Online, Social Participatory Index:

Introduction to feminism:

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

She was sexually harassed/insulted 3 times in a week and realised other people go through these experiences as well and therefore made a website to raise awareness for people that do get sexually harassed/insulted.

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

Laura Bates stated many statistics that show that there is inequality between men and women. The Everyday Sexism Project is a place where women can talk about there problems. This being said, this shows that post is required.

3) Why was new technology essential to the success of the Everyday Sexism project?

I feel like the new technology was essential as it made it easier for Laura to broadcast her message.  Plus, using the internet was the only way to see everyone's problem and raise awareness.

4) Will there be a point in the future when the Everyday Sexism project is not required? What is YOUR view on the future of feminism?

I believe that in the future, we might still need stuff like the Everyday Sexism Project because some men and women are going to be different. However, I do also believe that that society will improve and that we wont need stuff like The Everyday Sexism project as much as before.


Read the article: The Fourth Wave? Feminism in the Digital Age in MM55 (p64). You'll find the article in our Media Magazine archive here.

1) Summarise the questions in the first two sub-headings: What is networked feminism? Why is it a problem?

Feminism is divided into four wave where the fourth wave is networked feminism. It aims to tackle social equality issues found both on, and using, modern technology.

Moving into a new era of feminism without solving the problems that we have faced in other waves clearly creates issues.The internet has so many denominations, societies and communities of people who claim to be feminists, and equally as many for those who claim to be against it, and so definitions and ideologies can become blurred.


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.).

• Fourth wave - 2010 – ongoing, use of new technology and digital media (e.g. Twitter) for activism.

Yes, I do believe that due to the fact that we do use new technology and the media.

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.

Everday Sexism

Laura Bates is the founder of Everyday Sexism which started in 2012. It is a website where mostly women talk about their sexual assaults or harassment's in there everyday lives. She set this page up because she realised that it was hard to talk about feminism.Three years later, Everyday Sexism is
one of the most high-visibility feminist digital campaigns, arguably due to its user-generated content and its well- used #EverydaySexism Twitter feed. The role of social media has made the campaign much more personal and much more instant.

HeForShe

HeForShe was started by Emma Watson. Watson’s campaign focuses on male support for gender equality, highlighting the fact that feminism is not about promoting matriarchy, but solidarity. solidarity. Her digital commitment means that you can pledge to help the women’s issue online, and has generated a huge response. Her campaign seems to remove the element of misandry that has blighted traditional feminism. However, many people have criticised the He For She campaign, saying that it makes feminism too reliant on males, undermining the ‘strong woman’ element and relying on the old stereotype that women need men to get things done.

FCKH8 Campaign

The FCKH8 Campaign is a popular digital campaign which is also know as the ‘Potty Mouth
Princess’ YouTube video that went viral. The movement focuses on the modern representation of girls and the huge social inequalities they face. After just three months on YouTube the video
had gained 1.6 million views.. FCKH8 is for a profit based company where they tried to sell their shirts. This exploitation of feminism as an advertising tool created a huge backlash.

This Girl Can

This Girl Can campaign, which has been described as the first fitness campaign for women which doesn’t shame or exclude them, by sharing photos, videos and quotes of women without the usual sexual exploitation of a women’s fitness advert and without body shaming. But, this campaign has been heavily criticised by feminist activists. This campaign is a alternative representation of women as it is saying that women can exercise and play sports just as much men can.  


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?

I agree with the concept of the fourth wave as it is another way to promote feminism. However, we are still doing the stuff in the third wave but this time, with new technology.