• Politics of Cyberfeminism Conference
  
• Getting Online - Questions to Ask Your ISP
  
  
  Part Two
  Part Three

Melbourne, 21st September 1996
by Kristen Booker

Women came from all over Australia to attend the inaugural "Politics of Cyberfeminism" conference at Deakin University. Topics up for discussion ranged from the hands-on process of creating a multi-media title, to cyber-fiction and on-line poetry. While all present seemed enthusiastic about the potential benefits of cyberspace, the potential for the perpetuation of the injustices and inequalities of the "real" world suggested a degree of caution might be advisable.

The opening paper, Why the Internet is a Feminist Issue was a rousing call to arms.  Dale Spender points out that if men are allowed to create cyberspace in their own image, women, yet again, will be required to fit the masculine mold in order to gain recognition in the new world.  It is by adopting and adapting the new technologies to our own needs and desires in this early stage that women may prevent the creation of another bastion of patriarchy.

Echoing the need for women to enter cyberspace in greater numbers was Josie Arnold's paper on Colonizing Cyberspace and the Interactive Multi-Media IMMaterial World.  For Josie, cyberfeminism involves refuting the position of "other" within cyberspace.  The metaphor of "cyberspace" implies exploration, discovery and the mapping of the new terrain. We must remember that explorers tend to look for new lands that will bring them fame and glory in their homeland, which usually means appeasing the powerful rather than fighting for the oppressed.  The current method of mapping cyberspace is redolent of the existing powerbases of Western masculine culture, being text-based and linear along physical lines.  It may be that cyberfeminism will entail mapping cyberspace using aerial mapping techniques that will be more informative and meaningful than traditional maps.  Australian Aboriginal maps, for example, convey limited information to the untrained Western eye, but are an equally valid method of recording information and providing guidance and may be of more use to an Australian Aborigine than a Western linear map.

Moving into the practical aspects of cyberspace, Heather Kaufmann and Virginia Westwood, of Protea Textware, demonstrated that lacking prior knowledge of computing is no excuse for not creating that multimedia title that the world is crying out for!  From their unconventional bush setting, accompanied by orphaned kangaroos and other native animals, Heather and Virginia create educational interactive media CD-ROMS from start to finish.  In keeping with their surrounds, their development process is not limited by the traditional linear design methods, but is fluid, intuitive and allows each project to be approached as a whole rather than as a series of stages.

They discussed their interpretation of "interactive multimedia" and the current hardware restrictions, and shared their knowledge of the industry with the conference.  It was interesting to hear that, despite the predictions of trade experts, the women of Protea Textware have had no particular problems with cross-cultural marketing.

Rye Senjen and Jane Guthrey, authors of  The Internet for Women, (1996) spent 45 minutes giving those present a crash course on the Internet with directions towards woman-friendly and feminist sites.  Some of those present were surprised to discover that they were already traveling in cyberspace, while others were pleased to finally learn exactly how the information traveled and what travel precautions they should be taking.  Like their book, their talk was informative, friendly, full of tips for finding out what your options for woman-friendly cyber-travel are, and full of woman-friendly sites to visit (including Women'space!).

One frequently raised concern during the day was that of access and information equity, with many participants concerned about the current North American dominance of most areas of the internet.  Rye was able to allay some concerns on the grounds that new satellites will shortly provide many currently unserviced Majority countries with Internet access (Trust her, she works for Telstra!), but the difficulty of ensuring fair Internet access for all once connection is possible is still problematic in the light of socioeconomic inequality and expensive hardware and connection costs.  Making sure that all women, and particularly women in Majority countries, women from disadvantaged backgrounds and women in minority groups, have the opportunity to become confident in cyberspace will be an ongoing concern for feminists.

Some other concerns about cyberspace were raised by Renate Klein who played Devil's Advocate with the new technologies. Cyberwomen are not "real" women. As Renate demonstrated with some very revealing illustrations, Barbie and family (you know, the women with big breasts and nothing else, her pre-pubescent sister, and male partner with a big chest and nothing else) are alive and kicking in cyberspace.  Cybersex was revealed as being just as harmful to women as "real" pornography, with slightly less interesting storylines. It seems that cyberspace will never be woman-safe or woman-friendly while the "real" world remains rooted in patriarchy.

Susan Hawthorne continued the theme of the relationship between "virtual reality" and "reality", asking why there was a need for an unreal reality.  Proponents of virtual reality claim that real world inequalities can be vanquished in the virtual world, but the evidence disputes this.  Even if virtual reality could overcome real world inequalities, is there any benefit to this if the real inequalities remain untouched?  Susan also touched on the dangers of disembodiment, noting that cyberspace increasingly encourages people to develop and live multiple personalities.

The computer labs were opened for a "Hands On" session after lunch.  While some novices were pleasantly surprised to discover that "net-surfing" could be so simple and intuitive, those with more experience were able to consult and compare notes with the experts.  This was a great learning opportunity as women gathered around terminals to share favorite sites over a chat!

The day wound down with a move into cyberliterature. Beryl Fletcher read excerpts from her new book, The Silicon Tongue,(1996) and discussed the book's conception and growth. The themes of women's experience of time, (cyber)space, (dis)embodiment, and privacy are explored through fiction but echoed the previous discussions of the conference.   Suniti Namjoshi spoke of her decision to publish an interactive chapter of Building Babel,(1996) her new feminist work, as a WWW site. Cyberspace can be colonized using dense text and poetry, and there are many forums that allow writers to communicate and expand their horizons.

The conference concluded with Beryl Fletcher, Susan Hawthorne, and Suniti Namjoshi reading from Building Babel, before it was officially launched and the Building Babel WWW site opened for interaction. The over-riding message of the day:

Cyberspace needs more women, and cyberfeminists need to provide the support needed for more women to take the initial steps and enjoy them.

The conference was sponsored by Spinifex Press, Deakin University and Victoria University of Technology.

Email: kbooker@pl.camtech.net.au

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by Denise Østed

Okay, you've decided it's time to get on line and explore the Internet. You've heard all about the incredible resources for women on line, and you want to access them for your work, pleasure, research, and hobbies. You're ready to browse the Web and meet other women and figure out what all the fuss is about. But where do you start?

Getting on line can be fairly simple. Any computer which can run communications software will do the trick, including your old 286 with a 2400 modem. You don't need a Pentium or a super-fast modem, or even Windows. Of course, the faster your computer and modem are, the more options you have, but everything on the Internet except the graphics can be accessed with even a slow modem and an old computer.

The biggest decision you will make is in choosing an Internet Service Provider (ISP). New ISPs are popping up everywhere; some even offer local telephone numbers in rural and remote areas. Try your phone book under "Internet" or "Computers" to find a list of ISPs, or ask friends, coworkers, and relatives if they know who offers Internet access in your area.

If your workplace or school is already on line, you may be able to get an account through them. However, you should be aware that many workplaces and educational institutions reserve the right to monitor all Electronic Mail (e-mail) sent and received by their staff/students. If privacy is an issue for you, you may wish to consider a private Internet Service Provider.

Choosing an ISP may seem like a hit-or-miss proposition, especially for those who don't know much about computers or the Internet, or who are intimidated by technology in general. The best thing to do is shop around, as you would with a telephone company or a new apartment. Here is a list of questions to ask potential ISPs, which should help you in the process of deciding which provider will best serve your needs for the most reasonable price.

Questions to ask potential ISPs

1. What are your charges for each of the following: initial sign-up and account set-up; monthly/annual fee; hourly online fees; disk storage fee?

Here you need to consider how often you'll be on line (how many hours). Many ISPs have different packages available, with differing amounts of free hours. If you know you'll be spending a great deal of time on line, or if your modem is slower than 14,400, you might wish to look for a package with unlimited hours.

2. How often do you anticipate your fees will increase? Will you guarantee a year (or longer) at one price level?

It's worth signing up for a couple of months before committing yourself to a whole year or more with a particular ISP. This gives you a chance to evaluate their services, and will also give you an idea of how much time you spend on line. After the first few months, you'll have a better idea of your needs, and you can then change packages accordingly.

3. How many free hours per day/month/year do you offer, if any?

Some ISPs include free hours with your sign-up. Others may charge less per hour during the "off hours" when less people are dialing in.

4. Do you offer online and/or telephone support? What hours and days is support available?

Make sure the ISP you choose has BOTH telephone and on line support. On line support by itself won't be much good to you if you're having trouble getting connected.

5. Do you have a reduced rate for non-profit organizations?

Some ISPs do offer reduced rates, or other perks (such as more disk space) to non-profits. If your organization is getting on line, shop around for deals—but don't assume a "deal" for non-profits automatically means the ISP is any better than others.

6. Do you offer both a UNIX shell account and dial-up SLIP/PPP access?

If you have an older computer, you won't be able to use SLIP/PPP access. Some ISPs don't offer a plain shell account, so make sure your potential ISP knows what kind of computer you have, and what your modem speed is.

7. What software (and what versions of this software) do you offer with the initial sign-up?

Remember that most of the software the ISP offers you on start-up is shareware. This means it is not registered, nor is it paid for. Shareware is meant to be used for a trial period, after which (if you like it), you can register it and pay for it.

8. How much disk storage space is included in the fee? Is more disk space available, and if so, at what cost?

If you plan to put up a web page at some point, or if you anticipate receiving a lot of mail (and don't know how to download it onto your hard drive), make sure you have some free disk space. My ISP includes 5 megabytes of free disk space, but the standard is 1 or 2 megabytes. Some ISPs charge for any disk space you use. Ask about extra space in case you decide to put up an extensive web site. ISPs usually charge $1.00 or more per megabyte per month (making one extra megabyte per year $12.00).

