critical spin on new media and activism
 
Category: <span>Online Activism</span>

#IWD2018 (5/5): Women’s rights and gender equality – What about us?

When walking home on the 8th of March, on the evening of International Women’s Day, flower shops in the city centre of Budapest were crowded and stands selling chocolate and bouquets popped up at every corner. Boys and men were queueing to get that tulip or rose for their wives, …

#IWD2018 (4/5): Six lessons on research from women’s rights activists in the Pacific

It’s blog post writing day and time for my contribution to Volte-face’s coverage of International Women’s Day (IWD) #IWD2018. The Pacific Going on a regional theme started by my fellow bloggers, I thought I’d take a step out of my comfort zone and cover a geographical area that I don’t …

#IWD2018 (3/5): When #MeToo arrived, #NiUnaMenos was already there

This #8M has been a day of important mobilization throughout the Latin America. Although more symbolic than real, many organizations have joined the International Women’s Strike. These protests coincide with an impulse of the international feminist movement derived from campaigns like #MeToo or #TimesUp. However, Latin America has produced its …

#IWD2018 (2/5): Online movements need to innovate to avoid disappearing

The #metoo movement got rolling when Hollywood actress @Alyssa_Milano requested women to publicly join the movement on 15 October 2017. It quickly spread to Sweden, and has managed to maintain both support and exposure over several months. Many didn’t think it would keep momentum for that long. In order to …

#IWD2018 (1/5): Why we need to focus on ICT in Women’s rights

International Women’s Day 2018 made social media explode with engagement world-wide. Hashtags such as #IWD2018, #PressforProgress, #TimeisNow and #Wikigap have been trending on Twitter for the past couple of days. Going online and turning to ICT tools (Information and Communication Technology) in the fight for women’s rights and equality is …

Black Panther, Representation and Activism

As many others, Black Panther made me feel excited about finally seeing some fair representation on the cinema screen. The important role and power of black women in the piece tickled the intersectional feminist in me, so I couldn’t help but think: What does this mean for African activism and …

Why you never hear about African LGBTI rights in social media

The right to express both identity and sexuality is far from obvious. Just under half of the UN member states see LGBTI as a human right. It is a divided matter and for some controversial. There is also little to read about African LGBTI rights in social media. Although, digital …

You won’t believe what Facebook is going to do next to clampdown on grassroots activism

Facebook has us all hoodwinked! Listen here you digital activists, slacktivists and one-percenters – isn’t it time to make a volte-face on this nonsense and take a look at the bigger picture?! I have a problem with Facebook activism. On the one hand it provides the possibility to spread messages …

The role of social media during the migration crisis in Hungary

When the peak of the European migration crisis reached Hungary in the summer of 2015 and due to the measures of the Government hundreds of people were sleeping rough around the main train stations in Budapest for weeks, the people responded. Facebook groups with the intention to mobilize and coordinate …