Herringís research for this study took place during the early 1990s and culminated in 1994. Herring refers to the study as "an empirical investigation of gender, ethics, and etiquette on the Internet." (Herring, 117) The goal of her research is the revelation of "gender differences (and gender inequalities) in cyberspace that some readers may well find disconcerting, but hopefully will no longer be able to ignore." (Herring, 117) She maintains that rather than standing in opposition to feminist ideals, differences in discursive practices based on gender must be recognized and understood if we ever hope to dismantle the status of the normative group of online discussion ñ a minority of men.

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