Feminist perspectives on digital communications

Question 1

New digital forms of communication are controlled by men and are designed for men

Answer 1

• Perez- ‘invisble women’, the average man can comfortably hold his smartphone one handed- women cannot. Healthkit- did not track a period
• Mphidi said IT is still perceived as a ‘male’ subject

Question 2

Gender stereotypes are reinforced online

Answer 2

• Perez- women are under-represented on Google translate and Google images across a wide range of professions
• Green and Singleton- online communities are more popular with female users- communities like mumsnet reinforces the ‘homemaker’ stereotype

Question 3

Digital communications increase opportunities for abuse of women

Answer 3

• Bates (founder of ‘everyday sexism’) received hundreds of sexual threats daily. Results in women leaving social media or avoiding a high public profile

Question 4

Digital communications allow women to challenge and expose gender discrimination and misogyny in society

Answer 4

• Bates- ‘everyday sexism’ encourages women to send in experiences of sexual harassment and workplace discrimination in everyday life
• Chittal- #feminism engages women of all ages to come together to challenge sexual abuse
• # me too, #timesup

Question 5

Gender stereotypes can be challenged online

Answer 5

• # Thisgirlcan, #likeagirl, #banbossy
• Boellstorff- 2nd life virtual community users are not limited by gender identity. They can create their own non-gendered avatar
• Apps, e.g: bumble- women act first, challenging ‘damsel in distress’ stereotype