‘Designer Vaginas': The Representation of Female Genitals on Canadian Cosmetic Surgeons' Websites

This thesis critically examines the online marketing tactics of 10 (English language) Canadian cosmetic surgery clinics’ websites that offer Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery (FGCS), specifically, labiaplasty (labial reduction) and vaginoplasty (vaginal tightening). Drawing on a qualitative Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis (MCDA) and a feminist-informed social constructionist framework (Lazar, 2007), I examine how FGCS discourses reiterate and reinforce heteronormative sexual scripts for women, and impose restrictive models of femininity through the pathologization of genital diversity and the appropriation of postfeminist and neoliberal discourses of individual choice and empowerment. I explore feminist analyses of the links between FGCS and contemporary Western women’s postfeminist subjectivity, and the reconfiguration of women’s sexual agency, to better understand what these contemporary shifts may mean for women’s sexual anxiety and expression. My analysis highlights several discourses that organize the online marketing material of Canadian FGCS websites, including: the pathologization of genital diversity; restrictive models of femininity; heteronormative sexual scripts; neoliberal and post-feminist rhetorics of individual choice and empowerment; and psychological and sexual transformation. Overall, these discourses undermine acceptance of women’s genital diversity, legitimize the FGCS industry and frame FGCS as the only viable solution to alleviate women’s genital and sexual distress despite the lack of evidence regarding the long-term benefits and risks of these procedures, and the recommendations against FGCS by professional medical organizations.

Websites construction as learning tools. 'Construcción de sitios web como herramientas de aprendizaje'.

Monográfico con el título: 'Aprendizaje y construcción del conocimiento en la red'. Resumen basado en el de la publicación

Online persuasion for e-commerce websites

The persuasive design of e-commerce websites has been shown to support people with online purchases. Therefore, it is important to understand how persuasive applications are used and assimilated into e-commerce website designs. This paper demonstrates how the PSD model’s persuasive features could be used to build a bridge supporting the extraction and evaluation of persuasive features in such e-commerce websites; thus practically explaining how feature implementation can enhance website persuasiveness. To support a deeper understanding of persuasive e-commerce website design, this research, using the Persuasive Systems Design (PSD) model, identifies the distinct persuasive features currently assimilated in ten successful e-commerce websites. The results revealed extensive use of persuasive features; particularly features related to dialogue support, credibility support, and primary task support; thus highlighting weaknesses in the implementation of social support features. In conclusion we suggest possible ways for enhancing persuasive feature implementation via appropriate contextual examples and explanation.

Usability of government websites in Uganda

Government websites offer great benefits to citizens and governments. Such benefits, however,cannot be realized if websites are unusable. This study investigates usability of government websites in Uganda.Using the feature investigation method, the study evaluated four Ugandan government websites according tothree perspectives. Results show that websites are partially usable in the design layout and navigationperspectives but are rather weak in stating legal policies. Evaluation results provide the Ugandan governmentwith a clear picture of what needs to be improved according to international website design standards. Moreover,the parsimonious evaluation framework proposed in the research is useful for any country that wants to do aquick and easy evaluation of their government websites.

Facilitating online privacy on eCommerce websites: an Australian experience

As traditional organizations using their websites for eCommerce transactions are increasing at an exponential rate, privacy concerns of users are also on the rise. To gain an insight into these concerns, existing policies and legislation, we conducted the research reported in this paper, in 2003. To augment the literature synthesis, a multiple case study analysis was conducted, based on six large organisations in Australia. Our research findings suggested that in the Australian context, an online privacy policy (OPP) on the website which complies with the Privacy Act, supported by few best practices are reasonably able to address online privacy concerns. However, these findings are restricted in time frame, indicative and relevant in the Australian context. Nevertheless, we hope to stimulate academic research enquiry and discussion forums through this research.

