Identities: feminism and new/digital media

Case study: Everyday Sexism

1) Why did Laura Bates start the Everyday Sexism project?

Laura Bates started the project to inform people that sexism is still an issue in today's society despite the progressions made in previous decades. She had real life examples of where females were discriminated, specifically by males, which made them feel as if they were the problem.

2) How does the Everyday Sexism project link to the concept of post-feminism? Is feminism still required in western societies?

The project links to the concept of post feminism because it provides evidence as of why feminism should still exist in society. This is because women are being mistreated in public and even in formal environments like in the workplace. So feminism is required to ensure that women aren't being objectified but extreme feminists need to become less radical.

3) How can you apply Judith Butler's theory of gender as a 'performance' to the creation of the Everyday Sexism project?

Judith Butler's theory can be applied because the project depicts the ways society perceive females and it is based on the appearance of them. For example, feminist would suggest that society believes a female's role in society is to look 'sexy' for males, which also links with Laura Mulvey's theory of the male gaze, so this is why people find it the norm when females are constantly judged on their appearance.

4) How does Angela McRobbie's work on female empowerment link to the Everyday Sexism project?

This links with the Everyday Sexism project because the way some females act reinforce the feminist stereotypes of society which is males objectifying women. This is because some females act in seductive and sexual ways in media texts which means males are influenced into discriminating women because their favourite hip hop and R&B artists are portrayed this way.


Media Magazine: The fourth wave?


Read the article: The Fourth Wave? Feminism in the Digital Age in MM55 (p64)

1) Summarise the questions in the first two sub-headings: What is networked feminism? Why is it a problem?

Networked feminism - feminism is often divided into 'waves' to explain the cultural context in which they began:

• first wave - 19th to early 20th centuries, main focus on suffrage
• Second wave - 1960s, campaigning for the growth of equal rights and leading to equal pay (70s) 
• Third wave - late 1990s, often identified as post feminism
• Fourth wave - tackles social inequality issues, especially through technology

Ordinary people have user generated content websites where they can share these feminist thoughts.

2) What are the four waves of feminism? Do you agree that we are in a fourth wave ‘networked feminism’? 

• first wave - 19th to early 20th centuries, main focus on suffrage
• Second wave - 1960s, campaigning for the growth of equal rights and leading to equal pay (70s) 
• Third wave - late 1990s, often identified as post feminism
• Fourth wave - tackles social inequality issues, especially through technology

In the text, it says society is trying to tackle social inequality issues found both on, and using, modern technology. Hashtags and  blogs have been created to spur on the feminist upheaval. So based on this, I believe we slightly do live in the fourth wave where inequalities are still being negatively portrayed by the media.

3) Focus on the examples in the article. Write a 100-word summary of EACH of the following: Everyday Sexism, HeForShe, FCKH8 campaign, This Girl Can.


Laura Bates started the Everyday Sexism project to inform people of the inequalities in society today and wants to ensure females rights are as secure males. She had real life examples of where females were discriminated, specifically by males, which made them feel as if they were the problem. 'He For She' which campaign is led by Emma Watson and she focuses on male support for gender equality. Its a digital campaign and generated a huge response; Watson has decided to use Twitter  (where she already has a large following) for a Q&A campaign deciphering the issue. The campaign has apparently undermined the strong woman and feminism has become more reliant on men. 

4) What is your opinion with regards to feminism and new/digital media? Do you agree with the concept of a 'fourth wave' of feminism post-2010 or are recent developments like the Everyday Sexism project merely an extension of the third wave of feminism from the 1990s?

I believe feminism of post 2010 is in the fourth wave as women are being discriminated so much so that most of the public can't see it anymore and believe its the norm. This could explain why audiences believe feminist are really repetitive as they are constantly displaying the issues with society and sexism but no one wants to listen. So feminist have now turned to digital media to gain a better audience who would be able to view their beliefs and ideologies which is much more convenient than people having to watch/listen to a speech on the television. There are examples on social media and social experiments to assess how society as a whole treats women as inferior which shows we are still working on the development of gender equality. So Emma Watson's campaign should be successful due to the use of technology which all kind of audiences use.   

