Exploring Operation of Gender in the Virtual Space

Abstract

We find ourselves inhabiting a world that has been brought closer together by the vast reach and influence of the world wide web. The interconnectedness provided by the internet offers access to information, connectivity, anonymity, and power, unlike any other medium. It is therefore crucial to recognize that the apparent anonymity of the internet conceals a multitude of secrets and layers of information, making it a more public medium than one might initially perceive. Engaging in the exploration and use (exploitation) of this virtual realm exposes us to numerous perils and dangers. The idealistic notion that the virtual realm would transcend physical markers such as age, gender, class, caste, and race, and not be defining factors of individual existence, remains uncertain. This chapter aims to examine how the internet simultaneously acts as a liberating and entrapping force, becoming a new arena for reinforcing existing gender inequalities.