on her as did Becky.
I was interested to learn that not only is she highly educated, but her interest in the Internet began with an interest in gaming. I guess I usually stereotype online gamers as men, so it's a nice surprise to learn that women also enjoy gaming online. It was good to learn that Fake is also working on her new project, called Hunch. It proves that knowledge around the Internet is constantly updating and evolving.
Increased use of Facebook can lead to a higher risk of eating disorders
This is a link to my Zoho presentation on the recent study that shows that an young girls who use Facebook frequently are more likely to develop eating disorders.
This is a troubling because more women than men use social networking sites such as Facebook.
Media has always been cited as a reason for the development of eating disorders in teenage girls, and now social networking is being added to this list of triggers.
This is a troubling because more women than men use social networking sites such as Facebook.
Media has always been cited as a reason for the development of eating disorders in teenage girls, and now social networking is being added to this list of triggers.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Feminist Fashion - is this possible?
I like to shop. I like to dress up. I'm also a feminist. I always thought the two couldn't go together, in part because of the fashion industry's exploitation and objectification of women.
I'm interested in the idea that people, especially women, can use clothing to express themselves.
Maybe clothing, and other forms of visible self-expression, can actually be empowering.
I'm interested in learning more about the cultural significance of clothing in different countries as well as our own, and also the issue of how clothing is produced in today's world. I'm also interested in how women can use their representation of self to reclaim and celebrate their bodies, in a world that pressures them to believe they are imperfect.
A cool website I found is called Feminist Fashion Bloggers. It gives links to other blogs where the authors talk about issues such as body policing, what it means to dress "feminist," and how they have learned to love their bodies.
I'm interested in the idea that people, especially women, can use clothing to express themselves.
Maybe clothing, and other forms of visible self-expression, can actually be empowering.
I'm interested in learning more about the cultural significance of clothing in different countries as well as our own, and also the issue of how clothing is produced in today's world. I'm also interested in how women can use their representation of self to reclaim and celebrate their bodies, in a world that pressures them to believe they are imperfect.
A cool website I found is called Feminist Fashion Bloggers. It gives links to other blogs where the authors talk about issues such as body policing, what it means to dress "feminist," and how they have learned to love their bodies.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
International Feminist Sites
When looking for more information on feminist issues, it's important to remember that we live in an increasingly globalized world. Much of the published, academic information out there on feminism is written from a Western viewpoint. To get a better picture of what feminism looks like worldwide, we have to look for global information.
The first feminist international site I visited was called The F-Word. It is a site about feminism based in the UK. All the articles on their home page featured content I would find interesting. They didn't have many pictures or other gadgets, just mostly articles. The issues in the articles were very diverse. The first thing I read was a blog entry about a woman who didn't want to have children. She wrote about she was tired of always being asked if she wanted children, and in order to escape judgement she felt like she had to give the reason that she just didn't like kids. It got a large number of comments. It was easy to read, and publicized the author going on a talk show to debate the issue. Another article I read was about the development of "pink Viagra" and how a woman did a documentary covering it's release. It was interesting because it got into the issue of female sexuality and how scientists get confused when trying to measure it because we are not inverted men.
The second site I visited was a South African site called Women's Net. It was a professional looking site that encourages equality for women and girls and an end to violence. The site had links to blogs, events, and other affiliated networks. The site has bright colors and pictures. One article I looked at was about how South Africa is ahead of most of the world in the percentage of women holding senior positions in business. The article talked about how women need to use this power to help shape the future. It also discussed how few women globally do hold senior positions.
Technology can be powerful and it's great that feminists globally are accessing this resource. Women globally do share many of the same issues, as well as many differences, and sharing experiences can promote unity and maybe ultimately lead to women all over the world feeling empowered.
The first feminist international site I visited was called The F-Word. It is a site about feminism based in the UK. All the articles on their home page featured content I would find interesting. They didn't have many pictures or other gadgets, just mostly articles. The issues in the articles were very diverse. The first thing I read was a blog entry about a woman who didn't want to have children. She wrote about she was tired of always being asked if she wanted children, and in order to escape judgement she felt like she had to give the reason that she just didn't like kids. It got a large number of comments. It was easy to read, and publicized the author going on a talk show to debate the issue. Another article I read was about the development of "pink Viagra" and how a woman did a documentary covering it's release. It was interesting because it got into the issue of female sexuality and how scientists get confused when trying to measure it because we are not inverted men.
The second site I visited was a South African site called Women's Net. It was a professional looking site that encourages equality for women and girls and an end to violence. The site had links to blogs, events, and other affiliated networks. The site has bright colors and pictures. One article I looked at was about how South Africa is ahead of most of the world in the percentage of women holding senior positions in business. The article talked about how women need to use this power to help shape the future. It also discussed how few women globally do hold senior positions.
