http://tags.library.upenn.edu/tag/online+newsgroup+internet PennTags Feed http://tags.library.upenn.edu/makerecord/url/1105 http://tags.library.upenn.edu/makerecord/url/1105 <p>Penntext/PDF available</p><p>In this essay, Frederick examines the question of whether computer-mediated communication is truly a democratic utopia where feminist values can flourish.&nbsp; By studying data from 2 newsgroups, alt.feminism and soc.feminism, she demonstrates that discrimination and exclusion/hostility can continue to occur, even in a supposedly inclusive and politically feminist context.&nbsp; She concentrates on the <em>ethos</em> of the newsgroups as the basis for constructing either a welcoming or distancing communication arena.&nbsp; My interest in this article stems from this notion of <em>ethos</em> because I think that it a highly influencing factor which combines with inherent linguistic features of women's speech to produce a speech community.&nbsp; I believe that any future discussions of the social structure of online communication must address <em>ethos</em> as well as linguistic differences in order to prevent factionalization or balkanization of men and women online, much as one might approach a dialog about multiculturalism and the internet.</p>