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Original Article
Does Blogging Empower Women? Exploring the Role of Agency and Community
Article first published online: 9 JUL 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1083-6101.2012.01587.x
© 2012 International Communication Association
Additional Information
How to Cite
Stavrositu, C. and Sundar, S. S. (2012), Does Blogging Empower Women? Exploring the Role of Agency and Community. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 17: 369–386. doi: 10.1111/j.1083-6101.2012.01587.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 9 JUL 2012
- Article first published online: 9 JUL 2012
- Manuscript Accepted: 14 JUL 2011
- Manuscript Revised: 13 MAY 2011
- Manuscript Received: 9 OCT 2010
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- blog;
- psychological empowerment;
- agency;
- community;
- site visits;
- comments;
- social media
Abstract
Two studies explored the relationship between blogging and psychological empowerment among women. First, a survey (N = 340) revealed that personal journaling empowers users by inducing a strong sense of community whereas filter blogging does so by enhancing their sense of agency. Various user motivations were also shown to predict psychological empowerment. Next, a 2 (type of blog) X 2 (comments) X 2 (site visits) factorial experiment (N = 214) found that 2 site metrics—the number of site visits and number of comments—affect psychological empowerment through distinct mechanisms—the former through the sense of agency and the latter through the sense of community. These metrics are differentially motivating for bloggers depending on the type of blog maintained: filter or personal.