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Gender Bigotry

It can be argued that years of constant social warning to the negative consequences created by sexism and misogyny have resulted in reduced chauvinism in our everyday lives. This is certainly not the case in the online environment where females are consistently degraded. To be a woman on the Internet implies severe lack of technical knowledge, coping with obscene male remarks, and tolerating substantial sexual harassment. A brief search across the Internet can result in locating numerous inappropriate content that would be unacceptable in society. So is this truly a modern day phenomenon? Is ‘women-bashing’ becoming a norm because of the free-nature of cyberspace? I would argue that there is significant evidence to prove that online gender stereotyping occurs frequently due in part to a lack of online regulations. There is also hope, however, that when met with adversity from females banding together, this stereotyping can decrease.

Princeton and Northwest Universities recently concluded in a study that the general public views women as inferior in terms of computer skills and technical ability. The study also proves that this perception is misguided as females have the same technical ability as males. Instead of trying to stop this misconception, Samsung recently decided to capitalize on it with their online advertising blitz “To Smart For Amy”. Posted on Youtube and across the Internet, these commercials showcase a woman named Amy who is completely unaware of simple technological functions of a cell phone. The commercial is aimed at a male audience, trying to convince them that a Samsung phone has better functions than the competition. It does this by showing the phone to Amy who then acts like a stereotypical woman who knows little more than doing makeup and looking pretty. Samsung is an enormous international corporation so one would expect that they would show better judgement than to further such a damaging stereotype.

When viewing the commercial for the first time, I could not help but think of the impression it must leave on young girls. Do they watch the commercial and disconnect from online applications altogether? Or do they try to ignore it, treat it as the new ‘norm’ of society, and move on with freshly lowered self-impression. This advertising unjustly implies that women have a lower technical expertise and further adds to this gender misconception. Although this perception would rarely present itself on traditional media (radio, television, tradeshows, etc.) the same political correctness does not take hold on the Internet. This makes it easier for Samsung to move forward from this incident image intact. Women’s Media Centre, a feminist organization with the goal of public awareness, launched a campaign exposing Samsung’s gender biased commercials. The campaign, targeting corporations who produce such “entertainment”, was successful as Samsung stopped all advertisements with stereotypical Amy.

A lack of Internet self-monitoring also allows for misogynistic comments to surface, as self-appointed critics do not feel they are bound by the same social conventions governing other mediums. A study conducted by the Journal of and Social Psychology proves that when placed in similar online forums, avatars with female associations are treated negatively. This negativity occurs on mediums ranging from video uploading sites to online gaming but connotes another stereotype not furthered by other mediums; the stereotype that women are only useful when cooking, cleaning, or performing sexually. One example of this could be found on a Youtube video posted by a girl showing off her soccer ability. This video clearly shows how talented the young woman is as she juggles a soccer ball many times and performs tricks requiring both extreme dexterity and skill. Following the video, a male user comments “Get back in the kitchen !!!”.

Upon looking at his profile, the user seems to be an average 18-year-old residing in the United Kingdom who’s hobbies seem to include online gaming and soccer. From uploaded videos he has previously uploaded, we can see that he does not appear to actively and regularly subjugate women. So why was this comment posted in this way? It was posted for the same reason Samsungs reputation remains progressive, because there are no consequences for stereotyping, only the feeling of self accomplishment. This type of comment has quickly become the online norm following any female contribution. Spurring these comments is the apparent validation males experience when expressing their apparent dominance over females.

When I scrolled down to this comment, a few ideas immediately caught my attention.   The first was courage displayed by the female uploading this video. To expose ones-self by placing a personal video online for everyone to view requires enormous bravery. To continue exposing yourself by leaving the video in place after these comments shows how strong this woman truly is. Even though online society allows for this to occur, it is refreshing to see a person successfully fight against the stereotype. This girl is a role model to other girls for more than just soccer but for standing her ground when faced with opposition. I also noticed other females supporting and congratulating her for showing superior skills. Stopping a negative perception and creating a new positive online norm requires individuals to rally in support of accomplishments the way women have done in this circumstance. 

