Vive Les Roses!: The Architecture of Commitment in an Online Pregnancy and Mothering Group

Abstract

This article presents an ethnographic analysis of an often‐overlooked element of social capital—commitment—on Coming up Roses, an online pregnancy and mothering support group. Specifically, it examines the architecture of commitment: the ways in which the site’s social and technical design influences the commitment that members feel toward the site and one another. In so doing, this account illuminates how social life and technical life mutually construct one another in online support environments. It also demonstrates that a site’s social and technical features can produce multiple and even contradictory effects, depending on the social and historical contexts in which users engage it.

‘Oh dear, should I really be saying that on here?’: Issues of identity and authority in an online diabetes community

“…Ley, 2007), this did not prevent it from establishing itself as an efficient instrumental grouping where participants were able to share highly targeted practical advice as well as emotional support. It is possible that such social architectural features as reactive moderation and open-ended, non-prescriptive participation guidelines have encouraged participation and affected the nature of discursive contributions by providing a relatively secure space for the exchange of views and advice.…”

‘A Whole New World’: Mothers' Technologically Mediated Leisure

“…Recent research has clearly demonstrated that mothers want to share their experiences and concerns by connecting online with other mothers who can provide social connections, advice, support, and empowerment (Ley, 2007;Madge & O'Connor, 2006;Moravec, 2011;Valtchanov, Parry, Glover, & Mulcahy, 2014). These online connections create a profound sense that mothers are not alone-a message that is "more than a lifeline; it's a revolution" (Samuel, 2011, p. xii).…”

Chinese Women and the Cyberspace

“…Much of the early literature on the Web was based on MUDs and Usenet Kendall 2002;Danet 1998;Baym 1998;McLaughlin, Osborne & Smith 1995). Recently there have been more studies of 'discussion boards' or 'message boards' (Ridings & Gefen 2004;Ley 2007). The observations made here will hopefully add to the literature on what makes for successful online communities.…”