Assignment 4 Cyber Feminism

 

Name: - Bhavyata Kukadiya 

Roll No: - 4

Semester: - 3(Batch 2022-24)

Enrolment number: - 4069206420220018

Paper No: -

Paper name: - 

Paper code: -

Topic: -  Cyber Feminism

Submitted to: - Smt. S. B. Gardi Department of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University

Date of Submission:- //2023

Email Address: - bhavyatakukadiya@gmail.com

Cyber Feminism

In the fast-changing world of technology, there's a special movement called Cyberfeminism. It combines feminism (which is about equal rights for women) with the internet. It started when the internet was new and became more popular in the late 1900s. Cyberfeminism is strong and works against old ideas about what men and women should do. It wants everyone to be treated fairly and equally online.

Cyberfeminism is a Social and artistic practices on the net with feminist ideological content. Feminist movement interpreting the evolution of cybernetics as allowing the development of a culture in which inequalities are eradicated and traditional gender relations and stereotypes are defied (for instance, through the experimentation with gender identities or the creation of sisterhood networks on the Internet), empowering women and marking a shift away from their traditional symbolic representation as technologically ignorant.

Definition

Cyberfeminism, which examines women’s relationship to the Internet, considers issues such as how power operates in online spaces, who has access to digital technologies, and how the design of online architecture may reproduce gender inequities (Heather M. Crandall)

Cyberfeminism is a movement that blends feminism with technology, aiming to challenge gender inequalities and biases in the digital world. It explores how technology and gender intersect, advocating for inclusivity, equality, and empowerment of all genders in online spaces. Cyberfeminists work to break down barriers, critique biases in tech, and create more inclusive digital environments.(Chat Gpt)

Background to cyber feminism

Cyberfeminism is a movement that emerged in the 1990s to challenge traditional notions of gender and identity in the digital age. It is inspired by the work of Donna Haraway, who wrote about the cyborg as a metaphor for fluidity and the potential for transcending biological constraints.

Cyberfeminists believe that cyberspace can be a tool for women's empowerment and social change. They encourage women to use the internet to connect with each other, share information, and challenge patriarchal norms.

Cyberfeminism is concerned with opposing the accepted and recognized men dominance in the advancement and employment of online technology. Cyberspace, on the other hand in is involved in allowing women to use the Internet technology to share, interact, swap information, and take part in recreation while taking part in social forums and carrying out loads and businesses for other enterprises, as stated by (Puente, 2018).

Therefore, the Internet, cyberspace, and other information galaxies are no longer viewed as masculine tools or spaces because women can not only reframe and negotiate themselves within the social structure using cyberspace, they have also embraced it. Hence, women are considered producers and consumers of the Internet and cyberspace. In contrast, cyberspace acts as a social capital that enables women to embrace the cyber-social communities and networks to expedite their requirements and ventures.

"Cyberfeminism" actually refers to how feminists (cyber-feminists) use new media as a vehicle to empower and free themselves from male-dominated discourses. Cyberfeminism can also be an alternative for how women should optimally use new media for empowerment, so that big dreams about liberation are not just utopia, which refers to a proposal that is good but (physically, socially, economically or politically) is impossible happen. Cyberfeminism, according to the Dictionary of Media Studies (2006: 58), is a study of new technologies and their influence on women's issues. The emergence of cyberfeminism, according to Sarah Kember (2003: 177), can be defined with regard to its origins in feminist theory and practice in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which are related to the emergence of technology regarding the information revolution. That was part of the response to cyberpunk anarchist politics. Cyberfeminism later became an important school of cyberculture and feminism studies and has developed a series of major concerns, including issues of separation of body/mind, a vision of the community that focuses on issues such as identity and social community. Cyberfeminism later became the most active political strategy and artistic method in the 1990s. Cyberfeminism arises from the use of digital media and new communication technologies. This technology is considered to have both promises and threats, with the potential for simultaneous empowerment and oppression. They offer ways to open up space and communicative communities, to be involved in play and politics, and to access information and make networks.  

Breaking Boundaries in the Digital Sphere

At its core, Cyberfeminism aims to redefine the relationship between gender and technology. It seeks to break the conventional boundaries that limit women's participation and representation in the tech world. This movement isn’t merely about using technology as a tool but also interrogating how gender dynamics intersect with the digital landscape.

Subverting Male-Dominated Spaces

One of the primary focuses of Cyberfeminism is challenging the male-dominated tech industry. Historically, the tech field has been largely exclusive, with women significantly underrepresented. Cyberfeminists work to carve out spaces where women and marginalized groups can actively participate, contribute, and lead.

Deconstructing Gender Stereotypes

Moreover, Cyberfeminism confronts gender stereotypes perpetuated through technology. It questions the biases embedded in algorithms, design, and digital culture. By critiquing and deconstructing these biases, Cyberfeminism aims to create a more inclusive and diverse digital environment.

