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

Pedersen, Sarah; Smithson, Janet

Authors

Janet Smithson



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 29, 2024
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

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