Technology can be powerful and it's great that feminists globally are accessing this resource. Women globally do share many of the same issues, as well as many differences, and sharing experiences can promote unity and maybe ultimately lead to women all over the world feeling empowered.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
It Starts with the Kids
The digital divide along lines of gender is a tricky issue. So much goes into the digital divide in the first place, like race, age, and class. The issue of the gender digital divide can fit under all those categories. Women are definitely less likely to be tech savvy if they've never seen a computer, and if they are poor, elderly, or in a developing country that could definitely be the case.
In the article called "The Digital Divide - The Special Case of Gender" the author explains how like most oppressive gender roles, people begin to learn them at a very young age. Girls are given dolls to nurture and hug, and boys are given army men and dirt bikes. Most parents or family don't see this as doing anything wrong - they assume those are the toys kids of those genders like to play with. They are correct usually, because that is what they have been taught to like.
In the case of the digital divide, the article states that boys are usually given computer games to play and encouraged along that route until they feel comfortable with computers. Girls are not. I think this is a valid point because if boys are encouraged from a young age to use computers, and the classes on computer technology in schools are usually male-dominated, girls will most likely be discouraged from trying to enhance their computer skills.
I think this is changing. An earlier post describes how young children in Sweden are using computers more frequently and how girls participate in games and communication online. If girls continue to be encouraged into becoming comfortable around and interested in computers from a young age, and this leads to more women in technology classes and careers, the gender digital divide will become less of a problem.
In the article called "The Digital Divide - The Special Case of Gender" the author explains how like most oppressive gender roles, people begin to learn them at a very young age. Girls are given dolls to nurture and hug, and boys are given army men and dirt bikes. Most parents or family don't see this as doing anything wrong - they assume those are the toys kids of those genders like to play with. They are correct usually, because that is what they have been taught to like.
In the case of the digital divide, the article states that boys are usually given computer games to play and encouraged along that route until they feel comfortable with computers. Girls are not. I think this is a valid point because if boys are encouraged from a young age to use computers, and the classes on computer technology in schools are usually male-dominated, girls will most likely be discouraged from trying to enhance their computer skills.
I think this is changing. An earlier post describes how young children in Sweden are using computers more frequently and how girls participate in games and communication online. If girls continue to be encouraged into becoming comfortable around and interested in computers from a young age, and this leads to more women in technology classes and careers, the gender digital divide will become less of a problem.
Barriers for Women and Internet Use
In this article and study called "Gendering the Digital Divide," it goes very in-depth in explaining why there is a gender digital divide at all. It reinforces my research on reasons why the gender digital divide exists, and also brings in the new information about how men and women use the Internet differently.
The fact that men and women use the Internet for different things has been pretty much accepted. This article suggests that the reason women may use the Internet more for communication is because it is seen as their role to be the organizer or event planner of the family. The article also goes on to discuss how even though gender roles aren't quite as defined as they used to be, women still do more care-giving than men, which severely restricts their time online. So, maybe the women don't have all the time they would like to pursue hobbies or read the news online. It could be that when they do get a chance to use the Internet, they would rather communicate with family and friends.
On the other hand, men are still sometimes considered as the ones who need to "bring home the bacon" and while working outside the home, they most likely have computer access, where they can share videos or play games or read up on current events.
Since gender roles are becoming more blurred and men are taking on more at home responsibility while women continue to excel in careers, this gender digital divide might not last very long. Women will gain more time to access the Internet and possibly participate in more varied activities. However, the issue still remains that if children are socialized to believe that computers and technology are only for boys, the gender digital divide will continue to flourish.
The fact that men and women use the Internet for different things has been pretty much accepted. This article suggests that the reason women may use the Internet more for communication is because it is seen as their role to be the organizer or event planner of the family. The article also goes on to discuss how even though gender roles aren't quite as defined as they used to be, women still do more care-giving than men, which severely restricts their time online. So, maybe the women don't have all the time they would like to pursue hobbies or read the news online. It could be that when they do get a chance to use the Internet, they would rather communicate with family and friends.
On the other hand, men are still sometimes considered as the ones who need to "bring home the bacon" and while working outside the home, they most likely have computer access, where they can share videos or play games or read up on current events.
Since gender roles are becoming more blurred and men are taking on more at home responsibility while women continue to excel in careers, this gender digital divide might not last very long. Women will gain more time to access the Internet and possibly participate in more varied activities. However, the issue still remains that if children are socialized to believe that computers and technology are only for boys, the gender digital divide will continue to flourish.
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