A Blog of One’s Own British Feminism and Social Media in the 21st Century
Katalina Kopka (University of Bremen)
eminism seems omnipresent these technologies such as blogs, podcasts, Fdays. At the 2014 Music Video Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Youtube or Awards, Beyoncé performed her song Instagram to promote their ideas and “***Flawless” against the backdrop of causes. In fact, online-based feminist the word FEMINIST on a huge screen; activism has increased to such an extent actress Emma Watson started a feminist that some of its proponents speak of a book club on Instagram and publicly “fourth wave” of feminism (Cochrane promotes HeforShe, a UN solidarity 2013a). But what differentiates the campaign for gender equality; the ‘fourth wave’ from its predecessors? #MeToo Movement, originally started And who are its most influential by Tarana Burke in 2006 but popularized advocates in Great Britain today? in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse scandal of 2017, sparked a public debate about sexual harassment; in March 2017, up to five million people worldwide joined the Women’s March for equal rights; and most recently, the Time’s Up Movement campaigned for more gender equality in the workplace. It seems like a new kind of feminist activism has entered the scene largely outside academia, using pop culture and grassroots movements to create platforms for debates about equality. Women Laura Bates © Conway Hall all over the world use social media
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Feminists in the British Blogosphere Sexism Project has more than served its purpose in pointing out the extent he central idea behind the ‘fourth to which society is still pervaded by Twave’ is to make feminism accessible patterns of gender inequality. Due to its to the masses via technology. In Britain, success, the project was exported into 25 one of the first campaigns using these countries and published in book form tactics was Laura Bates’ Everyday Sexism with additional editorial comments. Project. Founded in April 2012, this It therefore seems not quite fair to website encourages women to recount claim, as Germaine Greer has done, incidents of sexism in their everyday lives, that words don’t translate into action. ranging from workplace discrimination Because of its extensive press coverage, to assault and rape. Bates aimed at the blog succeeded in de-stigmatizing demonstrating that sexism is not a niche conversations about sexual violence. phenomenon but a harrowing reality for many women. The website was a huge ampaigns like the Everyday Sexism success with more than 60,000 people CProject are an admirable way to giving testimony of their experiences with engage people who might otherwise not gendered discrimination. While many consider questions of gender equality. have praised the campaign for triggering The internet provides a veritable host of a public debate about sexism (Kallaway, podcasts and blogs with a similar goal – Klassen), others, like Germaine Greer that is, to re-locate feminism from the (2014), for instance, have criticized its ivory tower of academia onto people’s methods: “[u]npacking your heart with phones. Holly Baxter’s and Rhiannon bitter words to an anonymous blog is Lucy Cosslett’s The Vagenda, a pop no substitute for action”. It is true that culture blog and self-proclaimed “media the entries on the website are in no way watchdog with a feminist angle” (Baxter/ moderated; they are simply left to speak Cosslett), comedian Deborah Frances- for themselves. As a result, the blog leaves White’s tongue-in-cheek online podcast responsibility entirely with the authors The Guilty Feminist (turned into a face- and thus unintentionally presents them to-face experience on a live tour in 2019) as victims of a system that they cannot or Caitlin Moran’s website offer down- change. Later projects, especially the to-earth feminism for the masses. These #MeToo Movement begun in 2017 with British bloggers proudly call themselves its worldwide repercussions, by contrast, feminists and do not shy away from have been much more active in forcing covering controversial topics like rape perpetrators of sexualised violence into culture, media stereotypes of women taking responsibility. Yet, the Everyday or the gender pay gap. Interestingly,
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Whatever Happened to Intersectionality?
