Digital equality: how can women get engaged online?
Workshop session
Women have a high internet usage, but when it comes to politics and campaigning women are few and far between. Something about online campaigning seems to turn women off and there’s a digital divide as a result.
So if the answer isn’t simply for women to grow a thicker skin, how can progressive campaigners better engage women online? How can women survive the dog eat dog world of political blogging or tweeting without feeling they have to join in the game? Which online campaigns, issues and online spaces might attract more women to get engaged?
This workshop will look at all of these issues and more.
Speakers:
- Jessica Asato
Social Media Consultant, Islington Councillor, Labour activist and regular tweeter - Jess McCabe (The F-Word)
Editor of the F-Word an online magazine and blog for, by and about feminism(s) in the UK - Laurie Penny
Journalist and feminist activist from London. She is a regular writer for New Statesman, and her political writing was shortlisted for the Orwell prize - Lisa Ansell
Lisa Ansell is an ex social worker, and civil servant- she is a single mum, and is currently trying to set up a social enterprise, while campaigning vocally about effects of current economic and social policies. She writes occasionally for whoever will agree to publish her stuff.
Can I put my name down for this workshop please women pensioners like me seem to exclude themselves from online campaigning.
http://www.facebook.com/index.php?lh=81e39c64e689463fef8efdcd841d49c6&#!/home.php?sk=group_164641833572733&ap=1
Hi Anna, here is a link to a political group on facebook you may be interested in. I dont know if youre on facebook or not but if not – join up and join in
Thanks Barbs I am on facebook having been introduced to it by American campaigners. Thanks for the link I’ve asked to join!
Hi Ann,
Thanks for that – be good to have you there. The sessions aren’t booked (except for the three tutorials), but this is one of the larger workshops, so you shouldn’t have a problem getting in.
The premises of this workshop is entirely false.
I am not sure why the women who have put themselves forward to speak about this would think that an established male forum is the only way to campaign online.
All it proves is that men are more likely to make loud vacuous comments, so that blogging, tweeting and the renowned narcassitic facebook are prime mediums for them.
Many, many women’s organisations use online tools to organise.
It is highly unlikely that the faux feminist you have selected will know about this.
This is yet another example of the few women who are prepared to compormise themselves (and unfortunately in so doing sell out other women) are trying to get their names known by conforming to male norms.
About as relevant as inviting Naomi Wolf to speak or write about an issue she is totally unqualified to comment on.
The real issue is not the medium, but the fact that the existing power structures (ie white male media luvvies) only acknowledge and interact with those that pay subserviance to them.
Happily this allows women to continue to organise autonomously away from the pernicious influence of the dominant culture of inherent male sexism (and as the prime example of this false freedom, CiF).
These women are selling out other women by implying we have to conform to the male norm.
Crap.
They should be challenging the male norms.
Women don’t interact online with unreconstructed reastionaries because they have better and more important things to do.
Yet another example of dillitante self indulgent vacuous posturing.
@J Smith, not sure if you are a troll or have impossibly high standards I cant possibilly live up to.
I think the workshop is a great idea and wish I could come. I do try to do some campaigning online, but at the moment in a chaotic way as so much to fight.
I started off online with the Robin Hood Tax, and followed that up by actions, with 1-2 others, giving out publicity ect. I wouldnt want to just campaign online, need to “do” things as well. Not sure if thats anything to do with me being female or not. I do feel strongly that campaigning online is not enough, and can give an illusion of action, when there is none. Exceptions of course would be people who for various reasons find it difficult or are unable to leave their homes.
Dont think Ive really got the hang of Twitter, and like facebook think its more about understanding how to use the medium than fear of putting down an idea or comment.
I do follow a few bloggs and sometimes comment on them but then cant find the blog again, maybe thats age, (im middle) as my husband looses stuff as well.
I think the internet gives huge opportunities for campaigning, spreading news ideas. Following the student protests on facebook/twitter/youtube so so different to reading about them in the papers and on T.V.
Hope you will be able to post ideas from this workshop would be really interested.
Will there be a recap of this workshop for those that have missed it?
I’m hoping the speakers pointed out what a ridiculous and offensive fallacy this workshop is based on.
Thanks.
J Smith. Watch the footage of the session. That is EXACTLY what we said.