9. Do you provide any on-location help or training? If so, please describe the scope, limits, and costs of this service.

If you think you'll need help with the initial set-up, don't hesitate to ask if the ISP provides this service. Also, if your organization is getting on line, you might want a training session for staff and/or volunteers. Most ISPs do have an extra charge for this service.

10. What is you current user:modem ration? What is your target ratio? Will you be adding modems as your user base increases?

Ideally, the user:modem ration should be 10:1 or better. This means that there is one modem for every 10 people who are signed up with the ISP. If there are less modems available, you will probably have to contend with busy signals, especially during peak hours (evenings and weekends). Beware of ISPs which refuse to divulge their user:modem ratio; if they don't have a stated policy regarding this, you might see your access deteriorate as more people sign on with the same service.

11. Do you disconnect users after a certain amount of online time, or in any other way restrict their access (e.g. daily limits)?

Some ISPs hang up on you after 90 minutes, four hours, or other lengths of time. Their stated reason is that this allows everyone a chance to dial in even during peak hours. I have found a 90 minute limit to be very restrictive; four hours is acceptable.

12. What do you think makes you better than other ISPs in this area? What can you offer to me/my organization?

This gives the ISP a chance to brag about any special features they may have. You will also want to find out how long they have been in the Internet Service Provision business. Some software or computer companies may be well-established businesses, but may have only begun offering Internet access quite recently. You will want a company with a track record of at least a couple of years, rather than a brand-new provider which might fold anytime.

13. Who is the contact person in your company should I have more questions?

Get a name. Get an e-mail address. Get a telephone number. When you call an ISP, as with any other business, you may not always be dealing with the same person. It's in your best interests to always get the name of the person with whom you are speaking, and to keep asking for the same person (if possible). By keeping track of the people you speak with, you know who to hold accountable if their behaviour is condescending, or if they try to brush you off.

14. Do you allow your clients to set up their own web pages and change them on their own, or do they have to go through you to get their pages up? Is there a fee for modifying web pages? Do you offer any tutorials (online or in person) on web page creation?

You might not have the skills or the inclination to set up a web page right away. However, if you think this might be a possibility in the future, ask these questions. There is absolutely no reason why an ISP should charge you extra each time you want to modify your web page. With a brief tutorial (which the ISP should have available on their web site, or in a handout), you will be able to move files from your computer to the ISPs computer using your modem.

15. Do you allow cgi-scripting, such as forms, counters, etc.?

Often, ISPs will want to approve these for security reasons. This is a good security measure. You may never need these features, but if you're planning to have a web page at some point, it's good to ask the question.

16. What are your fees for registering a domain name, and for hosting that domain?

If you or your organization want to register a unique name (domain name), which can travel with you to different ISPs, or even to different geographical locations, ask the ISP if they will help you register the name. There is a cost associated with this. Some ISPs also charge extra to host that name, that is, to provide you with service while you use that name.

17. Do you offer multi-user accounts? What are the fees?

Your organization (or your family) may wish to have more than one person using the same account. If you want each user (each person) on the account to have a private mailbox, ask the ISP if they will provide this service, and how much it will cost.

18. Do you have roam service?

Roam service allows you to access your e-mail even while traveling. Ask the ISP if their roam service applies across Canada, North America, or elsewhere. Most people don't need this service, but if your work takes you away from home, you might want to consider it.

19. How do you bill?

Many ISPs will accept a cheque or cash. As with rent, you have to pay before you can use the service. Beware of ISPs who will only accept payment by credit card, or who insist they need your credit card number. They may continue to bill you even if you terminate your service, and that money is notoriously difficult to recover. An ISP doesn't need your credit card number, because if you are late with your cash or cheque, they can simply terminate your account.

What do you do once you're connected?

Loretta Kemsley, Editor In Chief of Moondance, says: "Take some classes and ask lots of questions...use a computer which is already on line if you can before purchasing hardware or software, buy books and magazines and read them...don't sign up with a provider just because the software is free...those services are usually the most expensive...learn the basics of how the internet works...it will save you money..." Don't be afraid to call your ISP and ask for help; once they've sold you the service, they have an obligation to make sure you can use it. Many women find it helpful to learn the ropes from another woman, who may be more willing to sit down and explain how it all works.

Joy S. Robinson says: "If I can learn to turn on a computer, everyone else can, too. Machines have never been my best friends. Some time back, I murdered our VCR... So, it was with trepidation that I vowed to learn about this wonderful world of computers... My son wrote out instructions for me, and he received many frantic calls while I was learning. My husband is enjoying it now, too, but fear had to be conquered... it's intimidating when seven year olds know all about something and you don't. But it makes you feel great to learn even the basics ---- I am woman, hear me roar!! I guess the bottom line is that I am loving my computer."

Women I've spoken with who have overcome their discomfort with computers and technology to get online have the following advice for newcomers to the Internet:

JUST DO IT!

Denise Østed

Email: fullmoon@cyberspc.mb.ca

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Part Two Autumn 1996
Part Three Autumn 1996