臺灣地區自民國84年開放網際網路服務後，至今已達到二百萬人上網的記 錄，而今年三百萬人上網目標預計也將提前達成。根據國内外數次網路的調查 顯示，兩性上網人數有明顯的差距。濉然女性上網人數逐年成長，但仍不及男 性上網的人數。由於網路對促進言論自由與民主具相當的影響力，因此兩性間 參與網路的情況，勢必影響社會參與、權利分享、及言論自由等民主社會應有 的權力義務關係。當今所謂的網際網路民主化即指網際網路不受使用者之性別、 宗教、種族、階級、與黨派之不同的情況下，提供一個公平使用管道與相同使 用權利的環境。本研究擬從男女兩性網路使用的人數、上網時間、使用動機， 及對網路规範態度予以比較與探討。

Since the Taiwan Network was initiated in 1995? the number of net users is growing very fast. There were two million net users in 1998 and there will be approximately three million in 1999. However; according to several Internet investigations? the number of male users and female users is dramatically unequal. Although the number of female users is increasing constantlyj the rate of increase of female users is still much lower than males,. Democracy in computer-mediated commmiications} such as Internet or cyberspace? must offer access and communication equally and without status constraints. This study? which is based on an online network investigation done in 1986? compares differences between male and female users in tenns of status; motivation, information needs, and network ethics.