The Electronic Cottage — Haven or Nightmare? Available to Purchase

Changing work patterns and the development of new technology (principally microcomputers being connected through the telephone network) the way is clear to the “telecommuting” era in which information travels (via coaxial and fibre optic cables) to the workforce, rather than the workforce undertaking the commuting. Only limited categories of people are working in this way at present; data from interviews with 78 female computer programmers/analysts working from terminals at home in 1981/2 reveals a difficulty for women in this position in that working at home may be considered a hobby when combined with caring for young children. It has been said that for most people working at home means “… appalling wages, insecurity and health hazards”. Though there is nothing in the technology itself which is inherently exploitative or oppressive, neither will it automatically reduce drudgery or caring about greater prosperity for all.