The prediction, in brief:

Clearly, for many women, face-to-face communication could find them at a disadvantage, if they feel less powerful or verbally skilled or even feel physically weaker and smaller. In fact, they may embrace e-mail even more enthusiastically than the men, because it is such an “equalizer.”

Predictor: Woodbury, Marsha

Prediction, in context:

In 1993, in the Computer Underground Digest, an open forum dedicated to sharinginformation among computerists and to the presentation and debate ofdiverse views, Jim Thomas made the following observation, quoting Marsha Woodbury:”For example, Marsha Woodbury (U. of Illinois/Urban at Champaign) conducted a small study on African-American educators for use in training adults to communicate over networks. Contrary to her initial expectations, she found that women may feel more ‘equal’ in communicating electronically. She concluded: … ‘Clearly, for many women, face-to-face communication could find them at a disadvantage, if they feel less powerful or verbally skilled or even feel physically weaker and smaller. In fact, they may embrace e-mail even more enthusiastically than the men, because it is such an ‘equalizer.'”

Date of prediction: January 1, 1993

Topic of prediction: Communication

Subtopic: E-mail

Name of publication: Computer Underground Digest

Title, headline, chapter name: Some Comments on the London Times Educational Supplement Article

Quote Type: Partial quote

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://venus.soci.niu.edu/~cudigest/CUDS5/cud529.txt

This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne