Feminism

Question 1

Statistics reveal facts about gender and digital communication

Answer 1

Women use social media slightly more than men; however, Pinterest’s and Instagram are overwhelming used by females (70%).

Only 13% of the contribution to Wikipedia are by women.

Question 2

Role of technology - Haraway

Answer 2

• Argues that cannot be sharing something similar about what it means to be woman. She suggests that cyborgs (part machine) might allow people to transcend or rise above gender bounds. Technology allows women to create new forms of identity not bound by traditional ideas or dominant patriarchal about gender.

Question 3

Nakamura

Answer 3

• Women from a range of ethnic minorities are gaining an increasing presence in digital communication and this enables their particular interests. Some support networks include women who can’t access support previously. These networks offer practical and emotional support for women who are experiencing discrimination. For instance: The Everyday Sexism.

Question 4

Globalisation and the Exploitation of Women

Answer 4

Women and children throughout history have been in a vulnerable position due to the power in terms of government and law-making have not made passing legislations to protect women and children a priority. Some argue that this is because of men largely control government and legal systems. The internet has made exploitation for women much easier.
Exploitation of children through various forms of digital communication. The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) play a role in protecting children, and reported that:
- 790 children were subject to safeguarding or protection as a result of CEOP activity.
- There were 18,887 reports relating to child sexual exploitation.

Question 5

Negative impacts of exploitation of women:

Answer 5

Physical, sexual, emotional abuse with both short- and long-term effects and implications.

Objectification – women become increasingly regarded as objects without feeling, dignity, right due to increase access to images and depicting them in a way being easily accessed by the internet.

Question 6

The types of sexual exploitation on the internet includes -

Answer 6

• Sex tourism, bride trafficking. Because there is little regulation of the internet, the traffickers and promoters of sexual exploitation have rapidly utilised the internet for their purpose.

Question 7

4th wave of feminism?

Answer 7

Emerged in 2000-2010 – importance placed on technology as a method of communicating and sharing ideas and plans. Women many parts of the world, are not allowed to be educated or to express their views, making their thoughts part of the muted group. However, new forms of digital communication being used as tools that are allowing women to build a strong, popular, reactive movement online such as The Girl Guides organisation.

Question 8

Evaluation of Feminist view

Answer 8

• They argue that some forms of digital communication are simply an extension of the older forms of traditional methods which reflect patriarchal ideology.
• Some are optimistic and claim that these new forms of women being able to express themselves without falling into a traditional assumption about women and men, gender politics.