Why do male Squidoo Lensmasters need Factor Y? Men have a whole different spectrum of needs than women when it comes to Internet usage. Males are also the current gender minority when using the Internet.
- according to a study released in 2007, the number women using the Internet was surpassing men by a great amount.
- men use the Internet in ways that are vastly different then women
Men "surf" the Internet much like the legendary "channel surfing" with the television remote. Women find what they are looking for and focus on that point of interest; immersing themselves in the information they find. Men flit. Due to imprinting of gender behavioral expectations, women are natural multi-taskers by design, thus making focus a primary need in everything they do. Whereas men have been taught to primarily perform one duty (hunt, gather, win the bread, etc.) and find that any time away from that task is too little. This causes a need in males to have their sensory systems assaulted constantly during the "down time". Focus becomes secondary, especially with the visual media of television and the Internet.
The world economy is changing as witnessed through the shrinking of the industrial complex, which in turn is motivating more males to seek opportunities to earn a living, or at the very least pad their current income, through the Internet. Work At Home Moms (WAHM) have the advantage of a previous movement for women to stay at home with the children while raising funds. A tough task to be sure and the women are stellar at this. The men are "newbies" in this adventure and have a tough row of their own to hoe, especially when it comes to shattering the bonds of social perceptions. We are supposed to leave the home to gain sustenance.
So, why not a support group for men?
Factor Y is designed to help males tackle these issues by using tried and true models for similar groups. But, there is some tweaking of those models to suit the male needs for learning how to use the powerful tool of Squidoo to propel the men into greater successes. Through this tweaking, Factor Y will operate by using these basic tenets:
- sharing of experience and information
- teaching and learning
- support
- promotion
- quality Squidoo lenscrafting
The first session of Factor Y opens August 31, 2009. As of the publishing of this post, there are eight slots open. If any male lensmaster is interested in joining us (even after the official session opens), contact me (Alex) at
Drifter for an Info Kit, or download the kit from the sidebar here.
Monday August 24, 2009, Factor Y will be on the
Giant Squid OpenMike radio show, which is broadcast live at 4 p.m. EST. Feel free to call in and ask questions about this exciting new group.
Thanks!
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