We’ve already heard of the TIF-woman (a new tech-savvy woman), now we read about “mousewives”. A recent anthropological study (combined with nationwide polling) by Demos shows the traditional housewife has been transformed into a ‘mousewife’ as women drive forward the increasing use of computers in the home. John Craig, the report’s author, said the advent of high-speed broadband was a crucial breakthrough
Some findings:
– half of all women who go online have moved the home PC into the living room so it can play a central role in family life
– Punishment has also changed: Removing internet privileges for children is becoming commonplace
– The PC is becoming the social hub for gossip with family and friends as well as a means of bargain hunting, without leaving the living room.
>> read the whole study in The Scotsman (link updated)
PS: I don’t know how “anthropologically” this study actually has been conducted. Anyhow, I couldn’t find any anthropologists among Demos’ staff
L, great link – thanks – the study sounds very interesting. as for your PS, I keep seeing more and more basic observation research done by non trained researchers passing for anthropology – maybe because as a methodology, it is “in” and generally perceived to be more credible? (I am not refering to this study in particular, just a general observation)
Yes, earlier this year Grant McCracken wrote somethning similar in his post Ethnography and quality control: “There are lots of people claiming to do ethnography who are, um, “self trained.” But there may be anthropologists at Demos, I don’t know (I’ve sent them a mail, though).
It’s a fair question. We described the primary research in our Broadband Britons project as ‘ethnographic’. It was done exclusively by our project partners at Ideas Bazaar, an ‘ethnographic boutique’. Their research was led by Dr Simon Roberts, and we were tremendously impressed by their work – check them out.
OK, defensive bit over. It is also true that this is a dilemma for places like Demos – lacking background in the discipline, we nevertheless find great value in just ‘deep hanging out’ with people we are trying to understand, and I’m sure it’s tempting for people to over-claim in an attempt to talk about that kind of work.
Thanks for the interest, and to Lorenz for the tip off. jc
Thanks for answering. Ideas Bazaar are well known in the anthropological blogosphere.
“deep hanging out” will be part of my vocabulary from now on… 🙂