Women and the Information Society: barriers and participation

Paper presented to the Women’s Is-sues Section of IFLA at the 68th IFLA General Conference, held in Glasgow, Scotland, from 18–24 August 2002. Reviews the literature on the topic of women, the information society and the Internet. Also presents selected results of Masters’ research projects undertaken in the Department of Information Science at Loughborough University, United Kingdom. Discusses female access to the Internet and explores some of the barriers that may prevent women having the same access as men. Examines differences in male and female Internet use. The negative aspects of the Internet for women are very often emphasized, but there are positive reasons for women to use the Internet and advantages to this method of computer-mediated communication for women. The concept of Cyberfeminism is discussed. Concludes that although there are negative sides to the technology, women must engage with the Internet if they are to help shape the Information Society