Web publishing revisited-a case study of literary websites in Russia

The concept of web publishing has been widely discussed in IS research literature since the WWW emerged. The discussion in various publications often revolves around the issues of business success and profitability, web design, and effective content presentation. This paper is a study of one of the “unknown” segments of the Internet - a family of websites publishing literary works in the Russian language. We demonstrate that the innovative model adopted by site owners in building the relationships with the site customers, and the information technology selected for the sites can play a crucial role in the success of a web-based venture. Our analysis is based on the concepts of virtual community and socio-technical interaction. We discuss the  contribution of this case not only to the innovative use of the Web-based business models, but also to the new forms of literary life and national  culture. Some of the concepts, principles and practices, adopted on those sites may be of interest to the Internet developers and communities worldwide.

A comparison of search functions and other navigational tools provided on government websites

This paper reports the outcomes of a study that evaluated the effectiveness of search functions compared to other navigational tools available on government websites. The study used an observation exercise triangulated with a post observation interview. Results suggest that while there wasn't any significant difference in effectiveness between search functions and other navigational tools, the skill with which the search function is implemented and participants' familiarity with the website, are fundamental determinants of users' opinions. Implications of the findings for research and practice are discussed.

Marketing readiness of websites and organisational performance in Australia and New Zealand: a discussion of pre-test findings

The Web played a role in the burst of economic activity that occurred in the late 1990s that saw company values dramatically rise and fall, business and government processes reshaped, traditional marketing media challenged, and much written concerning the benefits to customers from the adoption of what was initially termed e-commerce. Initial empirical studies of Australian and New Zealand business and government use of the Web found that while the Web was used for marketing communication, it was not as favoured as trade press reports suggested as a marketing transaction channel, nor for relationship management. This paper, which reports the findings of a pre-test of the self-administered online questionnaire stage of a three-phase study, suggests that little has changed in organisational use of the Web in Australia and New Zealand since the late 1990s, even among high network traffic organisations. The pre-test findings reported do not present a clear picture concerning the influence of strategic use of traditional and online marketing mix elements on organisational performance. Analysis employing a Marketing Readiness of Website Indicator (MRWI) content analysis tool is shown not to predict organisational performance as hypothesised.

An exploration of the marketing readiness of websites

The aim of the reported study was to assess the marketing readiness of websites using a tool developed from studies in the late 1990s. The research hypotheses suggest that, in line with earlier studies, government websites are more marketing ready than commercial service organisation sites in Australia. The paper reports findings that commercial service organisation websites are not as marketing ready as might be expected. The research hypotheses are partially supported in that Victorian local government websites show evidence of more sophisticated marketing capability than those of commercial service organisations in Australia and that the service organisations sampled are less likely to employ the Web as a marketing channel than local government.

Reflection of eGovernance on websites of India and Russia

Governments of the developing countries have been exploring new ways to allow participation of citizens in the governance, enabled by the Internet revolution. In this paper, we have explored, through a preliminary analysis of national government web sites, the attempts of two developing nations -- India and Russia, to establish digital governance. We have used the KPMG E-Commerce maturity model, WiIIcoks eBusiness evolution model and the WebQual site analysis tool as a theoretical framework to analyse the website performance and content, as a social construct that reflects government intentions, attitudes, digital governance directions and policies.

From websites to portals: success factors For business community portals

Many Governments are using funding initiatives to encourage businesses, particularly small businesses to adopt e-commerce technology. One currently popular approach in Australia, has been to fund internet portal developments with a specific community or business focus. The success of such portals however, as with many Web developments has been mixed. This paper reports on the establishment of a B2B portal in Australia. The paper explores issues and expectations from the perspective of the business people involved. A survey was conducted amongst the participants of the portal shortly after it was launched. Then follow-up interviews were conducted with business owners 2 years later just before the portal closed. The researchers sought to understand what the business community expected from the portal and to identify what factors contribute to success. The research found that in addition to the factors identified through the literature that, technological readiness of business owners, understanding the business community, realizing business value and managing participant’s expectations are also factors impacting on success. A model is proposed to describe the success factors.

A usability instrument for evaluating websites-navigation elements

Many small businesses websites have become an important advertising medium. However little consideration is given to how these websites might be made more effective. Many factors impact on website effectiveness, including navigation. Research here describes a usability instrument developed for evaluating small business websites and uses navigation as an example of its application. The research found that the quality of navigation does have an impact on ease-of-use of a site, user's emotional response and frustration levels and a user's intention to return to that website. The research also established the statistically significant elements that contribute to navigation.