Women's Ways of Webbing
By Laura Dauer
It is a common assumption that women are not that large of a part of the web culture as Chapter 20 of Web Studies explains. However, this is not the case. In face, women are extremely into web and are constantly making an impact through the ways in which many groups of women use the web. According to Wendy Harcourt, "Women are actively engaged in the cyber-dialogue, creating on the internet strategic information links, lobbying and advocating for change, and building up solidarity amoung groups that share the same goal even if they never meet face to face." Through e'mail petitions, website links, chat rooms, and listservs woman participate in sharing their beliefs and trying to stop something that they find harmful or start something they see could be beneficial. "Woman are using the internet to network, plan and strategize on a level that could never have been imagined just a few years ago."
Because of the web there are societal boundaries that have been broken creating a more equal lifestyle. Some of these include the gender divide, intellectual vs activist, personal vs professional, and geo-political. Through the use of the web people can communicate in numerous ways without worrying about having any labels or stereotypes tying them down. I believe this is a great thing because it leaves all internet users to truly express themselves and help to serve a purpose through the click of a button.
