Online Activism Against Gender-Based Violence: How African Feminism is Using Twitter for Progress

Blessing Dachollom Datiri

doi:10.28939/iam.debats-en.2020-16

Autors/ores

Blessing Dachollom Datiri University of Debrecen, Hungary

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.28939/iam.debats-en.2020-16

Paraules clau:

#BringBackOurGirls, #JusticeForNoura, #JusticeForOchanya, African Feminism, activism.

Resum

The chief goal of African feminism has been to better African women’s dire conditions in a mainly patriarchal society. Over the last five years however, the tide appears to be turning as feminists across the continent make greater use of online platforms to work change. This paper discusses the ways in which African women are using Twitter to protest against the abusive conditions women face including early and forced marriages, domestic abuse, abduction, sexual assault, slavery and other forms of genderbased violence. Through the lens of three hashtag campaigns (#BringBackOurGirls, #JusticeforNoura and #JusticeForOchanya), the paper examines the impact of twittering on African gender activism. Through Critical Discussion Analysis of selected tweets three key narratives emerged, constructed by the online activists who took part in the
campaigns: Solidarity in Feminist Sisterhood; Gender Equality; and A Call for Justice. The tweets are analysed under these themes showing that the meanings constructed by the activists helped advance the African feminist cause. The paper concludes with the lessons to be drawn from the campaigns, which show social media’s scope for advancing the goals of African feminism.

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Biografia de l'autor/a

Blessing Dachollom Datiri, University of Debrecen, Hungary

Blessing Datiri és doctoranda en l’Institut d’Estudis Literaris i Culturals de la University of Debrecen, Hongria. Les seues investigacions analitzen l’impacte dels nous mitjans en l’activisme de gènere a l’Àfrica subsahariana, evaluant per què i com la campanya #BringBackOurGirls es va gestionar a les xarxes socials després que més de 270 xiques
nigerianes foren capturades per Boko Haram el 2014. Altres centres d'interés dels seus estudis són la comunicació de masses, els nous mitjans i la resolució de conflictes. Abans de començar els seus estudis de doctorat, Blessing va treballar com a docent i assessora de comunicació a Nigèria. És graduada en Comunicació de Masses per la University
of Jos a Nigèria i té un màster en Comunicació per la Universitat de Bedfordshire, Regne Unit.

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