Gender Inequality on the Internet

[Heather Ray]

"Gender Inequality on the Internet": A summary
by: Cyndrekit



This article faces an issue that is complex and hopefully changeable.
This article looks at the ill treatment of women on the internet,
especially within chat services such as ICQ. The author states that "we
act differently (on the internet) than we do in face to face
interaction" and that "no where is this lack of courtesy more evident
than in the treatment of females users on the internet". The author
explains who netiquette is (a term mentioned in our CS100 lectures) and
how perhaps new netiquette¹s need to be implemented toward the treatment
of people and women. The author exclaims how if one exposes themselves
as female on the net, they are often overwhelmed with being hit on,
asked for cyber sex or attacked by men. It is stated that the biggest
problem is that people don¹t realize the immense mistreatment on the
net, or don¹t stand up and say this kind of treatment is wrong. This is
called invisible discrimination. The author than takes the issue beyond
the internet and examines female treatment throughout the world, giving
examples of mistreatment in schools, the workplace, religion and in
general society with an example of an elderly woman being beaten for
showing her ankle in public. The issue is than brought back to the
internet in conclusion where the author suggests that there is still
time to use the internet for a positive change toward the treatment of
females, not only on the internet, but in Œreal¹ life, a round the
world.

[Sarah Stewart]

In article

Post by Heather Ray
"Gender Inequality on the Internet": A summary
by: Cyndrekit
This article faces an issue that is complex and hopefully changeable.
This article looks at the ill treatment of women on the internet,
especially within chat services such as ICQ. The author states that "we
act differently (on the internet) than we do in face to face
interaction" and that "no where is this lack of courtesy more evident
than in the treatment of females users on the internet". The author
explains who netiquette is (a term mentioned in our CS100 lectures) and
how perhaps new netiquette¹s need to be implemented toward the treatment
of people and women. The author exclaims how if one exposes themselves
as female on the net, they are often overwhelmed with being hit on,
asked for cyber sex or attacked by men. It is stated that the biggest
problem is that people don¹t realize the immense mistreatment on the
net, or don¹t stand up and say this kind of treatment is wrong. This is
called invisible discrimination. The author than takes the issue beyond
the internet and examines female treatment throughout the world, giving
examples of mistreatment in schools, the workplace, religion and in
general society with an example of an elderly woman being beaten for
showing her ankle in public. The issue is than brought back to the
internet in conclusion where the author suggests that there is still
time to use the internet for a positive change toward the treatment of
females, not only on the internet, but in Œreal¹ life, a round the
world.

I definately agree with the fact that people are much different and more
upfront online than they are in person, however whether it goes as far
as discrimination and harassment, I'm not sure. Being an icq user
myself, I get message's of the type mentioned in your article however I
also get messages from other women looking for encounters with other
women. Even in chat rooms, although I haven't been in one for a couple
years, had just as many women looking for cyber sex encounters as men.
Although this doesn't make it any more right, I think many of the
instances are mutual among both men and women.

[Christina Ogilvie]

I believe this is very true in mnay ways. Chattig on the internet llows
people to do or say things they would not normally in person. This case
is very evedent when dealing with interactions between many men and
women on th net. It is quite true as the article stted in the end that
there is still time to use the internet for positive change.

In article

Post by Heather Ray
"Gender Inequality on the Internet": A summary
by: Cyndrekit
This article faces an issue that is complex and hopefully changeable.
This article looks at the ill treatment of women on the internet,
especially within chat services such as ICQ. The author states that "we
act differently (on the internet) than we do in face to face
interaction" and that "no where is this lack of courtesy more evident
than in the treatment of females users on the internet". The author
explains who netiquette is (a term mentioned in our CS100 lectures) and
how perhaps new netiquette¹s need to be implemented toward the treatment
of people and women. The author exclaims how if one exposes themselves
as female on the net, they are often overwhelmed with being hit on,
asked for cyber sex or attacked by men. It is stated that the biggest
problem is that people don¹t realize the immense mistreatment on the
net, or don¹t stand up and say this kind of treatment is wrong. This is
called invisible discrimination. The author than takes the issue beyond
the internet and examines female treatment throughout the world, giving
examples of mistreatment in schools, the workplace, religion and in
general society with an example of an elderly woman being beaten for
showing her ankle in public. The issue is than brought back to the
internet in conclusion where the author suggests that there is still
time to use the internet for a positive change toward the treatment of
females, not only on the internet, but in Œreal¹ life, a round the
world.

