Gender differences of the Internet-related Stereotypes in Russia

Gender stereotypes of Russians toward the Internet were investigated, using multiple identification methodology. The questionnaire (45 items) catalogued various types of Internet-related behaviors. The following characters were evaluated: Typical Russian, Ideal Person, Internet User (all – female and male), and Myself. Respondents (N = 95, 47/48 males/females, mean age 22.9, s.d. 2.8) indicated the degree of likelihood that the characters conduct behavior of each type. Eight scales of the Internet use were selected: (1) profession and business, (2) education of children, (3) entertainment, (4) realization of personal goals, (5) compensatory, (6) cognition, (7) advanced work, (8) communication. Confirmatory factor analysis and nonlinear multiple regression were used to handle data. Results show that men’s and women’s self-stereotypes and gender stereotypes are close, especially on the self-reported upper levels of competence in the Internet use.