Monday, November 19, 2001		Article

What's on the World Wide Web for Women
Archana R D

SO what if women don't have a roof over their heads? They can make their claim on a cyber domain. And if you think this is being flippant, think again. An increasing number of women the world over have websites of their own-from Anna Kournikova to Anne Geddes. And those who still don't have their own cyber domains, are working on entering their names in cyberspace like Indian 'super cop' Kiran Bedi who is in the process of setting up her own site, which will be an online edition on crime and crime related information.

Not only this, search engines provide 30,000 sites from across the world calling themselves exclusively 'for women.' One search engine comes up with 30,700,000 sites with information for, on, and by women.

These sites provide a place online for women of all races, religions, nationalities and sexual preferences to enhance their networking and communication skills. And what is significant is that 50 per cent of these sites are 'manned' by women.

But there is a flip side to this plethora of information available on the Internet. In September 1996, the APC Women's Programme surveyed over 700 women's groups and individual women by e-mail to identify their electronic networking needs and opportunities. The findings of this survey concluded that 50 per cent of the women interviewed did not know what they wanted from the Internet.

Today, half a decade later, these findings remain the same-women still don't know what they want from the Internet. And this is perhaps the reason why there is a Website for just about anything that a woman can think of. Needless to say, these websites are taking shots in the dark in the hope that their ideas will click with women surfing the Internet. Hence, websites have been designed to help and find specific career and job resources on the Internet. These sites also offer tips for resumes, cover letters and interviews. Some also provide networking opportunities for women working with or interested in new media and the Internet technology.

There are web pages which provide information about how to master the Internet, find business opportunities (www.advancingwomen.com), develop a networking contact, form alliances with other women in business (www.womenautohelp.com) or just make new friends and chat with them.

Then there are women-oriented search engines, online databases, international sites, newspapers and magazines, women's business, health resources and publishing that are specifically geared to women. There are also a plethora of e-business opportunities specifically for women using which they can establish networks and identify potential business partners across the world. One can also register with sites dealing with insurance (www.4woman.gov) for a possible career.

Women's health, however, is the most important and the most widely covered area on the Internet at the moment. Net-savvy gynaecologists have come together to bring in the most advanced form of medical treatment for women on the Internet. In fact, at last count, there were nearly 1,500 sites specialising on this aspect of women's health. Facts about pregnancy and fertility drugs are also there on the Internet all targeted at women. These sites also advertise free check-ups and answer health queries online (www.womens-health.com, www.healthywomen.org).

Personalised women's health information and community support through chats and message boards too has mushroomed. The sites, which focus on this theme also host chats with popular doctors who answer medical and related queries at one click of the mouse.

Most of these Websites also carry advertisements and related information on services offered by fully licensed clinics from across the world. Detailed health information on many topics, helpful links to national, state and local agencies and hotlines allowing data in various languages to reach women all over too is available on the Internet.

Some Websites also provide information about practical solutions and treatment for female sexual dysfunction. There are about 87,800 soft porn sites with details on queries and observations on women's sex life and sex related complications, and surprising at it may sound, also information on breast cancer and related ailments in women.

And in such a scenario, each Website is trying all it can to attract more women. Some have taken the path of providing catchy titles to lure women to get on to their websites and names like bitchy goddess.com, cyberdolls online and shepower.com are becoming common.

Estimates say that over 1,000 more websites targeted specifically at women are ready to be launched, which will flood the Internet further. And this trend is likely to continue till either the women make up their minds about what they want from the Internet or the industry becomes more bust than it already is. (WFS)