Diffusion of the lnternet and its Effect on Gender Attitudes: A Cross-National Approach

Author

Robert Roznowski

Date of Award

12-2014

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Sociology

First Advisor

Dr. Paul Ciccantell

Second Advisor

Dr. Ann Miles

Third Advisor

Dr. Whitney DeCamp

Keywords

Internet, diffusion, gender, attitudes, comoarative

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

The rapid diffusion of the Internet worldwide generates discussion about the social implications of the Internet. To explore the effect of Internet diffusion worldwide, this study examines changes in reported gender attitudes since the introduction of the Internet. I propose that the diffusion of the Internet fosters egalitarian changes in gender attitudes. Using cross-national data from forty countries over a time span of nearly twenty years, I successfully implement an alternative analysis technique, the slope-slope model, to examine the relationship between rates of Internet diffusion and changes in gender attitudes in the economic, political, and education domains. Internet diffusion affects gender attitudes in the economic domain, but not the political or education domains. As the rate of Internet diffusion increases, fewer people agree that men are more entitled to work than women. The results suggest mixed implications of Internet diffusion worldwide in relation to gender attitudes.

Recommended Citation

Roznowski, Robert, "Diffusion of the lnternet and its Effect on Gender Attitudes: A Cross-National Approach" (2014). Masters Theses. 550.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/550