Sumblog 11

Reading 55 talks about the changes that are happening among the involvement of the young population, specifically women and how relatively new forms of media are organizing cultures. It starts off with a little debate arguing whether or not these growing rates in technology use is more dominated by female or male groups but ultimately concluding with the focus on that the participation by both groups is still structured by gender and other dimensions of the social experience. The new technologies (such as smart phones and the internet) that come along with this generation are continued to be believed as the best way to get younger people involved with current events and politics but the immediate problem seen at the same time is the disengagement with the issue. I personally know I have this problem too. I need the shock value to really connect and even remember issues that may be detrimental to others but something that I just scroll by because it isn’t happening to me (like the people in the homeless video with their relatives on the street). In regard to the use of these new technologies having expanding women’s groups I believe is due to the youth of the groups themselves. There may not be as many obstacles established over gender in forming an online group or some type of media for women online as there would be outside of it all. As the book states however “Often, ‘good participation’ is defined as young people’s membership, taking part, or sharing decision-making in pre-existent programs…” (p.729). To what extent would you tell someone to their face you disagree with them as compared to what you would say through some other indirect and even anonymous means as a computer for example?  With the standard of ‘good’ achieved by simply participating, how much benefit can somebody really have in making a difference toward the cause that organization is for?