What is networked feminism?
Networked feminism is another name for 'fourth wave feminism'. The idea of networked feminism is to fight social equality issues found on and using modern technology. According to Chloe Gray, User-generated content websites have flourished with the words of the feminists; she goes on to say that blogs, submission sites, and YouTube are all being used to there full potential to set up, grow and oppose campaigns. Twitter is said to be a big player in representing modern feminism: people are now able to instantly engage with one another.
Why is it a problem?
Networked feminism is a problem because as the technological world develops the whole issue of feminism can be left behind. Technology is changing everyday, becoming faster and more efficient but in the media the term 'feminists' is still associated with the older means of getting recognized with the suffragettes who tied themselves to railings etc, so the article says that the term is due for a re - think if it is still to get the same recognition as it did before, update the term to show the change, is what I understand the article to be saying.
2) What are the four waves of feminism? Do you agree that we are in a fourth wave ‘networked feminism’?
- First wave: early 20th century, suffragette movement (right to vote).
- Second wave: 1960s – 1990s, reproductive rights (pill), abortion, equal pay.
- Third wave: 1990s – present, empowerment, reclaiming of femininity (high heels, sexuality etc. See Angela McRobbie's work on women's magazines).
- Fourth wave? 2010 – ongoing, use of new technology and digital media (e.g. Twitter) for activism.
Personally, I feel that we are in a fourth wave of feminism, because the developments of new and digital media are being used more and more to spread the message about feminism and build support. The developments of technology have allowed things to be brought into perspective more. It can better be seen the differences between feminism before technology influences and the developments that have been made as well as identifying the problems that still exist.
3) Focus on the examples in the article. Write a 100-word summary of EACH of the following: Everyday Sexism, HeForShe, FCKH8 campaign, This Girl Can.
Everyday Sexism: Highly visible and well recognized digital campaign set up by Laura Bates. The article talks of how the campaign is arguably a well recognized digital campaign due to its user generated content and its clever use of the campaign Twitter hashtag ‘#EverydaySexism’. The article talks of how the strategic use of social media has made the campaign a lot more personal for each of the people involved and it is a lot more instant, it is constantly updated to show people the developments of the campaign.
HeForShe: A campaign led by Emma Watson. The campaign centres on male support for gender equality emphasizing the fact that feminism is not about promoting a system of society or government ruled by women (Matriarchy) but instead it is about promoting solidarity. The campaign is well known in the digital world, you can pledge to help the women’s issue online and it has received a huge response. One way that the campaign was recognized in the digital world, was by Watson utilizing the Twitter platform for a Q&A session during the campaign promotion.
FCKH8 Campaign: Is one of the most popular digital campaigns and more specifically, the ‘Potty Mouth Princess’ video that went viral on the internet. This campaign focuses on the present representation of girls and the enormous social inequalities faced. The video features young girls ‘F- Bombing’ to emphasize society’s differences when it comes to offences. The girls in the video make it clear that they are important and can look after themselves: they shout confidently lines like “ I’m not some pretty f***king helpless princess in distress.
This Girl Can: The campaign is described as the first fitness campaign for women, that doesn’t shame or exclude them by sharing photos, videos and quotes of women without the usual sexual exploitation of women that we would see in typical fitness adverts. However, this campaign despite its positive intentions has been heavily criticized, by feminism activists. For example, there was the online petition ‘Stop Taxing Periods’. The campaign called for tampons to stop being taxed as luxury items when they are more essential than crocodile steak.
4) What is your opinion with regards to feminism and new/digital media? Do you agree with the concept of a 'fourth wave' of feminism post-2010 or are recent developments like the Everyday Sexism project merely an extension of the third wave of feminism from the 1990s?
In my opinion, I think that we are not completely in the fourth wave of feminism that is spoken of, as with a lot of other issues the digital world has developed them and propelled them into discussions more than they were so before, however I do not think that this constitutes saying that we are in a completely new wave of feminism. Yes, social media is used to further campaigns but not all campaigns use it at the end of the day.
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