The third and perhaps most inappropriate stereotyping comes in the form of deliberate sexual harassment. One study from the University of Haifa confirms, “Gender harassment in cyberspace is very common”, especially in the form of sexual harassment. The study goes on to say “active verbal SH [sexual harassment] mainly appears in the form of offensive sexual messages, actively initiated by a harasser toward a victim”. Common places these messages can be found include chat rooms, social networks, and video uploading sites. Males use these spaces to display their ‘masculinity’ by communicating in ways that would be completely inappropriate in other mediums. While exploring the Internet I came across an example of this on Youtube. A video displaying female shooting different firearms is accompanied by graphic male remarks. One male comments “she can pull the trigger of my love gun anytime”. The shockingly brazen manner in which this comment appears demonstrates how mainstream online sexual harassment has become. It also strengthens the argument that this material consistently appears in cyberspace because of a lack of regulation.

I found this comment obscene, as it is a clear violation of both the law and an individual’s dignity. I also observed that his comments seemed to be undisputed by others despite the video acquiring over 1.4 million views. After checking the video statistics, it was clear why. The vast majority of viewers were males. Unlike the previous two examples where other women came to support females being victimized, this victim had fewer females to rely on, resulting in a perception that there is no peer support. A closer inspection supports this theory as a female supporter is found supporting the victim furthur down the comment list. Even on this video where the overwhelming number of male remarks drowns out visible female support, there are females who are willing to stand up against online norms and a large male audience to change online society.

Gender discrimination is an issue far from solved in cyberspace as women are displayed as technologically backwards, ability deficient, and sexually inferior. Although there are many examples to label this discrimination as a norm, there are also many examples of women standing together and trying to change this trend. If we want to eliminate this trend going forward, then more action must be taken to alert the public to the damaging results of gender bigotry.

Semester Reflection

Two months of constant online activity have alleviated my prior concerns regarding the strain a spring semester English option could create. When our class first started, I thought an entire semester riddled with constant writing assignments would become extremely time consuming and leave me with little remaining academic drive. This has most certainly not been the case after taking Writing in a Digital Context. This class has taught me several major things about the Internet and the importance of online communication.

The first thing learned through the course was how to create an online blog. I found this very helpful, as a blog is a great way to express one’s opinion, free from regulation, regarding any subject. Blogging can be done by anyone without budgetary constraints and accessed by audiences around the world. I personally loved the conversations our class had on controversial issues through the course blog. Commenting on other people’s blogs was mandatory and this provided an opportunity to hear from individuals who otherwise would remain silent. The diversity of opinions and expertise on issues ranging from online gender inequalities to online gaming seemed shockingly reflective.

I also learned how to use social media for the first time with Google+. Through the complaints of friends and family members, I had created a Facebook account years back but had never used it to any extent because I felt it was a waste of time. After this course, I now see the value of this medium as it allows for people to build connections at an incredible pace. By simply posting a few comments every week, one can communicate to 20+ people at on time. My blog entry on which I currently thought was the best boxer in the world spurred 11 comments on my Google+ post with people I would have otherwise never come into contact with.

The ability to distinguish between a credible online source and one that has a high possibility of being false was also very helpful. Class discussions on the freedom for anyone to post anything opened my eyes as to how unreliable information can be. For instance, our Wikipedia project showed how easy it was for someone to purposely post wrong information for others to see. My changes to Wikipedia, where I changed the names of major cities in China to my name, remained on the site for nearly a week. If I had changed population figures, those changes would be less noticeable and could have easily been taken as true by someone relying on Wikipedia as a credible source.

Although these topics were important, perhaps the most important class focus for me was the community’s assignment. It was refreshing to connect and have fun with other people who shared my hobbies without worrying about whether this interaction was time well spent. The mandatory component of this activity may have encouraged my initial participation within Fanpop.com, but the friendships I made will spur future involvement with this community.

This semester has been very refreshing, surprising to say about a spring course, while remaining academic in nature. I enjoyed learning a great deal of new skills that will be crucial to future success, as online activity increasingly shapes our society.

The True Pound for Pound Champ

Professional boxing is older than the NFL, NBA, and NHL with fans across the globe. With an enormous and diverse fan-base, there is surprisingly one question debated time and again. “Who is the pound for pound best fighter in the world”? Over the last few years, this question has taken a more serious tone as several major events have made it impossible to determine who the true champion should be.

