The Arachnet Electronic Journal on Virtual Culture __________________________________________________________________ ISSN 1068-5723 July 26, 1994 Volume 2 Issue 3 EJVCV2N3 CONTENTS This entire issue is available as EJVCV2N3 PACKAGE Table of Contents _______________________ Special Issue: Gender Issues in Computer Networking Guest Editor: Leslie Regan Shade McGill University Graduate Program in Communications shade@ice.cc.mcgill.ca or shade@well.sf.ca.us> =============== GENDER ISSUES IN COMPUTER NETWORKING Leslie Regan Shade McGill University shade@ice.cc.mcgill.ca (Available as SHADE V2N3, 544 lines) Abstract This introduction to the Electronic Journal of Virtual Culture's Special Issue on Gender Issues in Computer Networking provides a brief overview on the four articles, and a selected bibliography of articles, books, and online resources on gender issues in computing and telecommunications. THE ACCESSIBILITY OF COMPUTERS TO ORGANIZATIONS SERVING WOMEN IN THE PROVINCE OF NEWFOUNDLAND: PRELIMINARY STUDY RESULTS Ellen Balka & Laurel Doucette Memorial University of Newfoundland ebalka@kean.ucs.mun.ca (Available as BALKA V2N3, 1,739 lines) Abstract A great deal of the writing about computer networking begins with a declaration that computer networks are a democratizing technology (Knight, 1983; Leary 1984; Gabree 1984; Ruthven, 1983). More recent work (Balka, 1993a) however suggests that the inaccessibility of computer technology in general and computer networking technology in particular prohibits women's organizations from realizing the potential benefits associated with computer networking. GUIDELINES FOR AN INTRODUCTION TO NETWORKING: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE Sally Jo Cunningham Dept. of Computer Science University of Waikato Hamilton, New Zealand sallyjo@waikato.ac.nz (Available as CUNNINGH V2N3, 771 lines) Abstract The Internet offers a wide variety of forums for exchanging information, forming professional associations, gathering information, and socializing. Its base of active users, however, does not include an equal proportion of men and women--despite the meteoric spread of Internet access beyond its original, predominantly male domain. Studies have noted that many women feel uncomfortable with experimenting on a computer or "playing" with new software. A formal course or training session may give these women the support and guidance they need to explore the capabilities of the Internet. This paper reviews the literature in computer science education, scholarly virtual communities, and bibliographic instruction to determine the desirable characteristics of such a course. Research indicates that an introduction to the Internet should: use software that encourages exploration; stress practical applications of the Internet in the students' interest areas; ensure equal access to hardware and a non-sexist learning environment; contain explicit instruction in Internet communication styles; and provide support for collaborative work and peer group formation. WEAVERS OF WEBS: A PORTRAIT OF YOUNG WOMEN ON THE NET Nancy Kaplan and Eva Farrell (Available as KAPLAN V2N3, 1,311 lines) Abstract Gender imbalances within networking culture have prompted an array of interesting research questions about communication practices -- who speaks and to whom, who sets conversational agendas, who "dominates" a discourse. Such studies have generally confirmed the negative experiences of professional women who participate actively in network culture, but what they have not yet examined is the persistence of women in this apparently hostile culture, nor have they generally asked how those women who participate despite male dominance understand their own participate despite male dominance understand their own activities. This study begins to address those questions -- why women seek electronic spaces, what they articulate as their aims, expectations, and desires, how women make their electronic communication practices meaningful to themselves -- by investigating a small community of adolescent women. . CROSS-GENDER COMMUNICATION IN CYBERSPACE Gladys We we@sfu.ca (Available as WE V2N3, 679 lines) Abstract Does computer mediated communication help women and men communicate more effectively? This article examines some of the research which has been done on how CMC has affected communication between the genders. It also investigates some of the different ways in which online interactions between women and men are made. And finally, it offers some anecdotes and experiences of life online, from both women and men. The Virtual Square ================== edited by James Shimabukuro (jamess@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu) The Virtual Square is devoted to non-refereed opinion columns and essays. "ROMANCE AND THE INTERNET" CONTENTS ====================== (available as SQARV2N3 NETLOVE, 549 lines) Michael Hyman InterNet Romances: They Can Succeed Peter Hering InterNet Romances Don't Work Meng Weng Wong Skeptical of Net Romances Marcia Bednarcyk Prince/Princess Syndrome: How to Avoid Pitfalls in Net Relationships Essi "Dalva" Salminen Love at First Message: A Finnish Love Story Gerald M. Phillips Romance on the Internet _________________________________ Articles and Sections of this issue of the _Electronic Journal on Virtual Culture_ may be retrieved via anonymous ftp to byrd.mu.wvnet.edu or via e-mail message addressed to LISTSERV@KENTVM or LISTSERV@KENTVM.KENT.EDU (instructions below) or GOPHER gopher.cic.net Papers may be submitted at anytime by email or send/file to: Ermel Stepp - Editor-in-Chief, _Electronic Journal on Virtual Culture_ M034050@MARSHALL.WVNET.EDU _________________________________ *Copyright Declaration* Copyright of articles published by Electronic Journal on Virtual Culture is held by the author of a given article. If an article is re-published elsewhere it must include a statement that it was originally published by Electronic Journal on Virtual Culture. The EJVC Editors reserve the right to maintain permanent archival copies of all submissions and to provide print copies to appropriate indexing services for for indexing and microforming. _________________________________ _THE ELECTRONIC JOURNAL ON VIRTUAL CULTURE_ ISSN 1068-5327 EDITORIAL BORAD EJVC Founders Ermel Stepp, Marshall University, Editor-in-Chief M034050@Marshall.wvnet.edu Diane (Di) Kovacs, Kent State University, Co-Editor DKOVACS@Kentvm.Kent.edu A. Ralph Papakhian, Indiana University, Consulting Editor PAPAKHI@@IUBVM Editor, _The Cyberspace Monitor_ Vacant Editor, _Virtual Square_ James Shimabukuro, University of Hawaii jamess@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu Consulting Editors Anne Balsamo, Georgia Institute of Technology ab45@prism.gatech.edu Patrick (Pat) Conner, West Virginia University u47c2@WVNVM.WVNET.EDU Skip Coppola, Applied Technology, Inc. skip%aptech@bagend.atl.ga.us Cynthia J. Fuchs, George Mason University cfuchs@gmuvax.bitnet Stevan Harnad, Princeton University harnad@Princeton.EDU Edward M. (Ted) Jennings, University at Albany, SUNY EMJ69@ALBNYVMS Michael Joyce, Vassar MIJOYCE@vaxsar.vassar.edu or USERTFSG@UMICHUM Jay Lemke, City University of New York JLLBC@CUNYVM.BITNET Carl Eugene Loeffler, Carnegie Mellon University cel+@andrew.cmu.edu Willard McCarty, University of Toronto editor@EPAS.UTORONTO.CA James (Jim) Milles, Saint Louis University millesjg@sluvca.slu.edu Algirdas Pakstas, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics a.pakstas@sedcs.mii2.Lt A. Ralph Papakhian, Indiana University PAPAKHI@@IUBVM Bernie Sloan, University of Illinois, Champaign AXPBBGS@UICVMC.BITNET or b-sloan@uiuc.edu Allucquere Roseanne Stone, University of Texas, Austin success@emc.cc.utexas.edu Kali Tal, Viet Nam Generation kali@access.digex.com Associate Editors Robert J. (Bob) Beebe, Youngstown State University ad219@yfn.ysu.edu David W. 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