Chapter 68: GimpGirl Grows up: Women With Disabilities, Rethinking, Redefining, and reclaiming community

http://www.gimpgirl.com/

In chapter 68 of Gender, Race, and Class in Media, there is an article that explains the story of a website created for disabled women. The article, "GimpGirl Grows up: Women With Disabilities, Rethinking, Redefining, and reclaiming community" touches upon the creation, growth, and effects of Gimp Girl Community or GGC. This website was developed by Jennifer Cole, a disabled women who wanted to create a virtual place where women with disabilities could go to make connections with others and receive information and advice. The article starts by discussing the background and early stages of the website including quotes from Cole regarding her vision for the site. Additionally, the article explains the growth of the site and how it has transitioned since it started.

Gimp Girl Community started in 1998 as a forum for women with disabilities. The main goals for the site were to combat and combat abusive situations regarding disabled women and to strengthen their representation in the world. Jennifer Cole founded the group when she was 18 or 19 after leaving an abusive home and struggling with her transition into adulthood. The group was established to enable those feeling alone or isolated to connect with each other. Users can share ideas, personal experiences, problems, struggles, and advice with each other. The site had news and resources along with quizzes, polls, and other posts relating to women with disabilities. Additionally, the site did not discriminate against a particular age group, sexual orientation, or disability. 

The article also discusses the growth of the website through technology advancements. In 2003, the website adopted a LiveJournal format which was similar to a social networking site. Users could create their own accounts and join various communities. In 2007, Dr. Mark Rubin of 3D Embodiment donated a program for Second Life, which is similar to a virtual video game. Users could meet in various places on the computer including a pool area, amphitheatre, and many other locations. This program evolved throughout the years and fostered connections while letting women with disabilities enjoy a virtual experience. The issues with the SecondLife program for GGC include the lack of face to face interaction and over-reliance on computer software. However, the internet based community was created for the convenience of disabled women to interact with people in a setting similar to face to face interactions.

Chapter 68: https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/gender-race-and-class-in-media/book239376#contents