Early Adolescent Girls and
the World Wide Web:
Some Preliminary
Research
Tracy Ann Robinson
June 2002
WR 520--Computers and Composition
Oregon State University
Presentation Outline
Why I chose this topic and methodology...
What I’ve learned, through reading, talk,
and observation
Implications for further research
I. Why This Topic?
Choose an area of personal scholarly
interest
Spend time with my daughter at a pivotal
point
Start a conversation useful to wider
audience
What Is the Project Topic and
Scope?
1. To survey the recent literature
on girls’ uses of the Web, and
particularly their experiences
with its interactive and
interpersonal communications
features.
2. Through conversation, self-
reporting, and observation, to
learn about Alison’s current Web
use practices and site
preferences.
3. Based on the results of this
preliminary work, to identify
topics and issues that warrant
further investigation, especially
as related to early-adolescent
girls’ emerging relationship with
the WWW as a mode of
interpersonal communication
*But Why PowerPoint?
Makes the information
more accessible,
especially to nonacademic audiences
Demonstrates an
effecting composing
strategy for those of
us who are
“organizationally
challenged”
Introducing Alison
“In this paper that I am
helping to write, I will be
talking about how I, an
11 year old girl uses the
WWW (world wide
web).”
II. What Have I Learned?
From published sources
From working with Alison
Consciousness-Raising
Readings
Takayoshi et al, “No Boys Allowed”
Pagnucci and Mauriello, “The Masquerade”
Evard, “’So Please Stop, Thank You’: Girls
Online”
Sauer, “Building Self Esteem in the Language
Arts Classroom: The Cybergrrl Approach”
LeCourt, “Writing (Without) the Body”
Findings from Work
with Alison
Personal Web Use Practices and Preferences
Responses to Girl-Friendly Web Sites
Thoughts on Other Issues Raised in Readings
Alison’s Web site preferences
“When I go online, I
like to hang out at
sites where you can
actually interact with
other ppl... Here are
some of my fave
sites:
• www.yahoo.com
• www.hotmail.com
• www.neopets.com”
Girl-Friendly Web Sites
Sites located through www.femina.com
 www.girlsinc.org “inspiring all girls to be Strong,
Smart, and Bold”
 www.girltech.com “encouraging girls to use and
enjoy technology and to explore non-traditional
avenues of life.”
 www.girlpower.gov “to help encourage and motivate
9- to 14-year-old girls to make the most of their
lives”
 jfg.girlscouts.org ’Just 4 Girls’…“ for girls 7 to 17 who
love adventure” (Girl Scout web site)
 www.girlsite.org “Imagine a community of girls on
the Net who speak their minds, share their ideas and
make lasting friendships””
“Girl-Friendly Sites” Critique
“Not all that great...”
Criticisms include:
 Not all that much to do
compared to other sites she
likes
 Links don’t work
Not trustworthy as “girls
only,” so why bother?
Opinions on Other Issues...
Analysis of
“username factor” in
chat rooms and
message board
postings
Changes we
probably can’t effect
Differences
between computer
use in boys and girls
of her age
Opinions on Other Issues
continued...
Strong interest in
“cybergrrl
classroom” concept
 Web page design
concept
New?
POLL:
Get an account/ sign in
I wear…….
Itchin’ Fingers?
Message Boards/ Chat
Mad Lib of the WeekInsert your own words and get
Want Mail?
1. Nikes
2. Adidas
3. Brooks
4. Other
Funny story
Get an e pal
By Us
wanna free e mail address???
Reviews, stories and more by you
you@ cartwheelingcoconut.com click HERE
Got Suggestions?
Links—
Neopets.com
E mail me
Opinions on Other Issues
continued...
Motives
for
visiting
message
boards
and chat
rooms
What This Means…and
Doesn’t
Mother-daughter dynamics an issue
Time and availability limited
Class, race, education (of both mother
and daughter), geographical location
problematize drawing of broader
conclusions
But still….
III. Ideas for Further
Research
Web site communications spaces: For
friendship or entertainment?
Perceptions/practice of Web safety rules
Need for training and education in online
conflict-resolution strategies?
“These sites are kinda boring!”
And who are they really for, anyway?
“Planetlala.com is a website written for girls.
Our mission is to create a safe place on the
internet where girls can feel free and safe to
express their opinions and views on
everything…”
“GIA is the LEADING expert on understanding
the female youth market. Maintaining a trusted
relationship with over 40,000 Influ0encer
Agents nationwide, GIA helps companies
succeed in this $67B market”
“WHY YOU NEED GIRLS”…???!!!
• 18MM+ girls 10-19 years old in U.S.
• Spending Power - $67B annually
• Last year, teens bought almost half of ALL movie tickets sold...more than half
of these teens were GIRLS!
• Earn more than $71 per week/Spend more than $84 per week.
• 13-19 year-old girls spent $9 billion on beauty products in 2001.
• Girls spend $143 per month on apparel.
• Girls outnumber boys online and stay online longer.
• By 2005, 33.6 million teen girls will be roaming the planet.
• More than half of all teen girls own a cell phone.
• Teens influence an additional $400 billion in family purchasing...everything
from snack foods to computers and cars...56% of these teens are GIRLS.
• U.S. teen demo is doubling twice as fast as the rest of the planet...more than
half are GIRLS.
(www.girlsintelligenceagency.com/girlgames/whygirls.asp)
Thanks for your interest in this
presentation! I now invite your
“girl-friendly” comments and
questions...
Tracy Ann Robinson  tracyann_r@msn.com