Mothers with attitude: how the Mumsnet parenting forum offers space for new forms of femininity to emerge online.

Pedersen, Sarah; Smithson, Janet

Abstract

This paper investigates the motivations and online behaviour of the users of Mumsnet, a UK online parenting community. The Mumsnet discussion forum is characterised by its difference to other mothering websites in its language use, its celebration of confrontational, opinionated and well-informed debate, its tolerance of aggression and swearing and its focus on entertainment rather than support. Many of these attributes have previously been seen as male online behaviour, but it is argued that new forms of femininities are emerging and a clear-cut binary divide between male and female online behaviour can no longer be applied.

Citation

PEDERSEN, S. and SMITHSON, J. 2013. Mothers with attitude: how the Mumsnet parenting forum offers space for new forms of femininity to emerge online. Women's studies international forum [online], 38, pages 97-106. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2013.03.004

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 9, 2013
• Online Publication Date: Apr 9, 2013
• Publication Date: Jun 30, 2013
• Deposit Date: Mar 22, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 22, 2018
• Journal: Women's studies international forum
• Print ISSN: 0277-5395
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 38
• Pages: 97-106
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2013.03.004
• Keywords: Gendered computermediated communication; Online communities; Mothers; Parenting
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/2816
• Contract Date: Mar 22, 2018