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Gender differences in stories of everyday Internet use
1University of Buffalo, State University of New York, 914 Kimball Tower, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214-3079, USA. sdickers@buffalo.edu
Health Care for Women International
|August 15, 2003
Summary
Men and women exhibit distinct values and practices during internet use, highlighting potential gender stereotypes online. Understanding these differences can help nurses recognize and address bias in digital environments.
Area of Science:
- Digital Health
- Sociology of Technology
- Gender Studies
Background:
- The internet is a theoretically unbiased medium.
- Understanding user behavior online is crucial for digital health.
- Gender differences in technology use are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine gender differences in internet usage.
- To identify shared practices in narrative interpretation online.
- To explore potential gender stereotyping in digital communication.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of data from four web-based focus groups.
- Participants included nurses and computer scientists.
- Focus groups explored internet usage and narrative interpretation.
Main Results:
- Significant gender differences were found in internet values.
- Women and men demonstrated different approaches to online engagement.
- Identified potential for gender stereotyping in digital interactions.
Conclusions:
- Internet usage reflects differing gender values.
- Nurses can be informed about these gender values.
- Awareness can mitigate gender stereotyping in theoretically bias-free digital spaces.