In 2022, it’s very commonplace to see feminist ideas as well as general discussion about women’s rights on social media – with these areas providing the platform for women to come together and talk about their views on the past, present and future of women’s rights.
The question is, how did we get here? It seems like a very common thing to see now, but the struggle to achieve equality between men and women is a fight that has been continuing for hundreds, if not thousands of years – and even in the 21st century, there is so much progress still being made.
The world we now live in is by nature, technological, with so much of our daily operations now involving a computer or other mobile device. This means that there has been an unavoidable influence on the women’s rights movement from this technology.
Read on below to find out more about how modern devices such as laptops, phones and the internet have impacted the women’s rights movement.
Communication
The basis for coming together under a common cause is communication, and our tech devices enable instant communication across time zones and international borders. Social media has provided the platform to create spaces where women can discuss their experiences of society, including their interaction with men and male-dominated institutions.
This ability to speak freely with confidence to people who you identify with, and to feel understood by hearing experiences similar to your own, is vital in creating a sense of a shared cause.
It also allows women to identify patterns of misjustice, abuse, behavior, and power carried out by others on a national or international scale. Two women across the world from each other can now communicate instantly about their issues using Lenovo laptops and iPhones, creating a sense of unity between all women.
Mobilization
With instant communication to anyone, anywhere in the world, comes the potential for mobilization on a large scale. Social media platforms allow for groups of people with shared interests or grievances to discuss times, locations and dates for meetings where people can gather to protest or bring awareness to a particular cause.
Hashtags are a valuable resource in this regard, as they broadcast a message outside of simply friendship groups or your own followers, and can quickly spread into a movement that can impact the world in tangible and amazing ways, such as the #MeToo movement.
Real-world Impact
The fact that women’s rights have such a large presence in discussions online has filtered through to society at ground level, translating into real change in the way women experience their lives. While online feminism has by no means solved anywhere close to all the issues facing women in our society, it has created a firmly international movement that unites women from every corner of the globe.
Before the advent of internet and global communication, women’s movements in different countries were largely disconnected by borders and distances – now, women in all nations across the planet can participate in a movement that makes them feel loved, empowered and validated.