Computer mediated communication and gender studies.
-the ambivalent characteristics of cyber space
The internet was expanded geograpically in the 1980s, but men have stood to benefit from internet. The percentage of the female users increased along with this expansion, nevertheless, access remained a stumbling block for gender equality. Women and men still do not have equal access to the creation and control of what take place on the internet. Computer-mediated-Communication (CMS) techologies embody attributed which have important ramification for gender studies. Technologies which rely on textual information can diminish biases resulting from physical cues . CMC　also democraticized communication and mitigate gender difference. At the same time, gender display pursuits in anonymous CMS situation shich allegedly renders gender invisible . However, is CMC new possible place which gender equality can be represented? CMC still evoke stereotypical responses when cues are limited to such information as feminines as well.
In my opinion, the argument that internet is a equal place and all users can be same is just a mere ideal logic. To become an equal space, the process of communication must be equalized , We need to consider these questions ; does the difference between gender exist in terms of their forms of using internet ? Is the stereotype in physical space also represented on the internet space as well? Can women freely express their opinion and expose themselves in the internet? How women use internet?
Internet space is considered to be a 'perceptual realism' world. It is an utopian place which blurs the gender, age and race. All groups are homogenous and they can participate in communication process without barrier. However, the representation of the social realism world which have been acquired sill exist on the CMS text . Men are represented as 'technophiles' and women are regarded as technophobia ( Mckenna, 1997) The number of the female users is still increasing, however, female communities are still existing as minority.
Can internet space exist as the emancipation space social context cues are neutralized? I am still skeptical. Of course, in virtual space, the cues for judging people'e gender become ambiguous , however, sexual identity cannot be hidden in CMS text as well. The sexual discriminative ideology still works in CMS text. Thus, inequal communication is performed in the discriminative paradigm. Internet is ultimately related to the real world and another transformation of the social relation of the social world. Social relation and hierarchies are reconstructed in Internet space . Rather than embodying the perceptual characteristics of the virtual space, it blurs the boundary between the virtual space and real world.
For example, in the online game MUD, female characters the objects that need to be treated by chivalry. They are depicted as dependent character and sometimes sexually harassed as well. If the characters in online games are turned out to be female character, it is probable that they are vulnerable to sexual harassment and violence. Female characters in online games are subordinate of sexually harassed object. It flames the male style and reflects the stereotype in real world.
Of course, Cyberspace can be the medium of gender equality, though. Women can create their own cyber community which make them bond together. They can set their own agenda which can solve the problems of the social world. However, if the community can be isolated if is exclusive , degraded into their own 'ghetto'.
Cyberspace is such an ambivalent world. Free speech, anonymity and neutrialization of social context cues can get rid of the discriminative factors in social real world, however, they reproduce and justify the dominant ideology as well. Women are still remained as minority in online space. Cyborg is an ideal term for the liberation of gender. Cyborg orients its characteristics toward the imagination. Cyborg is the obect free form biological, social and cultural factors. If we pursuit cyborg factors in CMS text, then, we can expect the path to the gender emancipation. Still, long way to go...
The internet was expanded geograpically in the 1980s, but men have stood to benefit from internet. The percentage of the female users increased along with this expansion, nevertheless, access remained a stumbling block for gender equality. Women and men still do not have equal access to the creation and control of what take place on the internet. Computer-mediated-Communication (CMS) techologies embody attributed which have important ramification for gender studies. Technologies which rely on textual information can diminish biases resulting from physical cues . CMC　also democraticized communication and mitigate gender difference. At the same time, gender display pursuits in anonymous CMS situation shich allegedly renders gender invisible . However, is CMC new possible place which gender equality can be represented? CMC still evoke stereotypical responses when cues are limited to such information as feminines as well.
In my opinion, the argument that internet is a equal place and all users can be same is just a mere ideal logic. To become an equal space, the process of communication must be equalized , We need to consider these questions ; does the difference between gender exist in terms of their forms of using internet ? Is the stereotype in physical space also represented on the internet space as well? Can women freely express their opinion and expose themselves in the internet? How women use internet?
Internet space is considered to be a 'perceptual realism' world. It is an utopian place which blurs the gender, age and race. All groups are homogenous and they can participate in communication process without barrier. However, the representation of the social realism world which have been acquired sill exist on the CMS text . Men are represented as 'technophiles' and women are regarded as technophobia ( Mckenna, 1997) The number of the female users is still increasing, however, female communities are still existing as minority.
Can internet space exist as the emancipation space social context cues are neutralized? I am still skeptical. Of course, in virtual space, the cues for judging people'e gender become ambiguous , however, sexual identity cannot be hidden in CMS text as well. The sexual discriminative ideology still works in CMS text. Thus, inequal communication is performed in the discriminative paradigm. Internet is ultimately related to the real world and another transformation of the social relation of the social world. Social relation and hierarchies are reconstructed in Internet space . Rather than embodying the perceptual characteristics of the virtual space, it blurs the boundary between the virtual space and real world.
For example, in the online game MUD, female characters the objects that need to be treated by chivalry. They are depicted as dependent character and sometimes sexually harassed as well. If the characters in online games are turned out to be female character, it is probable that they are vulnerable to sexual harassment and violence. Female characters in online games are subordinate of sexually harassed object. It flames the male style and reflects the stereotype in real world.
Of course, Cyberspace can be the medium of gender equality, though. Women can create their own cyber community which make them bond together. They can set their own agenda which can solve the problems of the social world. However, if the community can be isolated if is exclusive , degraded into their own 'ghetto'.
Cyberspace is such an ambivalent world. Free speech, anonymity and neutrialization of social context cues can get rid of the discriminative factors in social real world, however, they reproduce and justify the dominant ideology as well. Women are still remained as minority in online space. Cyborg is an ideal term for the liberation of gender. Cyborg orients its characteristics toward the imagination. Cyborg is the obect free form biological, social and cultural factors. If we pursuit cyborg factors in CMS text, then, we can expect the path to the gender emancipation. Still, long way to go...
posted by Anonymous at 3:17 pm
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