Digital feminism

The relative rise or decline of feminist movements across the globe has been debated by feminist scholars and activists for a long time. In recent years, however, these debates have gained renewed momentum. Rapid technological change and increased use of digital media have raised questions about how digital technologies change, influence, and shape feminist politics. These questions are particularly pertinent in the context of transnational flows of feminist ideas, politics and protesters, giving rise to a range of research questions: How do local centers for feminist political activism engage with the digital transfer of transnational protest movements, and how has this incorporation changed local activism? How does feminist activism travel and translate in the age of digital proliferation? How do other, often nationally inflected art forms such as literature, film, and theater engage in the notion of digital protest? And does feminist activism have the potential to transform discourses around the digital economy, equity, and democracy, such as those related to open access?

Some research themes in this area:

·      the politics of digital activism, performance art, pop-feminisms, and post–riot-grrrl culture.

·      the reception of transnational and feminist activists like Pussy Riot (Russia), Slutwalk (Canada), and FEMEN (Ukraine) and national examples like Lady Bitch Ray, Chicks on Speed, the Twitter campaign #aufschrei and the blog Mädchenmannschaft e.V.

·      the intersection of feminist protest cultures with discourses and activism surrounding sexuality, citizenship, race, ethnicity, religion, and economic disenfranchisement.

·      the manner in which technology and debates surrounding the digital economy and open access contribute to or inform the form, content, and circulation of feminist work and vice versa.

·      the relationship between past or non-digital forms of feminist activism (educative work, zines, street marches, women’s centres) and digital feminisms.