The Digital Divide

We all know that men and women find the internet useful these days. The internet has changed everybody's lives, and not just in the United States, but other countries as well. It has changed the way we see things, communicate, learn, express ourselves, and educate others, along with so much more. 

But do any of us really stop to think about the differences between men and women and their use on the internet? In a 2010 article on a website discussing the digital divide and women, we can see that women use the internet more often than men for social networking and communicating with others, whether it be on women's issues, current events, or personal relationships. Even when it comes to portable social networking, via cellphones or other networking devices, women are ahead of men.

So it is easy to infer that women prefer the internet more than men for social networking use. But when it comes to the technology "behind the scenes", such as running or creating websites and software, running servers, etc, these areas are still seen as a man's industry. But some women want to change the stereotypical idea that men are the only brains behind the creation of software and technology. For example, Shireen Mitchell, in the article from the Washington Post by Kim Hart, says she had an interest in video games and technology since she was a teenager. 
      
       "I was never encouraged to be interested in technology," said Mitchell, 39. "Even my mother thought I was going to the arcade room to hang around boys -- not because I actually loved the games . . . There just aren't a lot of women who feel comfortable in the field." 


This is a great example of how women are not seen as technological, including with video gaming, or software production. 

But with the so called Second Digital Divide, this may affect women more than men. The second digital divide includes digital literacy, which may make it more difficult for women to get the education they need to get into technological industries. In an article discussing the Second Digital Divide, the writer makes a statement that there are circumstances that will affect those working in the technology sector.
"Computers and Internet demand specific skills if you want to use them as a tool, which creates a relative advantage for the people and organisations that use them" - Cecilia Castaño.

 This video from Youtube identifies the problems associated with the digital divide and offers suggestions to how we can change the sexist stereotypes.

How often are women recognized when they do work on the internet?  We know that women tend to use the internet more for communicating and social networking, such as blogging and such, but are they really being appreciated for it? I personally would like to see the men's perspective on Feminist blogging, and what his appreciation is towards it.  Blogs to women's issues are still gaining popularity, but by who? Just women? Or men too? When is the female "Bill Gates" going to hit the scene? How can we fight the sexist ideas that women cannot be major software and technology creators and still enjoy being a feminine woman as well?