Feminism online: recent examples

Emma Barnett: female journalists targeted

1) Summarise this example for the rest of the class in one paragraph

Barnett was one of a group of female journalists, including Guardian columnist Hadley Freeman and Independent columnist Grace Dent, who were sent a threatening message about a bomb being placed outside their house. The frightening incident underlines the fact that being female and having an opinion can be a dangerous combination on-line. Women journalists are a particularly attractive target for internet trolls. Men receive more Twitter abuse than their female counterparts in every single profession — except for female journalists. The nature of the trolls' comments could point to the reason for the singling out of women writers and presenters. Before she received the bomb threat, the Telegraph's Barnett wrote about technology for the newspaper showing not everyone enjoys reading an article about technology when it is written from a woman's point of view. 

2) What was the initial incident or situation that sparked this example?

"A BOMB HAS BEEN PLACED OUTSIDE YOUR HOME.

IT WILL GO OFF AT EXACTLY 10:47PM ON A TIMER AND TRIGGER DESTROYING EVERYTHING."

Emma Barnett, the women’s editor of The Telegraph, received this tweet in July 2013 from an anonymous user. She read it and then promptly went to the pub.

3) In your opinion, is this an example of a valid campaign or something of a witchhunt against people who are not doing any serious harm?

Personally, I think this is an example of a valid campaign because trolling has become a major issue on social networking sites such as YouTube and Twitter. The fact there are people who think it is acceptable to send such a scary threat that a bomb is going to explode and kill them is crazy. It takes trolling to another level. It causes female journalists to fear for their life as well as lower their self-confidence.  This sort of trolling can do serious harm to any woman emotionally and it should be taken into consideration to make it a much bigger deal. 

Emma Watson: HeForShe gender equality campaign

1) Summarise this example for the rest of the class in one paragraph

The “HeForShe” campaign has the aim to end gender inequality—and to do whatever needed for everyone to be involved. This is the first campaign of its kind at the UN: the campaign as well as Emma Watson wants to try and galvanize as many men and boys as possible to be advocates for gender equality and make sure it is tangible.

2) What was the initial incident or situation that sparked this example?

Emma Watson started questioning gender-based assumptions from the age of eight when she was confused at being called “bossy,” because she wanted to direct the plays they would put on for their parents—but the boys were not. When at 14 she started being sexualized by certain elements of the press. When at 15 her girlfriends started dropping out of their sports teams because they didn’t want to appear “muscly.” When at 18 her male friends were unable to express their feelings. But it was her recent research that made her realise that feminism has become an unpopular word and that sparked this example.  It seems she is among the ranks of women whose expressions are seen as too strong, too aggressive, isolating, anti-men and, unattractive.

3) In your opinion, is this an example of a valid campaign or something of a witchhunt against people who are not doing any serious harm?

I think that this is an example of a valid campaign because it teaches us that we should stop defining each other by what we are not and start defining ourselves by what we are. 
Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong.

Caitlin Moran: Twitter silence

1) Summarise this example for the rest of the class in one paragraph

The article talks about the surge of abuse women get on a daily basis on twitter. The movement is a Twitter trend called #TwitterSilence, and it involves an ironic day of quiet in protest of women's inability to speak out on Twitter without incurring some form of abuse. The idea belongs to controversial feminist Caitlin Moran, who shrugged "I just wanted to do a thing" on Twitter before going dark around midnight.

2) What was the initial incident or situation that sparked this example?

"From politics, it was an easy step to silence."
When Jane Austen wrote these words in her classic 1823 novel Northanger Abbey, she hardly anticipated that one day the politics, and the silence, would be happening because of her. But in the wake of the onslaught of Twitter abuse directed at Caroline Criado-Perez, the organizer of a campaign that put Austen's picture on the latest British banknote, her fellow U.K. feminists have rallied behind her with an unusual tactic: shutting up.

3) In your opinion, is this an example of a valid campaign or something of a witchhunt against people who are not doing any serious harm?

Personally I think it is a valid campaign as women do get abused on social networking sites like Twitter daily. However, the approach is not effective in my opinion. Staying silent is exactly what they want. It would be better to get your voiced heard rather than staying silent.