common criticism directed at A this ‘fourth wave’ is that for all its talk of liberation, its technology focus perpetuates socio-economic inequalities within the movement, as only people with proper access to technology can participate. Moreover, women of colour, disabled women and LGBTQ+ women who promote issues that are not necessarily in line with dominant white, able, straight, cisgender feminist narratives are excluded. Initiatives that tackle Hollywood sexism or demand more women in CEO positions are Deborah Frances-White, The Guilty Feminist laudable efforts to end gender-based Tour Poster discrimination, but they might not Courtesy of Hannah Allan necessarily be the main concerns of, say, many of these authors even stress their disabled women or women in the low- decidedly non-academic approach to income sector of society. It is quite true feminism. Their articles work primarily that the social media activism that receives on an emotional level and frequently wide press coverage is usually that of approach relevant issues in a humorous white, middle class women who promote way, satirizing the style of glossy women’s their own concerns, thus marginalizing magazines. As Kira Cochrane, author issues such as racialized sexism, better of All the Rebel Women (2013) and social support programs for low-income key player in coining the term ‘fourth single mothers or the discrimination of wave’, points out, humour can be used trans women in the debate. In short, quite effectively as “a ‘gateway drug’ to intersectionality – the key term of ‘third- get young women involved, a vehicle wave’ feminism – needs to be put back for political ideas and campaigning, on the table. As Nagarajan and Okolosie as well as for rage” (Cochrane 2013b). (2012) suggest, we need to “move away from dissension into recognition of the diversity of our realities and voices. Feminism should not be an individualised
Page 138 Hard Times 102 (2/2018) Katalina Kopka movement […] we need to adopt a ‘no issues, META, an online magazine woman gets left behind’ policy. No concerned with trans and gender woman is free until we are all free”. queer entertainment, or Transadvocate UK, a twitter account providing n fact, there are already a great number commentaries on trans concerns. Iof British online sources that tackle these concerns. Gal Dem Magazine, for Commercialising Feminism instance, was founded by Liv Little as a response to the lack of media diversity o far, so good. However, the and offers thoughtful articles about Scontent and quality of these online politics, art and lifestyle of (non-binary) publications varies considerably. While women of colour. Blogs like Racialiscious some offer profound feminist critiques, and Media Diversifiedinvestigate the others operate with a rather shallow intersections of gender, race and pop understanding of feminist theory. The culture in modern Britain. Chidera Vagenda, for instance, nonchalantly Eggerue, blogger and author of What balances columns on domestic abuse a Time to Be Alone (2018), comments with Kim Kardashian’s corset diet. And critically on racialized beauty standards, there’s the rub. This free-for-all feminism body shaming and media representations has no control mechanisms, anyone can of black women in her podcast The publish anything on any given subject. Slumflower and on her Instagram This is liberating, yes, but it can also account. One of the most influential lead to a bastardization of the term non-academic feminists of recent years, ‘feminism’. Since many of the websites the Nigerian writer Chimamanda are geared to be easily consumable Ngozi Adichie, achieved internet fame rather than theoretical think-pieces, with her TEDx talk “We Should All thorough analysis is sometimes bound Be Feminists” (2013) which has more to be neglected in favour of clickbait. than five million hits on Youtube. The Feminism, of course, is not – and never talk was subsequently published in book has been – a homogeneous movement. form and was followed by Adichie’s Dear Nor should it be. Many different kinds Ijeawele (2017), which is designed to of feminism coexist. Nonetheless, the help parents in raising their children issue of clickbait hints at a slightly as feminists. The British LGBTQ+ more problematic aspect of this kind community also contributes to debates of online feminism: the question of online through outlets such as Trans financial interests. Ultimately, all online Media Watch, which monitors media content must generate financial revenue, representations of trans and intersex whether through product placement, advertisements, or book deals. Caitlin
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Moran’s book How to Be a Woman (2011) products; Chanel’s 2015 summer/spring sold more than a million copies; Eggerue collection transformed the catwalk promotes make-up and fashion brands into a pseudo-feminist demonstration on her blog; Cosslett and Baxter signed complete with placards proclaiming ‘Be a six-figure book deal forThe Vagenda Your Own Stylist.’ Ironically, the trendy (2014). Profits are vital for these writers, feminist can even buy ‘The Future is which is why this commercialised Female’ t-shirts sewn by women in the kind of feminism is bound to be global south under inhumane sweatshop less independent than comparable conditions. Feminism’s ‘fourth wave’ academic work. After all, it is much has hit the mainstream, which is a good harder to deliver a convincing critique thing because more people are made of patriarchal capitalism if you have to aware of gender inequality. But if it be careful not to antagonise sponsors. is not backed by a critical assessment of the harmful effects of patriarchal ccasionally, this alliance of ‘fourth- and neoliberal structures on women’s Owave’ feminism with corporate lives, feminism runs the risk of being capitalism goes even further. In 2013, reduced to a meaningless t-shirt slogan. fashion magazine Elle started a campaign to “re-brand” feminism as “a term that Laurie Penny’s Bitch Doctrine many feel has become burdened with complications and negativity” into ne of Britain’s most essential something more consumable (Swerling). Ocontemporary feminist voices (Incidentally, The Vagenda founders to point out this dangerous liaison is Holly Baxter and Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett blogger and journalist Laurie Penny. Her were among the “feminist groups” and latest non-fiction book Bitch Doctrine: “award-winning advertising agencies” Essays for Dissenting Adults (2nd edition, asked to participate in Elle’s re-branding 2018) is an eclectic collection of articles endeavors.) Marketplace feminism – as well as a manifesto of “straight-up defined by Andi Zeisler (2017, xiii) as pinko right-on lefty feminist rage” a feel-good, “decontextualized” and (Penny 2018, 4). On well over 400 “depoliticized” call for superficial gender pages, Penny takes a sweeping look equality that never truly challenges at the ills of modern society: she patriarchal and neoliberal capitalist eloquently discusses feminist marketing, systems – is suddenly en vogue. L’Oréal domestic violence, cyberbullying, sells an eye shadow palette that is called Donald Trump, the discrimination of The Feminist; beauty blogs incite ‘woke’ sex workers, James Bond, body politics, feminist consumers to buy certain the alt-right movement, trans rights, millennial anxiety, emotional labour,
Page 140 Hard Times 102 (2/2018) Katalina Kopka toxic masculinity, the BREXIT and rape put it more bluntly, even Marxists have culture, to name but a few topics. Penny to make a living, and it might as well explores these diverse issues with great be with articles denouncing capitalist panache, sometimes with caustic wit, patriarchy as the root of social inequality. sometimes with empathy, sometimes with burning rage. Even though the enny’s essays, which are an author tends to overgeneralize and Punapologetically angry call to arms, contradict herself at times, she manages are always political and demonstrate to clearly delineate her position. What that she is first and foremost an activist: unites all of her writing – and separates “Feminism is active. It’s not something her from the legions of more commercial you are; it’s something that you do” feminist bloggers – are Penny’s fervent (Penny 2018, 20). Therefore, her socialist politics. She combines applied outspoken support of the LGBTQ+ feminist theory with a decided critique community is a welcome addition of neoliberal economic practices and to contemporary feminist debates. an appeal for more solidarity. It is of Penny, who identifies as genderqueer, course slightly contradictory to eschew does not shy away from criticising neoliberal market practices while established feminists for their queer- and trying to sell books at the same time. transphobic tendencies: “taking a stand Nonetheless, social equality is a genuine against violence and gender essentialism central concern of Penny’s work. To is what feminism is all about, and that’s precisely why solidarity with trans people should be the radical heart of the modern women’s movement.” (Penny 2018, 243)
his makes her an essential part of T21st-century feminism: she tries to steer the movement beyond the interests of middle-class cisgender women. However, Penny herself falls a bit short when it comes to including women of colour or women from a low-income background. As a white, middle-class, college-educated woman, she knows herself to be quite privileged. While she acknowledges this privilege in many The English journalist and writer Laurie Penny at Leipzig Bookfair 2016 of her essays, she rarely deliberates in © Amrei-Marie depth what that specifically means for Page 141 Hard Times 102 (2/2018) A Blog of One’s Own her. She mentions issues that feminists patriarchy forces women, especially of colour might voice, but in doing so, female professionals, to compete with she occasionally sounds patroni¬zing. each other: “Feminist activists are pitted against one another, often against ecause of her radical views and their will, as male-led outlets ask us to Bdivisive rhetoric, Penny has become determine who’s the best, as if women’s somewhat of a millennial feminist liberation were just another axis on which poster girl. Many media outlets concur to judge one another and fight for prizes, with Bitch Doctrine’s dust cover blurb as if feminism were not a movement that that she is “one of the most urgent and needed all of us” (Penny 2018, 291). vibrant feminist voices of our time”. For this, Penny is equally idolized and n this regard, her status as the media’s reviled by critics, bloggers and online Ifavourite controversial feminist is a communities. The author candidly particularly vexing example of patriarchal addresses these criticisms in her writing, structures at work: few women are but in doing so, she demonstrates a great allowed to be ‘feminist authorities’ and if deal of ambivalence. Her writings are they are, they