Women in Blogging; a Look into the Future

Is blogging destined to become a girl-dominated area of the web?

According to this article in the Canadian Press it could very well be the case, considering that “virtually all of the growth in teen blogging between 2004 and 2006 is due to the increased activity of girls.”  This bodes well for the future of women in technology. As the benefits of blogging become more and more apparent, there is more call for shrewd and talented blog-writers, and women seem to fit the bill. 

This is thrilling news for women, who still hold only 25.6% of computer-related occupations (according to the U.S. Department of Labor), however, I think it’s too early to be drawing conclusions just yet.  As a medium for reaching out to others, blogging is unparalleled.  A blog is an instantaneous, transcontinental, cross-cultural discussion. To claim that blogging is inherently feminine because it is a social medium, or masculine because it requires a level of technological awareness, only shortchanges both genders and the value of blogging in general. 

Now, the Canadian Press is not claiming blogging for either gender, merely pointing out the encouraging numbers of girls who have chosen to embrace it.  In fact, the author states that regardless of gender, blogging is a great way to build necessary skills such as “communication and networking . . . even things like review and critique.”

So I pose this question to you: Where do you think the future of blogging lies?  With seemingly limitless possibilities, will blogs end up being a tool of the teens or an essential part of a business marketing plan?  Will the blogosphere be dominated by men or women?  Or will it, perhaps, end up as the great equalizer?

Comments

[Mark Merenda]

I don't think women can ever dominate this field as long as their primary online activities are surfing the web for porn sites and checking sports scores. But that's just my opinion.

[Seth Brady]

Jenni,

I absolutely agree with your statements about blogs being an "instantaneous, transcontinental, cross-cultural discussion".

I would also go one step further and say that the really influential blogs are more like viruses in that it has potency (offering instant global reach), acts like an epidemic (can spread quickly across demographic and cultural boundaries) and can often mutate beyond it's original form (as more and more readers engage and contribute to the discussion). It's no longer a case of a famous New York Times journalist writing a column that someone in Kenya has almost no hope of ever reading.

Today we live in a world where bloggers have clout, influence, and a select few have enough power that they're able to change the course of corporate policy. Just Google Jeff Jarvis and Dell Hell if you want to see how one blogger changed a multi-billion dollar company's approach to social media.

When it comes to the male vs female-dominated future, I'll leave that for braver souls to debate. In the meantime, you may want to check out a recent post I did about Kodak appointing their first "Chief Blogger" (who also happens to be a woman and very actively engaged in the blogosphere).

http://websitebasecamp.blogspot.com/2008/04/kodak-nominates-first-chief-blogger.html

Enjoy!

Seth