1) How might this video contribute to Butler’s idea that gender roles are a ‘performance’?

The music video of Beyonce is created to portray a female trying to show off her body and her features which definitely covers the idea that the gender roles are a 'performance'. The way she acts and the clothes she wears reinforces this as shes is displayed as being revealing and wants love and affection which are elements heavily associated with women.

2) Would McRobbie view Beyonce as an empowering role model for women? Why?

This reinforces Mcrobbie's idea as a female is presented as glamorous in a media text. This is by the behaviour and clothes she wears which acts as a male gaze (Mulvey). 

3) What are your OWN views on this debate – does Beyonce empower women or reinforce the traditional ‘male gaze’ (Mulvey)?

As mentioned before, this music video reinforces the male gaze as Beyonce is trying to attract males 

NDM: Wikipedia banning unreliable news

Wikipedia bans Daily Mail as 'unreliable' source

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/feb/08/wikipedia-bans-daily-mail-as-unreliable-source-for-website

Wikipedia editors have voted to ban the Daily Mail as a source for the website in all but exceptional circumstances after deeming the news group “generally unreliable”. The move is highly unusual for the online encyclopedia which rarely puts in place a blanket ban on publications and which still allows links to sources such as Kremlin backed news organisation Russia Today, and Fox News, both of which have raised concern among editors. 

This is an unusual change for the website because they don't care about the public changing information on the website. It seems the fake news debate is probably impacting the institution.

NDM: Facebook preventing discrimination

Facebook stops advertisers illegally discriminating by race

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/feb/09/facebook-stops-advertisers-illegal-discriminating-race

Social network will still allow targeting based on ethnicity affinity of users in domains other than housing, employment and credit. It also covers the discrimination of personal characteristics, race, sexual orientation and age. Enforcing the rules may be tricky, but Facebook plans to use new technology “that leverages machine learning” to identify the most egregious offenders – those that “offer housing, employment or credit opportunities” in a discriminatory manner. The move follows accusations that the social network offered tools that allow advertisers to break American anti-discrimination laws. First highlighted in March 2016, the affinity targeting was intended to allow advertisers to target messages to specific audiences without getting into the murky ground of racial profiling.

Post-colonialism - bonus reading and tasks

1.  List three theorists discussed in the article and what they believe regarding black identity.

• Aisha Harris - believes that social media 
• Giddens
• Marxist 

2) In your opinion, is social media a positive or negative force when it comes to issues of black identity? 

Social media is becoming a positive when addressing issues in society. We have seen an increase in the amount of citizen journalism over the years because of the fact that most people obtain a phone so would be able to record anything significant like police brutality to show the World. Whereas usually without the use of social media, black people would be murdered by police without a reasonable explanation and evidence from the crime scene because they would be able to manipulate the evidence at the scene making the victim look like a criminal. So social media is definitely making people aware of these issues and is subverting the identity the news portrays of the ethnic group.


3) How could you apply the post-colonial theories we have learned in class to the issue of social media and black identity?

With Edward Said he discusses West versus the East and it wouldn't be appropriate to class black people as Eastern but the ways America (some white Americans) view ethnic minorities as a whole is as if they are inferior to them. So white Americans at the head of the media can manipulate the news and try to change the ways black identity is portrayed to the public reinforcing certain ideologies. With Fanon's theory it could be argued that with certain news reporters they have to 'put on a white mask' for audiences to view them as a neutral or against something controversial like black lives matter. For example, a black news presenter/reporter would have to speak as if they don't have an opinion on the story at times and question the acts of protesters even if they already know the answers.


A Hustle for Life: Refugees in the Media

Now turn to page 6 and read A Hustle for Life: Refugees in the Media. When you have read the article, complete the following tasks:

1) What examples of different representations of refugees in the media are offered in the article?

Refugees are represented as hostile and migrants which would suggest to UK audiences that these refugees are travelling by choice when in fact they are trying to leave their domestic countries.  



2) In your opinion, is the documentary genre more or less biased than the news media? What examples can you provide from the article to support your view?

