Thanks for following up the media and finding that i am likely appear on media often. However, i found others women bloggers too including Nila, Nearirath, Kalyann. The number of course still quiet small, but it is significant that the women voice got heard. I would acknowledge that most of the case women blog personal story rather than politics, it was due to the fact of preference ( i still maintain that preference does matter for women to blog on their favorite issue; while men tend not to speak their personal matter but external discussion). I posit this statement based on my own experience that i do not like to put my personal issue for discussion, but academic or political matter. Still, i am woman, and for those women who blog beside their own story do share this experience. I also found men blog personal stuff or only technological issues, or entertainments only. I met some men, bloggers, who expressed their reluctance or hatred in blogging on social or political area. So, to my observation and experience, gender does not matter, but people’s preference.

About media mainstream, i think there is also problem with media echo. I dn’t want to generalize the journalist (for all media channel), but they tend to interview or raise only men’s voice. It is rare that women are targeted for their media article. If you follow up media on radio/ TV or newspaper alone, most men are interviewed. You may argue that it is because women are hardly found for media source, but it is not such the case now. Many women are expert in social politics (Chea Vannath, Gek Galabru, Open Institute’s director- i forget her name, female Political activists and community activists). But often, they rarely target these people. I believe more women can be expert and echoed on media, but they did not encourage them.

For your questions, I am glad to answer as the following:

1. Can women be empowered by using ICTs?
As i mention earlier, media must play roles in capture women’s voice, so that they are encouraged to advocate and participate more. Through using ICTs, i believe women can be empowered through new knowledge awareness, social communication which can build her social skill and participation. Some women tend to be more open when discussing issue online or through writing rather than face to face communication. So through online social communication, i believe that women is motivated to participate more. The more we familiar with the media, women are more confident in discussion and creativeness.

2. And so far, personally do you think, ICTs in general and blog in specific empower you as a user?
Yes, i am much empowered by social communication/blog especially. What make me proud of my achievement is that my voice got heard by many audience, locally and internationally. It is because of media and blogs that bring me to connect to many readers who comment or criticize my articles. Some encourages, some discourages, but still i am motivated to advocate more. Before, i only write letter to editor such as Cambodia Daily which somehow targets only few readers locally, mainly in PP. But through blog, my concerns is shared to worldwide and i get contacted by many people and i got invited to contribute more to other media stream. So, i think without ICTs and blog, i dn’t think we are communicating on gender and blog issue today. In some case, i have social network to help sharing me idea or references on concerned topics i am working on as class assignment or general research. It gives me positive results and a lot of feedback. This is how ICT empower myself, and i believe it does to other women if they prefer and get this opportunity.

3. How much do you think blog has empowered you, as a woman blogger?
I think this question is similar to the 2nd one. My last word is that blog brings me to the world and the world to me. Readers keep motivates me and help improve my skill (writing, critical analysis, and social networks).

I hope it is helpful and sufficient enough, please let me know if you want to elaborate more.

Regards,
Sopheap

I firstly thank for your logical comment. Through observation and research findings, women are more likely to post their personal issues, so to say, while men tend to talk about politics or technology in their blog which sometimes, if i have to say, catches attention from the mainstream media. Not many women bloggers are in attention of media. Unlike other women bloggers, you get a lot of attention from the media since, if i am not wrong, you talk about politics and analyze the atmosphere of Cambodian politics and democracy. I would like to ask you some questions:
1. Can women be empowered by using the ICTs?
2. And so far, personally do you think, ICTs in general and blog in specific empower you as a user?
3. How much do you think blog has empowered you, as a woman blogger?

I am looking forward to hearing your sharing.

Sincerely thanks

I am glad to get comment and discussion with you. Of course, i know some media student there (maybe you may know Nila, Seangheng, Seila…)

Concerning to your doubt, absolutely we used to debate about it during the blogger submit in 2007 in PP. i moderated a session on gender and blog which i raise the issue of gender stereotype in blogging:
Lisa Guernsey (2002), journalist for the New York Times says that men write about everything apart from their personal life, mostly politics, while women write specifically about their personal life. The reasons surrounding the question of why men are more likely to write about news and politics than women is concealed in cultural trends that span centuries. It also has a great deal to do with the stereotyped roles of males and females in society, such that men rule the business world and women rule the house (Guernsey, 2002).

Though, I do not think gender is key attribution. Personality is rather the factor of differences. Though living in a strong rooted-culture of male domination, I still could see a large number of students majoring in law, media (just like you), international relations, and politics are women. Also, on the Equitas virtual community (Human Rights group discussion), voice from females are at majority. Then, I assume that blogging is shaped by people’s preference and its accessibility, not gender. It thus require us to advocate for more affordability and accessibility for women to participate. Regardless of gender, all bloggers use blogs as a great means of self-expression and forum for social-policy discourse.

We are living in globalization where new technologies are giving us more comfortable and advantageous means for communication. Therefore, we should use these means for advocating better respect for gender and social equity. There are good examples of blogsphere like Blog Sister, Blogher, and Feminist Networks that provide a space for gender discussion and women forum, which it may difficult for face to face gathering. I will send you some documents related to this discussion which it can be useful for your thesis.

Regards,
Sopheap