I had dinner last night with some NBFs (non blogging friends). In between talk of Simone de Beauvoir, Guides and the proper way to eat French cheese, we discussed blogging. My friends (French, if you hadn't already guessed) were intrigued as to why women were flocking to the Internet in such vast numbers.
As I sipped my Chardonnay, I tried to find the words to explain. It has to do with connection. Being heard. Validation. Plus it's fun and slightly addictive. Not sure they got it though.
Holly Buchanan who blogs at What Women Really Want spent a year researching why women blog. The result was this video. I'll let you watch it, it speaks for itself.
My favourite bits are:
"Friendships are born at the moment someone says, what you too? I thought I was the only one."
"There Internet has given women a voice and they are screaming their heads off."
"There's simply nothing more powerful than a room of women sharing their true stories"
Why do you blog?
Twoambitiousmamas
Saturday 6th of November 2010
Blogging is a way for women's voices to be heard. It's the utilisation of new media to create a community of shared experiences.
Thoughtsfromavillage.blogspot.com
Thursday 28th of October 2010
Great Video, so good to see lots of fun being had too. I blog for fun, [hopefully] free expression and to find some commonality from fellow bloggers, only starting out so never know where things will lead to.
Shanta Everington
Tuesday 26th of October 2010
Fascinating research project by Holly. Loved the music and silly dancing at the end too. :)
Iota
Monday 25th of October 2010
What a great project! I loved it at Cyber Mummy when one of the panelists said she thought that domestic life had been reclaimed, or some such phrase. For so many women, domestic life takes up a lot of hours, and it's usually denigrated and despised. But in the blogosphere, it's celebrated, either through people showing off their achievements, or self-denigrating humour, or just sharing experiences. In a world that focuses so little on the importance of home life, I think that is a great thing. Plus all what everyone else has said too!
Penny
Monday 25th of October 2010
Blogging can make you happier, I blogged about it yesterday in fact. I got in a rut after giving up my career to be a full time mum. Blogging helped. It's great to find a space where parenthood is validated. I love the bit where she says each time she writes something she is proud of she grows. And grows stronger. So true.