Feminism and social media: the threats and opportunities explored

And in that cause, the rise of social media has manifested itself as both a threat and an opportunity, perhaps most noticeably demonstrated through the #MeToo campaign.

Now, female academics from across the world have come together to contribute their research, findings and arguments to a special edition of the quarterly journal Feminism & Psychology.

The publication, entitled Feminisms and Social Media, explores a range of issues encompassing social media platforms as complex and contradictory spaces for feminism. Among the subjects explored and analysed are:

• Female athletes’ self-representation
• Young feminists, feminism and digital media
• Non-consensual pornography websites
• Harassment and misogyny on dating sites
• Victim blaming in discussions of sexual assault cases
• The role of social media in sex education

Guest editor, Professor Abigail Locke, of the University of Bradford, said: “When women speak out they continue to suffer attacks, disparagement and abuse and social media has exacerbated this, given it a new profile. But social media opens up possibilities also and a new generation of women are speaking out on social media. It is providing a new space for feminism, for speaking out and connecting. #MeToo is an expression of this.

“We want this special edition of Feminism & Psychology to demonstrate that social media can be used as a force for resistance and social change. We stand at a particular point in time, when the power of social media can provide the platform and the opportunity to make significant contributions to this debate.”