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Reconceptualizing digital social inequality

Reconceptualizing digital social inequality
Reconceptualizing digital social inequality
This paper discusses conceptual tools which might allow an elaborated sociological analysis of the relationship between information and communication technology on the one hand, and social inequalities on the other. The authors seek to go beyond the familiar idea of the 'digital divide' to develop a focus on digital social inequality, through discussing three bodies of literature which are normally not discussed together. The paper thus addresses issues in feminist theory; the sociological field analysis of Pierre Bourdieu; and the Actor Network Theory. This paper shows that there are unexpected commonalities in these three perspectives which allow the possibility of effective cross-fertilization. All seek to avoid positing the existence of reified social groups which are held separate from technological forces, and all stress the role of fluid forms of relationality, from which social inequalities can emerge as forms of stabilization, accumulation and convertibility.
sociology, social theory, digital divide
1369-118X
937-955
Halford, Susan
0d0fe4d6-3c4b-4887-84bb-738cf3249d46
Savage, Mike
9f981be7-7544-46d6-bbe8-419b094d51a6
Halford, Susan
0d0fe4d6-3c4b-4887-84bb-738cf3249d46
Savage, Mike
9f981be7-7544-46d6-bbe8-419b094d51a6

Halford, Susan and Savage, Mike (2010) Reconceptualizing digital social inequality. Information, Communication and Society, 13 (7), 937-955. (doi:10.1080/1369118X.2010.499956).

Record type: Article

Abstract

This paper discusses conceptual tools which might allow an elaborated sociological analysis of the relationship between information and communication technology on the one hand, and social inequalities on the other. The authors seek to go beyond the familiar idea of the 'digital divide' to develop a focus on digital social inequality, through discussing three bodies of literature which are normally not discussed together. The paper thus addresses issues in feminist theory; the sociological field analysis of Pierre Bourdieu; and the Actor Network Theory. This paper shows that there are unexpected commonalities in these three perspectives which allow the possibility of effective cross-fertilization. All seek to avoid positing the existence of reified social groups which are held separate from technological forces, and all stress the role of fluid forms of relationality, from which social inequalities can emerge as forms of stabilization, accumulation and convertibility.

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More information

Published date: 2010
Keywords: sociology, social theory, digital divide
Organisations: Sociology & Social Policy

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 185233
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/185233
ISSN: 1369-118X
PURE UUID: 78d558c2-845e-49f1-bde9-41992e2c0239

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Date deposited: 10 May 2011 08:41
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 03:12

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Contributors

Author: Susan Halford
Author: Mike Savage

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