[Charles McColm]

In article

Post by Heather Ray
The author states that "we
act differently (on the internet) than we do in face to face
interaction" and that "no where is this lack of courtesy more evident

I wonder what the author would think of Women posing as Men on the
Internet and Vise Versa? I've read articles where people do it not only
to disguise their identity but to keep people like spammers from
collecting ID on them.

Post by Heather Ray
called invisible discrimination. The author than takes the issue beyond
the internet and examines female treatment throughout the world, giving
examples of mistreatment in schools, the workplace, religion and in
general society with an example of an elderly woman being beaten for
showing her ankle in public. T

Privacy has been a huge issue since the Internet started to get more
commercialized. It's not just a matter of discrimination against women
but also against "race," culture, and language.

Cheers,

Charles

---

And just a tip if you're responding to posts... if you select the text
you want from the person's post and then go up to news and Follow Up To
Newsgroup it will insert only the text you selected (versus the entire
article).

[Vanja Mudrinic]

In article

Post by Heather Ray
"Gender Inequality on the Internet": A summary
by: Cyndrekit
This article faces an issue that is complex and hopefully changeable.
This article looks at the ill treatment of women on the internet,
especially within chat services such as ICQ. The author states that "we
act differently (on the internet) than we do in face to face
interaction" and that "no where is this lack of courtesy more evident
than in the treatment of females users on the internet". The author
explains who netiquette is (a term mentioned in our CS100 lectures) and
how perhaps new netiquette¹s need to be implemented toward the treatment
of people and women. The author exclaims how if one exposes themselves
as female on the net, they are often overwhelmed with being hit on,
asked for cyber sex or attacked by men. It is stated that the biggest
problem is that people don¹t realize the immense mistreatment on the
net, or don¹t stand up and say this kind of treatment is wrong. This is
called invisible discrimination. The author than takes the issue beyond
the internet and examines female treatment throughout the world, giving
examples of mistreatment in schools, the workplace, religion and in
general society with an example of an elderly woman being beaten for
showing her ankle in public. The issue is than brought back to the
internet in conclusion where the author suggests that there is still
time to use the internet for a positive change toward the treatment of
females, not only on the internet, but in Œreal¹ life, a round the
world.

I think as opposed to trying to figure out how to treat men and women
better on the net, we should be trying to focus on gettin people to stop
using it for purposes such as meeting people. There are so many people
who use these chat lines and in turn, do not engage in meeting people
the old fashioned way....leaving the house.

[tdmayhew]

In article

Post by Heather Ray
"Gender Inequality on the Internet": A summary
by: Cyndrekit
This article faces an issue that is complex and hopefully changeable.
This article looks at the ill treatment of women on the internet,
especially within chat services such as ICQ. The author states that "we
act differently (on the internet) than we do in face to face
interaction" and that "no where is this lack of courtesy more evident
than in the treatment of females users on the internet". The author
explains who netiquette is (a term mentioned in our CS100 lectures) and
how perhaps new netiquette¹s need to be implemented toward the treatment
of people and women. The author exclaims how if one exposes themselves
as female on the net, they are often overwhelmed with being hit on,
asked for cyber sex or attacked by men. It is stated that the biggest
problem is that people don¹t realize the immense mistreatment on the
net, or don¹t stand up and say this kind of treatment is wrong. This is
called invisible discrimination. The author than takes the issue beyond
the internet and examines female treatment throughout the world, giving
examples of mistreatment in schools, the workplace, religion and in
general society with an example of an elderly woman being beaten for
showing her ankle in public. The issue is than brought back to the
internet in conclusion where the author suggests that there is still
time to use the internet for a positive change toward the treatment of
females, not only on the internet, but in Œreal¹ life, a round the
world.

I think it is true that we sometimes act differently over the net than
we do in person. I think that is terrible that women are unequally
treated and that they are attcacked with being asked for cyber sex.
However it doesn't really surprise me. I hope that someday there will be
more ways of regulating these types of things on the internet.