A Response to Amanda Hess' Why Women Aren't Welcome on the Internet

In her article titles Why Women Aren’t Welcome on the Internet, Amanda Hess describes the hostile and abusive environment in which women live, work, and connect on the Internet. She details out many key stories and credible legal accounts of stalking, harassment, and degrading comments directed towards women. Hess also includes her own personal confrontation with a stalker throughout her piece, using her story as a supporting text to her argument.

The tone Hess uses throughout her piece is very matter-of-fact, as well as disengaged. Her purpose is not to make others feel sorry for her or for the people she writes about. The intent was to bring awareness to the issue women face of abuse online, and to do so by bringing factual examples and credible stories to the table. Hess clearly does her research and quotes from many sources such as Nathan Jurgenson, a social media sociologist, Danielle Citron, a University of Maryland law professor, and from well-known celebrities like Jessica Valenti.

The timeliness of the article mixed with the appropriate intended audience makes a convincing argument. Hess refers to modern day technology such as Twitter and online stalking or bullying, which highlights who her intended audiences are as well as making it relevant. She also criticizes the police agencies and other law enforcement for not being technologically aware, or up to date. Hess also brings up an important point by showing how the laws themselves are just as ineffective at protecting people against cyber bullying and harassment.
The purpose of this argument was not to complain about the unfairness of the Internet towards women, but to state facts and inform others about the perils of the everyday Internet use by women. Hess does this through a carefully constructed argument that ties personal accounts with facts and research. The use of the strong language in the beginning of her piece is shocking yet necessary. By including the original messages sent to the women, it brings a humbling sense of reality to the argument. Hess does not try to down play the seriousness of the threats which dozens of women receive every day.