Although Manny Pacquiao was deemed the pound-for-pound champ by ring magazine in 2011, many still consider Floyd Mayweather (as seen on the right) the best. This spilt in decision making was caused in 2008 when Floyd announced his retirement after an illustrious and undefeated career. When he returned from retirement in 2009, Manny Pacquiao had been named the new pound-for-pound champion after a 15 fight-winning streak. Due to Pacquiao’s sudden and shocking ascent up the ranks, Manny had become boxing’s poster-boy and the economic bell-cow of the sport. Even with an entire country in his corner, the Philippines, and a crowd-pleasing fast-paced fighting-style, there are several fights that still haunt Pacquiao’s chances of resuming as the pound-for-pound best, the title he lost earlier this year.

One fight that rouses constant debate occurred against Juan Manuel Marquez 2004. The fight was extremely close between the two and ended in a draw. This fight has been brought back into the spotlight as Mayweather recently destroyed Marquez in 2009 by winning every single round. With an impressive showing against Marquez, Mayweather immediately jumped back into the pound for pound discussion.

Going into last week’s mega fight between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley, most ringside experts had picked Manny as the best in the sport. This conception was shattered at the end of the night as Bradley pulled out a shocking and controversial win over Pacquiao. With a loss to Bradley, a contender that is not considered a top fighter in the 147-weight division, Pacquiao’s claim to the boxing throne seems to have crumbled. After the loss to Bradley, many thought that now would be the perfect time for Floyd to challenge Manny as he may be weakening due to old age.

After the Bradley fight, boxing fans assumed that Mayweather would be crowned the new pound for pound champion due to his 43-fight win-streak. This did not occur as Mayweather yet again announced his retirement from boxing. Mayweather’s decision to retire was just as shocking as the Pacquiao-Bradley upset as it was announced with no warning during a routine press conference.

To answer the question of who was truly the best, a match between Floyd and Manny had been in the works for years. It was rumoured that after the Bradley fight, the dream match fans have waited a decade for between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao would finally occur. This now seems unlikely, as Pacquiao wants a rematch against Bradley and Floyd has all but disappeared.

The final impediment from discerning the true champion is Timothy Bradley’s place at the top of the 147-pound weight division. Although Timothy Bradley beat Pacquiao in a close fight, many ringside experts felt Pacquiao should have won so the title of pound for pound champion remains at large. Ring Magazine currently shows the number one position vacant and with both Pacquiao and Mayweather in second place.

Blog Popularity

The need to be popular has penetrated the online world as with the rest of society. For instance, content on blogs now revolves around what can get the most views and create online popularity. Although generating online popularity may seem straightforward at first, there are many obstacles to success; a vast array of competitor blogs being just one impediment. Producing a blog with a high volume of traffic requires designing an appropriate appearance, building a stable reputation, and consistently posting new information. To explore what makes for a popular blog, the most popular blogs according to Technorati.com will be examined.

 

The most popular blog on Technorati is the online newspaper, the Huffington Post blog. In terms of appearance, the Huffington Post blog seems very professional. Upon entering, readers instantly see the potential credibility of the blog as it resembles a newspaper. This appearance is appropriate as the Huffington post takes pride in providing the latest news to followers. When reading different posts, it is clear that the blog has a left-wing stance on American political issues. For instance, the blog features several articles on how Mitt Romney, the republican nominee, is either bad for the country or is not as accomplished as Barack Obama. When combined with the left leaning views of followers, this left leaning stance gives the blog a stable reputation. Followers know that when they are visiting the Huffington Post blog, they will receive news that they will agree with.

Finally, this blog also has a large amount of new and relevant information. In the fast world of politics and the economy, it is integral for the Huffington Post to cover information as quickly as possible so it remains interesting to the public. When given either old or a small supply of information, viewers may be prone to finding another source for their news. These factors make the Huffington Post very popular.

The second blog examined is the TMZ Celebrity Gossip blog. The followers of TMZ appear to be individuals who like gossiping about celebrities and the lives of famous individuals. The appearance of the TMZ blog suites this audience very well and helps promote the TMZ brand. Upon entering the blog, viewers are immediately bombarded with images of their favourite celebrities. This immediately encourages TMZ’s target audience to stay and examine the blog content. The content on the blog also builds a stable reputation, as there is a wide variety of information on celebrity behaviour. Every aspect of celebrity life is coined with disturbing detail. For instance, there is even a post revealing that celebrity Sheryl Crow has a brain tumour that is fortunately not cancerous.