Themes in Cyberfeminism

1. Deconstructing Gender Binaries: Cyberfeminists question the rigid categorization of gender as male or female, advocating for a more fluid and multifaceted understanding of gender identities. They explore the concept of the cyborg, a hybrid of human and machine, as a metaphor for transcending biological constraints and embracing fluidity.

2. Resisting Online Misogyny and Violence: Cyberfeminists actively combat the pervasive misogyny and violence experienced by women in online spaces. They raise awareness of cyberbullying, online harassment, and the gendered digital divide, advocating for strategies to create safer and more inclusive online environments.

3. Reclaiming Technology for Women's Empowerment: Cyberfeminists believe that technology can be a powerful tool for women's empowerment and social change. They encourage women to develop their digital literacy, engage in online activism, and create their own digital spaces to challenge patriarchal norms and promote feminist discourse.

Cyberfeminism's Impact and Continued Relevance

Cyberfeminism has had a significant impact on feminist thought and activism, particularly in the digital age. Its emphasis on fluidity, intersectionality, and the potential of technology has challenged traditional feminist approaches and opened up new avenues for feminist praxis.

As technology continues to evolve and permeate every aspect of our lives, cyberfeminism remains a crucial movement. It challenges us to critically examine the gendered implications of technological advancements, advocate for equitable access and representation in digital spaces, and harness the power of technology for feminist goals.Technology is now a part of our everyday lives. We use the internet, mobile phones, apps, and social media for a variety of purposes. With the rapid advancement of technology, the media, which was once used only for sharing news and information, has become a platform for people to express their opinions and ideas.

Everyone has an identity, which is used to distinguish them from others. An individual's identity can determine how they live, where they go, and how they make decisions. Identity is a complex and evolving concept, and it is no different in cyberspace.

A cyber identity, or online identity, is how someone presents themselves in the virtual world. This can be done honestly or dishonestly. People can use cyberspace to create a new identity for themselves, which can be different from their real-world identity. This is often associated with anonymity, which is the ability to be someone else online.

A person's cyber identity can have a significant impact on their reputation in cyberspace. Cyberspace is vast and borderless, meaning that it can transcend national boundaries and social norms.

Gender bias and feminism are two examples of phenomena that can occur in cyberspace. Cyberspace is a place where people can express their opinions freely. In Indonesia, cyberspace is seen as a form of democracy. Theoretically, cyberspace does not discriminate based on age, gender, ethnicity, or race. Everyone has equal rights in cyberspace.

Gender is often discussed in cyberspace, and gender discrimination is one of the topics that is frequently debated. Gender discrimination, or gender bias, in cyberspace is a reflection of the issues that occur in people's daily lives, regarding how women and men should conduct themselves based on their gender. Gender bias is often discussed on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Freedom of expression in cyberspace can be done anonymously or with the original account of the owner. This encourages people to discuss gender bias, making it an interesting topic. Gender bias is still widely reported on social media, both by individuals and news channels.

Conclusion 

Technology should be accessible to everyone, and women should have equal access to the benefits of technology. Women need information on various topics, including career advancement, research, marriage, health, childcare, sexual harassment, legal rights, entertainment, social injustice, and domestic violence.

Cyberfeminism focuses on how technology affects women's lives and how cultural technology is gendered. The internet is a tool that feminists use to fight for gender and racial equality. Women must be involved in all aspects of technology development, as they are both users and creators of change.

Socio-cultural barriers create a gender divide in cyberspace, which negatively impacts women. These gender differences will not go away on their own; we need to involve stakeholders and policymakers to address them.

Governments should provide financial support to women so they can access information online and support their ideas. There is no easy solution to these challenges, but ICT stakeholders can take steps to increase women's access to and use of the internet. Technology needs to be more inclusive of women's perspectives.

Increasing women's internet usage in some markets could be the key to achieving stable and growing revenue growth. Cyberfeminists believe that new technologies are essential for economic and social restructuring that benefits women.

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                                               Work cited 

Cunningham, C.M., Crandall, H.M. (2014). Social Media for Social Justice: Cyberfeminism in the Digital Village. In: Van Deventer Iverson, S., James, J.H. (eds) Feminist Community Engagement. Community Engagement in Higher Education. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137441102_5 

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Hinsey, Vera. "Girls get digital: A critical view of cyberfeminism." (2013): 25-32.

Toto, Giusi Antonia, and Alessia Scarinci. "Cyberfeminism: A Relationship between Cyberspace, Technology, and the Internet." Elementa. Intersections between Philosophy, Epistemology and Empirical Perspectives 1.1-2 (2022): 135-151

Rai, Gayatri. "Changing perceptions and meaning of cyberfeminism." STUDIES 3.4 (2017).