Computer-mediated communication and gendered presentation of selves

Abstract

Malaysian women are turning to virtual space as a means to be heard. In this study, the we explore a blog called The Madness of MokcikNab, written by a Malay woman blogger who shows the different subjectivities of a mother, daughter, wife and career woman in Malaysia. Talking to cybercitizens, many of whom will remain as friends that she would never meet or talk to in physical life, MokcikNab exemplifies the ways in which a modem Malay woman negotiates her many roles within the boundaries of socio-cultural norms and religious parameters. Using Erving Goffman's presentation of self in everyday life, the researchers investigate four elements: the self created by blogging in the internet, the weblog as the empowering tool for women, women as subject position in negotiating the norms cultural practices and religious way of life and the strategies of gender talk used in the weblog. This study illuminates that the weblog is an empowering tool used to express both private and public thoughts. The outlet allows women to write freely on issues she feels strongly about. In the process, she reveals her changing roles and invites a sense of camaraderie with other bloggers. © Medwell Journals, 2011.