Further importance is given to the quantity of posts. Viewers who want celebrity news want a fast paced information blitz where as many celebrities get ‘slammed’ as possible. TMZ delivers this to its audience by writing short articles on as many different celebrities as possible. These petite posts allow readers to consume the content within a few minutes and move to the next post keeping the blog fast-paced and interesting.

The three keys to popularity taken from these two posts revolve around how one identifies and caters to their target audience. Every detail from appearance to the quality and quantity of the content can determine whether your blog will receive adequate web-traffic. Crafting a blog that satisfies audience cravings helps build popularity.

Blog Audience

Constructing an effective blog demands tailoring the blog to the intended audience. Although this may seem simple, customizing an entire web page requires the modification of various minute details. Everything from design and advertising to the post content and participation can shape the audience’s perception upon viewing. To effectively analyze how these elements interact, we will take a closer look at the MMA Mania blog.

To customize a blog one must first identify the target audience. MMA Mania’s target audience are males between 15 to 25 who avidly follow mixed martial arts (MMA). To appeal to this audience, MMA Mania creates an ‘alpha male’ theme whereby viewing the blog resurrects a feeling of masculinity.  

When first entering the blog, we immediately see an octagon cage bleeding out. The site uses an octagon, which is the official shape of mixed martial art’s rings. The use of the octagon gives the appearance to MMA fans that this blog knows the intricacies of MMA and will yield important information.  This expertise is furthered by the blog’s title, MMA Mania, reflecting the extreme priority that is given to the sport.

The blood that descends from the octagon highlights the brutality of mixed martial arts. Viewers of ultimate fighting like to see vicious matches where men rip one another to pieces. For this reason, blood is shown frequently throughout the blog. One quick scroll down the page reveals gruesome pictures of a person’s head cut open while another shows an individual getting pummelled with blood streaming across his face. Having a red background colour for titles and red text for important links and information furthers the alpha male theme as it a constant reminder of the dangers in MMA.

Advertising on the side of the page also appeals to the target audience as commercials range from Bruce Lee kung-fu breakdowns to attractive blonde women wearing videogame t-shirts. These advertisements were placed on the blog as they convey masculinity and reassure the target audience that they are in the right place.

This clever use of colour and advertising create a theme that delays the target audience from exiting and thus allowing time the target audience to browse the various blog posts. The entries are comprised of pre-fight hype post-fight analysis. One such entry named “UFC146 results recap” is riddled with facts and an in-depth look at how each fighter in UFC 146 was victorious. The descriptions that the blog incorporates (“Rosario’s lethal kicks versus Miocic’s crisp punching combinations”) stirs the imagination and gives a feeling of excitement. After reading the post, the audience is left with strong opinions regarding the fight's outcome and a greater loyalty to the blog itself for the thought-provoking commentary.  

To express these opinions, the blog allows readers to debate what they feel after reading the post. The post is a continuation of the alpha male theme as reader’s square-off against one another to prove their MMA expertise. In this way, audience participation facilitates engagement in discussions and ensures the blog's success as readers often return to see if their comments face opposition.

Blog Credibility

With the Internet becoming evermore influential in our decision making, the concern whether information obtained comes from a credible source has come to the forefront. Ensuring the validity of data has become increasingly challenging as the Internet provides everyone the ability to voice their own opinions as factual. This is especially true of politically motivated blogs. The Journal of Computer MediatedCommunication concluded in a 2007 study that American’s who are “politically interested” view blogs as more credible than the mainstream media. Although I am surprised by these findings, I can understand why so many people are persuaded to perceive political blogs as trustworthy. To elaborate on the tactics blogs use to appear reliable, I will use the Glenn Beck blog as an example.

Upon entering Glenn’s blog, I immediately noticed his attempts at appearing bipartisan and reliable. For instance, his homepage is overflowing with pictures of Glenn wearing a suite and reading glasses, attire that lends audiences to deem that he is knowledgeable and responsible.

The design of the blog also reaffirms professionalism as posts are neat and orderly and appear as they would on a news blog. The top of his blog even reads “Glenn Beck The Fusion of Entertainment and Enlightenment” while the sides reveal other news stories he has commented on in the past. These factors combined with his connection to Fox news make it seem as though Glenn would be a bipartisan journalist. Upon a detailed analysis; however, his political biases become apparent.