A documentary is used to unravel the truth and facts that are right before our eyes. It puts all considerations together in order for the audience to get a better understanding of a group being represented relatively negative by the news. Refugees are then presented in negatives way as there aren't any positive facts about the   


3) How could you apply the post-colonial theories we have learned in class to the representation of refugees in the media?

Fanon's theory of ethnic minority groups being portrayed as pitied is reinforced because these refugees are in poverty which is shown through the news. This is done to make audiences feel sympathetic and the UK reputation is enhanced because they would be shown giving aid to the East (Edward Said's theory West vs East).  

Post colonialism: final blog tasks

1.
Fanon - 'putting on the white mask' the theory is about how black people and non white people are represented in media texts.

Alvarado - four representations of black people in media texts.

Said - the values and representations of the west versus the values of the east. The west is believed to have superiority over the east

2.
There are a mixture of positive and negative views of British Muslims. A positive from the opening was the how the community was portrayed in a religious and united manor. This was done by the use of the call for prayer and the Muslims walking towards the call to which shows respect and perhaps that they aren't putting on the white mask by avoiding their religion which means Fanon's theory is subverted. Another one is that we see young people being interested in their religion which isn't what we would expect to see as they are usually portrayed as thugs being disobedient. Also, the elderly man wasn't provoked by the graffiti displaying the racial statement on the shutter which suggests that this is a common occurrence or that he is positive and religious. However, the negative stereotype could be from the female character (Yasmin) who seems as she is avoiding her culture and religion. An example of this is when she changes from her religious clothes to normal casual 'British' clothes and Fanon's theory of 'putting on the white mask' can be applied because she is trying to be accepted in the British culture. This obviously is disrespectful to the religion and it is becoming common in society now where people are ashamed of their origin and culture.

3.

Fanon:

Playboi Carti 'Fetti' 

This music video can be applied to Fanon's theory especially when considering decivilize because the artists are portrayed in a violent, over aggressive and drugged out manor. This is significant because decivilize means that the representation of black is in a gangster way which can be argued about this. The showing off of the money and drugs are the main reasons why this fits the theory.

Luther trailer
This is a perfect example of 'putting on the white mask' as Luther is a black detective in the UK being the hero in the city of London.

Luke Cage trailer

A black superhero is very rare and in Luke Cage we see him saving Harlem from the thugs and gangsters trying to rule. Usually we would expect to see a white person play the role of a superhero and this gives an alternative representation of black people which can challenge Fanon's theory of decivilized. 

Alvarado:

Ride Along

This film definitely has reinforces Alvarado's theory of black people being portrayed as humorous because Kevin Hart's character in this film has him being the comedian just like most of his other films. However, it clashes with the dangerous category because he is associated with guns and violence as he is a police man.

Menace to society
This film perfectly reinforces Alvarado's theory of black people being represented in a dangerous way because of the violence involved in this particular scene. The mise en scene would make an audience believe these characters are from the hood and are about to commit a serious crime. It could be argued that an action code is used with the guns being reloaded an audience would be able to infer they are going to kill someone which they do eventually. However, we see some humour being used with one of the characters because he jokes about the killing of the shopkeeper which portrays him as a psychopath or 'gangster'.

Water Aid advert
This supports Alvarado's theory because this portrays black people being in poverty which he argues and the theme is called pitied. An audience would automatically assume they are from somewhere in Africa because 'they all look the same' (essentialize - Fanon's theory).

Said:

Lone survivor

Lone survivor is a film of a few soldiers fighting against the enemy also known as the eastern world. We see the Americans being portrayed as the heroes in this film which is what we would expect to see in a patriot film. The eastern world is displayed in a negative way even though its the Americans in their country

Olympus has fallen

As long as a film is about patriotism or an invasion/terrorist attack in America. Automatically an audience would assume that it is west versus east.

United 93
The film plays out how 9/11 started and finished plus the thousands of deaths. It reinforces Edward Said's theory because we see the east coming into America to inflict pain and serious damage on the country which they definitely were successful at. They were trying to hurt the western world.