McCarron, Jemma and Mitra, Barbara ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4512-466X
(2024)
Empowering or silencing: The #MeToo campaign in retrospect.
In:
Gender in the Digital Sphere: Representation, Engagement, and Expression.
Rowman and Littlefield, Maryland, U.S, Chapter 4.
ISBN 978-1-5381-5568-4 • Hardback • 978-1-5381-5569-1 • eBook
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Abstract
In 2017, Alyssa Milano’s tweet went viral after asking Twitter followers to share their experiences of sexual assault and harassment using the hashtag #MeToo. Whilst the #hashtag campaign’s awareness-raising success is compelling, there is also evidence of both active and passive silencing taking place. Thematic analysis of #MeToo tweets shared between October 2017 and November 2019 showed that although women’s voices were initially raised, there is evidence of symbolic annihilation of women and silencing of marginal groups, including Tarana Burke, the black, female campaign originator. Of particular concern is that this silencing was taking place on multiple levels from multiple sources, including those with personal, political, and business motivations. It was also carried out by individuals, political groups, and the social media platforms themselves. This research highlighted concerns that Twitter and other Social Media platforms are not inclusive spaces for minority voices. The voices we most need to hear are too often the ones that are silenced or absent. Social media platforms such as Twitter have the potential to empower marginalised groups, however the current online spaces seem to lead us further into our own echo chambers enmeshed in labyrinths of cul-de-sacs.
Item Type: | Book Section |
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Uncontrolled Discrete Keywords: | social sciences, media studies, gender studies |
Divisions: | College of Arts, Humanities and Education > School of Humanities |
Related URLs: | |
Copyright Info: | © 2024 The Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Group Inc., all rights reserved, All rights reserved. Please contact the publisher for permission to copy, distribute or reprint. |
Depositing User: | Barbara Mitra |
Date Deposited: | 26 May 2022 12:33 |
Last Modified: | 27 Mar 2024 12:23 |
URI: | https://eprints.worc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12165 |
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