Social networks in the network society :

مرکز و کتابخانه مطالعات اسلامی به زبان های اروپایی

منو

" Social networks in the network society : "
Hori, Yukie

Document Type	:	Latin Dissertation
Record Number	:	1097404
Doc. No	:	TLets511798
Main Entry	:	Hori, Yukie
Title & Author	:	Social networks in the network society :\ Hori, Yukie
College	:	London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London)
Date	:	2010
student score	:	2010
Degree	:	Ph.D.
Abstract	:	This thesis focuses on the electronic network and its transformation in relation towomen's organizations and their social context. Despite the fact that an expansion ofelectronic networking among women's organizations has been occurring for the lastdecade, there is little evidence to indicate how in practice information andcommunication technologies (ICTs) may be contributing to the advancement ofwomen. The thesis investigates this issue by examining the transformation in awomen's electronic network. It asks whether, how and to what extent the use of thecomputer-mediated communication (CMC) has transformed the goals, activities andmembers of the electronic network of women's organizations. The study investigatesthe potential that new ICTs offer to women who would otherwise be excluded fromaspects of decision-making and global governance processes.The main focus of the theoretical development is derived from social constructivism.However, in view of the absence of a well-established theoretical framework thatembraces ICTs, gender and development, the conceptual framework for this thesis issupplemented by several theoretical constructs. These are theoretical reflections on atechnology-context framework as proposed by Houston and Jackson, acommunication perspective drawn from collective action theory, and a perspectiveon gender and technology derived from Wajcman's technofeminism construct. Acase study of an electronic network of women's organizations called the AsianWomen's Resource Exchange serves as the focus for the empirical research which isprincipally based on a qualitative interview-based method.The results of the study indicate that the transformation of a women's electronicnetwork is not a straightforward process and does not necessarily generate theexpected results. Rather, the transformations that occur are the result of complexinteractions between technology and the social context whereby women change theirpractices and norms by working collectively through the electronic network which,in turn, leads to often unexpected changes in their activities and their membership.Highlighting the electronic network as defined in this thesis as an agent of changeyields insight into the dynamic nature of the network and offers a morecomprehensive understanding of the reciprocal interactions between actors and theiractivities that are enabled by CMC.
Added Entry	:	London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London)