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Men, women and technology

L

lynetteshef

Junior Member
What do you think about men and women?s uses of technology and the Internet?

What are your experiences as a man, or as a woman, of technology, the Internet and this site?s message boards?


Hello,

My name is Lynette and I?m a researcher (academic) looking at gender and technology on the Internet. I have chosen to look at AnandTech as the message boards on this site are lively and discuss issues of technology. I would be very grateful if people could discuss with me their views on gender and the uses of technology, and their experiences of these message boards and of the Internet in general. I?m specifically interested in issues such as:

? Gender cultures on these forums and online in general

? Whether people disclose their gender when posting on these forums

? How people feel as a man or as a woman posting on these forums

? Whether people?s gender influences how people treat them on these message boards and online in general

? Whether there are differences in how men and women use and discuss technology

? Whether people?s identities are shaped in anyway by the technologies that they interact with, and if so how?

Please also feel free to discuss anything else that you feel is relevant to the subject of gender and technology and feel free to respond to other people?s posts - I would like to encourage a discussion of the topic rather than a survey response.

Thank you for your help and time.


Anonymity: All responses will be anonymised prior to the writing up of my notes ? the name of the site and individual?s usernames will be changed.
 
Originally posted by: lynetteshef
Why do you think that men have more overall knowledge of computers? What do you think are the reasons for this?
Click to expand...

Because it wasn't until recently that computers were being used in the kitchen.
 
Originally posted by: lynetteshef
Why do you think that men have more overall knowledge of computers? What do you think are the reasons for this?
Click to expand...

More men than women use computers for purposes that require a greater understanding of the tool itself.

This specifically means that these purposes dig further into the encapsulation that is created when designing user applications on the computer.

For example using Final Cut Pro is not a simple task but it does not require you know much about the computer itself assuming the computer has been designed for the application to some extent.

Playing games on the otherhand is simple compared to using final cut pro but it regularly leads to users researching more about the computer to maximize their game playing experience.



 
Scott

To answer your question about my academic affiliation - I am a student at the University of Sheffield.

"As I learned it, the word "gender" pertains to a quality of language. When you're referring to boy/girl the correct word is sex, not gender"
I used the term gender as some people identify as a man or as a woman irrespective of their physical sex. As I'm interested in aspects of identity I felt that the term gender was more appropriate.

"Probably it's mostly guys who prefer to build our own computers from choice components, while probably mostly girls buy brand name computers just to get 'er done. No different than how our fathers customized cars."
So do you think that the differences that exist between men and women's interaction with computers is something that exist in other technological domains? If so, do you have any thoughts on why this is?


 
This community has a male supermajority, and doesn't seem very welcome to women, to me. Women are often described as irrational, emotional and less intelligent. As you've just noticed, your picture (and therefore, your appearance) is the most important measure of your value as a woman on this message board.

I don't think there are any real differences in how women and men want to use technology, but the masculine culture of many online spaces is off-putting for many women. I'm a man, so I cannot provide any experiences in this regard. However, many online spaces (this one included) are also filled with heterosexism and racism, which make them tough to participate in as a queer man of color. This can have the effect of deterring women from joining or posting on men-dominated spaces, and mandating the creation of women-oriented spaces (such as women's WoW guilds).

The technical forums usually stay on-topic, so the sexism is not as explicit as in the Off Topic, Politics and News, and Love and Relationships forums.
 
When I say technology, that can include all forms of technology, down to the zip on a jacket. However, I am interested specifically in the Internet as a technology and so have asked specific questions about this. When I ask people about their views on gender and "technology" I want to hear their views based on their understanding of the word technology.
 
n yusef, so would you agree with an argument that says online communities can replicate the the stereotypes and social structures of the real world? If so, do you feel that these inequaliteis are more amplified of lessened online?
 
? Gender cultures on these forums and online in general
--this is a heavily male-influenced forum, but there are some well-established and respected female members that frequent these pages. It seems that the ratio is near 10:1, maybe greater M:F.
I don't venture to many other forums, but in my limited experience it seems the female participation is low. Of course, that is completely biased by the type of forums I venture into. My GF frequents a large non US-based forum that is primarily frequented by mothers; and mostly
stay-at-home mothers. All depends on the focus of the forum. I tend to hang around tech-related forums, and they are primarily male-influenced. (IIRC, AVS forums is 100% male)

? Whether people disclose their gender when posting on these forums
--usually. If not, it is often requested from the get-go if such is vague. Let your mind wander as to why that is...

? How people feel as a man or as a woman posting on these forums
--Hmmm. Don't know. How do you feel as a woman talking on the phone? It's just something I do on a regular basis in which my gender identity has no conscious influence.

? Whether people?s gender influences how people treat them on these message boards and online in general
--see first reply to your thread.

? Whether there are differences in how men and women use and discuss technology
--probably. I tend to think that females tend to approach technology on a more aesthetic basis. Sure, it needs to be useful, but aesthetics seem to influence the ladies much more than with men. Males are generally more functionality minded when it comes to gadgets.

? Whether people?s identities are shaped in anyway by the technologies that they interact with, and if so how?
--see: average Mac user.
 
I definitely agree, and I feel that the anonymity of the internet removes the one restriction on prejudice that we have in society: accountability. Even though this message board is open to the public, people feel just as comfortable posting here as they would talking to their fraternity brothers.
 
Thank you for all of you responses so far, they've been really helpful. Please feel free to discuss the issues with one another as well, I don't want to dominate the discussion too much.
 
Originally posted by: lynetteshef

? Gender cultures on these forums and online in general

? Whether people disclose their gender when posting on these forums

? How people feel as a man or as a woman posting on these forums

? Whether people?s gender influences how people treat them on these message boards and online in general

? Whether there are differences in how men and women use and discuss technology

? Whether people?s identities are shaped in anyway by the technologies that they interact with, and if so how?
Click to expand...

1. Gender culture on this forum is primarily masculine. Most forums I frequent share this aspect.

2. Some people do, some don't, some lie. A few women I know who belong to online forums have told me they avoid disclosing their gender.

3. I think in the technical portions of Anandtech's forums, the user's gender is irrelevant.

4. I have seen women get treated less than equitably when their gender has been disclosed.

5. From my observations, women I know online tend to ask "how do I get this result?" questions, whereas I see more men with "nuts & bolts" questions. I wonder if this is because women prefer a "personal" answer, whereas men are more willing to use Google. Just a supposition on my part.

6. Can't really say, sorry. Most people I know tend to conform to the nature of the forum.

PS - Your use of the word "gender" is perfectly correct.
 
n yusef, I agree a lot with what you're saying. It does seem that the absence of real world repercussions means that people can be much more offensive online than they otherwise would be. I suspect that some of the sexist, racist and homophobic comments that get posted on online message boards and the like are just there to be inflammatory.
 
n yusef, I agree a lot with what you're saying. It does seem that the absence of real world repercussions means that people can be much more offensive online than they otherwise would be. I suspect that some of the sexist, racist and homophobic comments that get posted on online message boards and the like are just there to be inflammatory.
 
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