feminist view of digital communication

Question 1

Arlaccki - Feminist explanations (critical)

Answer 1

States that organised exploitation is one of the most undesirable consequences of globalisation. Exploitation of women is furthered through new forms of digital communication (eg, porn, dark web, revenge porn).

Question 2

The Centre for Social Justice - Feminist explanations (critical)

Answer 2

Carried out a study that aimed to examine the nature and extent of slavery in the UK. Findings showed that UK nationals and those from abroad are exploited in the sex industry through forced labour, domestic servitude and forced criminal activity. Cases are often not reported or recognised.

Question 3

Hughes - Feminist explanations (critical)

Answer 3

The Dark Net - Explains that Digital Communication can help to reproduce patriarchy through sex exploitation such as bride trafficking and sex tourism (where people visit parts of the world where sex can be bought with little risk of punishment). There’s an estimated 40.3 million victims of human trafficking.

Question 4

Schuster - Feminist explanations (critical)

Answer 4

Feminist engagement in online activism - Creates a divide between young feminists and older feminists, as the new wave of feminists unwittingly hide their politics from their older peers e.g. UK Feminista website - Designed “by and for young Feminists”.

Question 5

Haraway - Feminist explanations (positive)

Answer 5

Discusses the image of cyborgs (part-machine, part-human) and is interested in the way that technology can provide empowerment for women.

Question 6

Nakuamura - Feminist explanations (positive)

Answer 6

The digital global world is being used increasingly more by women from a range of different ethnic and class backgrounds. Social media and digital communication can be used by women as a forum for support when they face discrimination and inequality e.g Everyday Sexism website.

Question 7

Cochrane - Feminist explanations (positive)

Answer 7

Examines the range of ways in which women have used digital communication in order to challenge patriarchal and sexist attitudes, she notes the following campaigns: - The Girl Guides – Introduced a campaigning and activism badge. Mumsnet.com – Found that 59% of their users considered themselves feminists, double those who did not. Larasi – Started a campaign to address racist and sexist attitudes in music videos and students campaigned for the banning of the song ‘Blurred Lines’ from being played in University campuses.