Abstract

On-line computer conferences have been of increasing interest to teachers of composition who hope to provide alternative forums for student-centered, collaborative writing that involve all members of their classes in active learning. Some expect them to provide sites for discourse that are more egalitarian and less constrained by power differentials based on gender and status than are face-to-face discussions. These expectations, however, are largely unsupported by systematic research. The article describes an exploratory study of gender and power relationships on Megabyte University, one particular on-line conference. While the results of the study are not definitive, they do suggest that gender and power are present to some extent even in on-line conferences. During the two 20-day periods studied, men and high-profile members of the community dominated conference communication. Neither this conference domination nor the communication styles of participants were affected by giving participants the option of using pseudonyms.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
1991-04-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088391008002002
Open Access
Closed
Topics

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (21)

  1. Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Written Communication
  3. Computers and Composition
  4. Computers and Composition
  5. Computers and Composition
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  1. Computers and Composition
  2. Computers and Composition
  3. Computers and Composition
  4. Computers and Composition
  5. Computers and Composition
  6. Written Communication
  7. Computers and Composition
  8. Computers and Composition
  9. Computers and Composition
  10. Computers and Composition
  11. Written Communication
  12. Technical Communication Quarterly
  13. Computers and Composition
  14. Computers and Composition
  15. Computers and Composition
  16. Written Communication

Cites in this index (1)

  1. College English
Also cites 7 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.1080/03637757309375809
  2. 10.1017/S004740450000885X
  3. 10.1111/j.1460-2466.1986.tb01427.x
  4. 10.2307/539181
  5. 10.1037/0003-066X.39.10.1123
  6. 10.1207/s15327051hci0101_3
    Human Computer Interaction  
  7. 10.1287/mnsc.32.11.1492
CrossRef global citation count: 82 View in citation network →