Transnational Feminist Publics: Digital Contexts for Rhetorical Activism
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TRANSNATIONAL FEMINIST PUBLICS: DIGITAL CONTEXTS FOR RHETORICAL ACTIVISM By Jennifer Marie Nish Submitted to the graduate degree program in English and the Graduate Faculty of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. ________________________________ Co-Chairperson Dr. Mary Jo Reiff ________________________________ Co-Chairperson Dr. Amy Devitt ________________________________ Dr. Alesha Doan ________________________________ Dr. Germaine Halegoua ________________________________ Dr. Jay Childers Date Defended: May 28, 2014 ii The Dissertation Committee for Jennifer Nish certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: Transnational Feminist Publics: Digital Contexts for Rhetorical Activism ________________________________ Co-Chairperson Dr. Mary Jo Reiff ________________________________ Co-Chairperson Dr. Amy Devitt Date approved: June 8, 2014 iii Abstract This dissertation combines scholarship on public rhetorics, transnational feminisms, and digital media in order to examine and critique the ways transnational activist projects use digital media with the goal of adding excluded voices and perspectives to public discourse. I offer three case studies of activist organizations committed to transnational feminist work. In each case study, I explore the ways women use various digital platforms and rhetorical tactics in order to expand public discourse in the service of feminist goals. By intervening in dominant discourses in order to insert women’s voices and feminist perspectives, these organizations’ communicative work is an important part of an overall framework of transnational feminist activism in the 21st century. iv Table of Contents Chapter 1 | Transnational Feminisms, Digital Rhetorics, and Networked Publics ....... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 Intersecting Theories of Networked, Rhetorical Publics ................................................................. 6 Guiding questions: ....................................................................................................................... 12 Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 12 My Position as a Researcher .................................................................................................................. 13 Selecting Cases for this Study ................................................................................................................. 14 Rhetorical Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 16 Selecting and Collecting Materials ......................................................................................................... 17 Campaigns and Social Media ................................................................................................................ 18 Chapter Overview ....................................................................................................................... 18 Chapter 2 | Girl Up: American Girls as Global Activists ..................................... 22 Transnational Attention to Women’s Rights ................................................................................. 22 Forum Analysis of Girl Up .......................................................................................................... 27 Background and Purpose ....................................................................................................................... 27 Audience .............................................................................................................................................. 27 Speakers and Writers ............................................................................................................................ 29 Topics .................................................................................................................................................. 30 Sample Selection and Methodology ........................................................................................................ 31 Girl Up on YouTube ................................................................................................................... 33 Two-Thirds World Girls ....................................................................................................................... 36 U.S. Girls ............................................................................................................................................ 41 Other Videos ........................................................................................................................................ 43 Privileging ‘American Girls’: Connecting YouTube Videos to Girl Up’s Website ........................... 44 (Re)Imagining Publics: Engaging ‘American Girls’ ....................................................................... 56 Chapter 3 | The Pixel Project: Spreading Genres in Opposition to Violence Against Women ................................................................................................... 64 Digital and Spreadable Genres ..................................................................................................... 65 Spreadability as Uptake ............................................................................................................... 72 Forum Analysis of The Pixel Project ............................................................................................ 76 Background and Purpose ....................................................................................................................... 76 Audience .............................................................................................................................................. 78 Speakers and Writers ............................................................................................................................ 79 Topics .................................................................................................................................................. 79 Sample Selection and Methodology ........................................................................................................ 80 Analyzing the Pixel Project’s Spreadable Genres .......................................................................... 81 Helpline Tweets .................................................................................................................................... 82 ’30 for 30’ Father’s Day Campaign Interviews ........................................................................................ 86 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 90 v Chapter 4 | The Uprising of Women in the Arab World: Interrupting a Revolution .... 93 Public Discourse, Everyday Practices, and Interruption ................................................................ 96 Digital Media, Activism, and the Arab Spring ............................................................................ 100 Forum Analysis of the Uprising of Women in the Arab World .................................................... 102 Background and Purpose ..................................................................................................................... 102 Audience ............................................................................................................................................ 104 Speakers and Writers .......................................................................................................................... 108 Topics ................................................................................................................................................ 109 Sample Selection and Methodology ...................................................................................................... 111 UWAW’s Photo Campaign ....................................................................................................... 112 Layers of Interruption ................................................................................................................ 119 Highlighting Agency Through Interruption ................................................................................ 125 New Forms of Interruption ........................................................................................................ 128 Chapter 5 | Women’s Agency and Digital Activist Practices ............................... 132 Representation .......................................................................................................................... 132 Spreadable Genres ..................................................................................................................... 134 Interruption ............................................................................................................................... 136 Agency ...................................................................................................................................... 138 Practical Implications ...............................................................................................................