are made to compete with frequently personal, she writes about her each other and criticised for silencing anorexia as a teen, her anxiety disorder, other women – which is a shame as well as her personal experiences of rape because Penny definitely has substantial and online harassment (Penny 2017). things to say about feminism today. Some critics call her narcissistic because of that, and it is true that her personal A Fourth Wave? fame silences less privileged feminists. o what is the status quo of British Penny herself, however, views her style feminisms in the early 21st century? as a weapon against faux-objectivity S At present, we still face a lack of inherent to much academic writing. She inclusivity and diversity that must be argues convincingly that the personal overcome in the long run. A movement is always political, particularly when it striving for true equality cannot simply comes to gender and identity politics. focus on the liberation of affluent white To the claim of being overly provocative, women. Instead, it must take into she responds that “[a]nything any consideration the complex concerns at woman ever writes about politics is the intersections of race, class, gender or considered provocative, an invitation to disability. In this respect, the increasing dismissal and disgust and abuse”. (Penny digitalization of feminist debates can 2018, 10) Interestingly, Penny writes arguably help to level the field by creating extensively about the ways in which bigger platforms for diverse feminist
Page 142 Hard Times 102 (2/2018) Katalina Kopka concerns. Young people growing up toxic masculinity affects their own lives. with the internet have a vast amount of freely accessible feminist content at their n the face of such heterogeneous disposal. Since anyone can publish their Ifeminist movements, can we speak of ideas in the blogosphere, we experience a ‘fourth wave’? The unprecedented use the liberation of knowledge. This free- of social media and technology definitely for-all debate culture admittedly has its sets many of the aforementioned writers drawbacks, but on the upside one no and activists apart from previous longer needs to be able to afford college feminists. Their distinctly non-academic education to be part of contemporary approach succeeds in making the F-word gender debates. If we disregard the acceptable to a whole new generation of blatantly commercial contributions women (and men). Despite their different of marketplace feminism that only tactics, ‘fourth wavers’ are still concerned focus on individual consumption, we with many issues central to previous are still left with numerous thoughtful waves. In the end, what unites all of the contributions – though it may take different waves is their shared concern for some effort to disentangle the two in gender equality. Feminism, then, should our daily media usage. Feminism thus perhaps not be seen as a set of successive has the chance to thrive, particularly by waves. To quote Penny, it is rather “a including more diverse voices. To some great grumbling tsunami, moving slow, extent, this diversification also includes sweeping across a blighted landscape the role of men within the movement. of received assumptions, washing away More traditional women’s liberation old certainties” (Penny 2018, 19). It is advocates might criticise this notion, only when diverse strands of feminism but influential 21st century feminists come together in empathic support like Penny or Adichie see patriarchy of each other that they can succeed at as a problematic social system that the sea change that is true equality. inflicts structural violence on both women and men. To be clear, women at present experience inequality and discrimination to a greater extent than men, which is why female concerns are still at the heart of ‘fourth-wave’ feminism. Still, many contemporary feminists encourage men to not only come forward as allies in the struggle for gender equality, but also to address how
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A Short Guide to Online Feminism Works Cited
Chamamanda Ngozi Adichie: We Baxter, Holly, and Rhiannon Lucy Should All Be Feminists https://www. Cosslett (2012). “A Letter from the youtube.com/watch?v=hg3umXU_ Editor”. The Vagenda, 19 Jan.
Chidera Eggerue https://soundcloud. Cochrane, Kira (2013a). “The Fourth com/theslumflower Wave of Feminism: Meet the Rebel Women”. The Guardian, 10 Dec. https://www.instagram.com/
Media Diversifiedhttps:// Greer, Germaine (2014). “Germaine mediadiversified.org/about-us/ Greer: The Failures of the New Feminism”. New Statesman, 14 May. Caitlin Moran https://www.
Racialiscious https://twitter.com/ Kallaway, Lucy (2014). “Lucy Kellaway racialicious Interviews Everyday Sexism Project Founder Laura Bates”. Financial Trans Media Watch https://twitter. Times1 Aug. Page 144 Hard Times 102 (2/2018) Katalina Kopka everyday-sexism-creator-laura-bates-on- helping-women-speak-out>. Nagarajan, Chitra, and Lola Okolosie (2012). “You Don’t Need an MA in Gender Studies to Know That Race Matters to Feminism.” The Guardian, 23 Oct. Penny, Laurie (2017). “Who Does She Think She Is?”Longreads . Penny, Laurie (2018). Bitch Doctrine: Essays for Dissenting Adults. London: Bloomsbury. Swerling, Hannah (2013). “ELLE Rebrands Feminism.” Elle, 1 Oct. Zeisler, Andi (2017). We Were Feminists Once: From Riot Grrrl to Covergirl®, the Buying and Selling of a Political Movement. New York: Public Affairs. Page 145 Hard Times 102 (2/2018)