Identities: Feminism and new/digital media

Key notes

Waves of 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.

Fourth wave
Many commentators argue that the internet itself has enabled a shift from ‘third-wave’ to ‘fourth-wave’ feminism. What is certain is that the internet has created a ‘call-out’ culture, in which sexism or misogyny can be ‘called out’ and challenged.  This culture is indicative of the continuing influence of the third wave, with its focus on challenging sexism and misogyny in advertising, film, television and the media.
Key quote: “power users of social media”
The internet has facilitated the creation of a global community of feminists who use the internet both for discussion and activism. According to #FemFuture: Online Feminism, a report recently published by Columbia University’s Barnard Center for Research on Women, females aged between 18 and 29 are the ‘power users of social networking’.

(Source: Political Studies Association. Read more about this:http://www.psa.ac.uk/insight-plus/feminism-fourth-wave)

Critics of online feminism

Critics of online feminist movements suggest that petitions and pressure from Twitter campaigns is simply a witchhunt orchestrated by privileged middle-class white women. They ask: are ‘trolls’ the danger they are portrayed to be?

Blog tasks

Case study: Everyday Sexism



1) Why did Laura Bates start the Everyday Sexism project?

Laura Bates started the everyday sexism project as a way of raising awareness on the issue of sexism that women and also men face in public and at the workplace. The website allows women to project their voices by sending in the issues they have faced, as a result bringing people into contact with the seriousness of sexism and the emotional/physical impact it can have on women.

2) How does the Everyday Sexism project link to the concept of post-feminism? Is feminism still required in western societies?

The everyday sexism project links back to the concept of post-feminism as it counteracts the idea that feminism is no longer required in society. The fact that women need a platform to express the troubles they face with sexism highlights the importance of feminism as a positive force which allows women to discuss sexism while also raising awareness and empowering one another.

3) How can you apply Judith Butler's theory of gender as a 'performance' to the creation of the Everyday Sexism project?

Butlers theory of gender as a 'performance' can be applied to the creation of the everyday sexism project, as the role of the women is a social construct in which women are prescribed to be subordinate to men, hence the reason many women have felt voiceless or even seen sexism as the norm. As a result, women perform the role of being subordinate and inferior to men by not speaking out about the assaults and harassment they have faced.

4) How does Angela McRobbie's work on female empowerment link to the Everyday Sexism project?

Mcrobbies work on female empowerment links back to the everyday sexism project as the project provides women with a platform to openly discuss the forms of sexism they have faced without feeling any shame or ridicule for it. This can be argued to be a form of female empowerment as women are creating a conversation about a topic that is often perceived as taboo, thus creating a force against the degradation of women.