Connecting Voices and Expanding Horizons
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development. Copyright © 2002 Society for International Development. SAGE Publications (London, Thousand Oaks, CA and New Delhi), 1011-6370 (200212) 45:4; 55–60; 029608. NB When citing this article please use both volume and issue numbers.
SID On-line Dialogue
Connecting Voices and Expanding Horizons A N J U V YA S
ABSTRACT Anju Vyas describes the genesis, developments, doubts, dilemmas and challenges of moderating BOL, an electronic discussion list on gender issues in South Asia. She elaborates on the contents, subscribers’ profile, methodology and technical issues relating to BOL. She strongly feels that e-discussion lists have immense potential for resource sharing, networking and advocacy activities which need to be fully explored and utilized by the women’s groups and researchers in the South Asian region. She further shares her optimism about how this simple e-mail technology can connect researchers globally, forge collaborations and share information through the e-mail networks, and connect the people. KEYWORDS electronic discussion lists; gender studies; information; South Asia
Information revolution Advances in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in recent time have changed the landscape of human activity on all fronts, be it political, social, economic, cultural, legal or academic and research. They have opened a Pandora’s box in the ways information is produced, collected, distributed, disseminated, processed and used. The women’s movement and women’s groups globally have not been left behind in accepting the challenges presented by the new ICTs and there is evidence of various initiatives in progress in all parts of the globe. At the same time issues of control, access, skills and rights to new information technologies and increased marginalization by the majority of women throughout the world are very much a harsh reality which cannot be ignored. E-mail: a tool for global communication The most significant achievement in the information and communication sector is the emergence of the Internet, the technology connecting a computer
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development 45(4): SID On-line Dialogue with millions of computers in the worldwide network. The most basic and commonly used application of this technology, that is, e-mail, has changed the whole pattern of communication in the last few years. E-mail has become intricately embedded in communication and information transport between North and South and also increasingly in South–South communication. It is inexpensive and quick and transcends distances, time differences and volume restrictions. E-mail is suited for both one-to-one communication and group and mass communication. (HIVOS, 2000)
E-mail is also one of the technologies most commonly and effectively used by women. It is considered more ‘horizontal’ in nature than some of the other ‘hierarchical’ communication formats. Listservs/mailing lists One of the widely used application of e-mail for group and mass-communication a
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