The very first post Glenn Beck has on his blog is the “Obama’s Life History Multiple Choice Challenge”. At first one assumes that the answers to questions are based on facts and not political propaganda but that quickly changes as the game is played. The questions are asked in ways that assume Barrack Obama (President of the United States) is anti American. When the answers are revealed, they show that the president and his parents are anti-American; an assumption routed in fiction but presented as factual. To appear credible, the post also includes links of another right wing blog that verifies Obama’s ‘resentment of America’ restating the Glenn Beck post (with links back to Glenn’s blog for their vindication). Although these links may initially seem legitimate, quoting only sources that agree with your position is neither a fair nor impartial way to present a political issue.

A further indication of the blog’s right-wing bias would be the suggestion that gay marriage is not important in the election. On a post titled “Which States Does Obama’s Gay MarriageAnnouncement Affect In The Election”, Glenn points to how the ‘liberal media’ is trying to make gay marriage into an election issue so Obama can increase fundraising even though Americans could care less. He assumes that the media is trying to aid Obama in the election and that this blog is the only source for fair and bipartisan reporting. He backs his judgements with one-sided statistics of how Americans don’t care about gay marriage in an attempt to bestow enthusiasm upon his right-wing base.

To right-wing Americans, information on the Glenn Beck blog seems impartial as it looks professional, has links to other sources, and uses statistics instead of opinions. What is not clearly evident is the right-wing assumptions that are made prior to posting information and the agenda behind the message. Although most Americans may believe blogs to be credible, there is often a hidden message that can render the information unreliable.

Print Newspapers vs. Online News Papers

I often indulge in political conversations with colleagues after reading online news reports. Although the Internet regularly provides me with information, I’ve given little thought as to why I prefer to read news stories online rather than in print.  This week’s entry will gauge my perception of the news between print and Internet sources. To effectively compare the two mediums, I read an article in the Metro newspaper and then read the same article on the metro’s website. 

While reading the newspaper, I gained the impression that the information was some how out of my control. Perhaps the years of crosschecking online content with third party websites has given me an appreciation of a well-cited article. Without references indicating how statistics were generated, evaluating the accuracy of information requires supplementary investigation.

Another difference between the two mediums was the additional credibility given to the print source. While reading an online news article, I find myself questioning whether the information is being provided by someone who is trustworthy and has conducted an appropriate investigation. The freedom of information on the Internet leads me to associate an apparently reliable source like the Metro to the inaccuracies on other web-based organizations. Print sources differ as the reader makes an assumption that information must have been checked and verified more critically by an editor. When data was presented in the Metro newspaper, I perceived that a high standard of journalism was used to gain that information.

I also noticed a significant literary difference between the two sources. Although the two articles were identical, the newspaper seemed to command a higher English mastery than the online source. It appears that due to the types of online activities I am accustom, videos and music, there was an assumption that all Internet activities are for pleasure. The newspaper; however, reminded me of reports and literature I review through academia. This gave the impression that the newspaper’s purpose was not one of enjoyment but of learning instead.

These factors lead to a difference in the way I consumed the information. When I read through the online article, I immediately began to question every line that was written and found myself constantly fact checking through other online sources. I was sceptical of everything I read because I felt that there was a possibility of errors in the author’s judgement. After reading the online article, I surprisingly felt convinced that the information I had just read was accurate. This was because of the constant scrutiny applied during the reading process.

After reading the newspaper; however, I did not get this same sense of gratification that the information was correct. While reading, I continually got the feeling that the newspaper was rushed to print and the story could have changed from the time the paper was printed. Online articles can be updated to account for up-to-the-minute changes but a newspaper is only as accurate as the information found the night before printing. The lack of extremely recent information combined with an inability to confirm facts resulted in my diminished confidence in print news. 

Introductory Post

The first week of spring semester is one of uneasy nervousness combined with the expectation of academic overexertion. Although I have taken spring courses in the past, this semester seems surreal; effort will no longer be devoted to long nights before examinations but steadily throughout the semester in the form of personal blogs.

My excellence in academia stems from a strong sense of urgency I acquire the night preceding a test. This semester, with constant deadlines and a regular schedule of deliverables, I fear that urgency could dissipate resulting in lower performance.

 

A flexible academic schedule does allow for a better work-life balance. Currently working for an oil company, I am expected to work 40 hours per week. Although my job provides me with economic freedom, the time I devote to studying is often limited. I look forward to a semester where this impediment is eliminated.