Vanessa

In love with the world and talking to plants

[chipdipness]

Blog post #9 Week 12

How is racism instilled into policies? 

In Lee’s 2015 (Re) Constructing the body through social media, there are many instances of black women's bodies being racialized. Many policies are rooted in racism and being passed off strict rules that need to be followed. In reality, certain rules are only doing harm by restricting individuals from their own autonomy. This is significant due to beauty standards demanding black women get completely rid of their hair or go through damaging processes to be deemed appropriate, in places like the army or school. These policies are irrational and do not take into account that many different hairstyles exist. This is a harmful idea that also reaches younger audiences to believe they have to change the way they look, or their opportunities will be limited (Lee, 2015).  

What is Bell hooks “Homeplace”? 

The homeplace is described as a place where black women can express themselves freely and find comfort with others online and have a kind of rest. They can be real places like a coffee shop or someone's actual home. They can also be communities online where one dedicates a blog or maybe a group spreading positive affirmations for those who join. It can be created wherever whenever, the main idea in Lee’s Constructing the body through social media speaks of celebration of one another and appreciating natural beauty. It is a way to support one another and address issues like sexism and racism (Lee 2015). 

What part of online communities are not talked about? 

Most people know communities as groups of people who come together in order to uplift one another and connect. Yet one side of the internet not mentioned as often is how these groups sometimes get along for the wrong reasons. Some of those instances are seen as #gamergate, a group of gamers who thought they were standing up for the gaming world and to promote ethics yet instead fueled a movement filled with misogyny and disrespect. This caused Zoe Quinn, to be harassed and fearful for her safety, due to false allegations of her game being promoted due to favoritism with developers. The hate speech being spread showed a clear message, women were being pushed out of the gaming world due to discrimination. (Hathaway 2014). 

How are communities being used as profit? 

One interesting take that Mclaine makes in Ethnic Communities Online, is how certain movements have taken advantage of people seeking to be a part of something and slowly incorporating plans to profit from them. This usually happens when what was once an online forum for certain minorities, slowly grows bigger, and creators start to find ways to gain money off of them (Mclaine, 2013). I have personally seen this happen in the Latine community. What was once aimed as a movement to accept all parts of our culture, including fashion statements like zoot suits and its historical significance, then turned into a market focused on selling hoodies and stationary items with Chicano culture as the face, only to be sold at a high-end price and become a fast trend with no recognition of past injustices towards the people. 

Hathaway, J. (2014) What is Gamergate, and Why? An Explainer for Non-Geeks.  

Lee, L. (2015). Virtual Homeplace:(Re) Constructing the body through social media. Lexington Books. 

Mclaine, S.(2003) Cyberactivism: Ethnic Online Communities. Routledge. 

[chipdipness]

Blog Post # 8 Due 11/7

What forms of activism are shown online? 

In today's world, the internet has proven to be helpful in spreading awareness of current events and inspiring activism. Some of these include civil rights issues like police brutality, administration changes, and local events not being covered in the news. Platforms like twitter, Instagram, and Facebook are examples of spaces where locals can keep each other informed and work as a resource. We can be made aware of what is going on and get ideas rolling on how to better protect our communities and form social groups. For example, we are also able to analyze past events and see patterns like the recent case of Maria Florinda Rios Perez De La Vasquez and Renisha McBride, both two women of color who were criminalized and shot to death by people claiming they felt they were in danger when the two women were simply existing. In not letting these stories be forgotten and sharing them, we actively participate in activism and give them a voice. 

How has Black Twitter challenged racism? 

In an era where we see racial bias almost everywhere, Dr. Lee’s (2017) article Black Twitter: A Response to Bias in Mainstream Media discusses how Black Twitter is a specific space created to discuss current events revolving around black women and men. Anyone can join, and serious topics not brought up by typical news outlets are open for discussion such as biases, police brutality, and racism. With being open in these groups, people can feel comfortable talking about their experiences and building community. Biases like people of color being criminals is a false idea that has been adopted by many racists, thus leading many innocents to be in the line of danger, especially when encountering racist police. This is discriminatory and dangerous, which is why hashtags in black twitter hold so much power when speaking out about these injustices on a platform where thousands can see what is going on in the world, and form protests like #Blacklivesmatter. By speaking out, this challenges the false narratives that have been spread, and encourages society to speak out (Lee 2017). 

How do you “do” activism? 

As mentioned in Classifying forms of Online Activism, Vegh (2003) online activism brings together people who have similar political/human rights beliefs. It serves as a place to curate hope when too much is going on in person and allows for plans of action to be made in a structured space. These groups which attract like-minded people can then be implemented in real time, just like using hashtags on black twitter. Activism does not always have to be huge with multiple people, a simple step like realizing what is going on in the world and wanting to encourage change yourself is already one step in making a difference. It can be standing up for your friends, marginalized groups, or people who cannot stand up for themselves yet. It can even be refusing to participate in ideas that hurt others (Vegh 2003). 

What changes have you seen with activism? 

In this current day, I have seen my mutuals start off with small groups online sharing the injustices they see day to day with the Trump administration racially profiling Latine people. It starts off small and difficult by calling out something you know is wrong, and then many people feel heard, and the numbers start to grow. Eventually they were all able to meet up and peacefully protest, which brought hope to the people, and got the media's attention. I do think protesting, which is one common form of activism, makes a huge difference. 

Fuchs, C. (2017). Communication Power and the Arab Spring and the Occupy Movement. Social Media: A Critical Introduction. Sage 

Lee. L. (2017).  Black Twitter: A Response to Bias in Mainstream Media. Social Sciences, 6 (1), 26. 

Vegh, S. (2003). Classifying Forms of online activism: The Case of Cyber Protests Against the World Bank. 

[chipdipness]

Blog Post #7 Due 10/31

What is a troll in our modern day? 

Online communities have developed different kinds of antagonists which create barriers for users to have a carefree time. Trolling as mentioned in the reading The Origins and Evolution of Subcultural Trolling can be described as something to “incite paranoia, and paranoia sours the communal spirit that yearns to express itself online.” The same way a distraction throws you off your train of thought; trolling serves as “a way to add irrational controversy where it is not needed” to conversations where users can be left at a loss of words depending on the level of trolling (Phillips, 2015). It is usually used by people aiming to spread negativity online and is easy to do since some hide behind making and deleting personas meaning they escape consequences. It is mainly someone who dedicates their time in searching for a reaction from others by quite literally being a “troll” a mean identity online (Phillips, 2015). 

How can trolling help form a community? 

The definition of trolling can change based on context. It can be lighthearted when you are joking around with friends and maybe saying random things and referencing inside jokes (something innocent). For example, sometimes I will see someone “trolling” under a meme adding on to a character's story, the crazy details being added on can go on forever, and in this case it is harmless. It inspires others to let loose and create community with each other (Bergstrom, 2011). Sometimes It is difficult to spark up conversations with strangers, so little instances like this yell “Hey, we are easy going and we like to laugh, what do you think about this?” 

When does trolling become an issue? 

In cases like A Timeline of Leslie Jones Horrific Online Abuse, we can see the negative side of trolling (Silman, 2016). Jones is an actor who becomes a victim of trolling which is equivalent to harassment, by a user who shows clear signs of hatred for her and influences others to follow his lead. It demonstrates how bothering someone online for “kicks” is simply not necessary, and it is only being done for the aggressor ego. This act counts as bullying and affects the wellbeing of others. Luckily, Jones was able to get support from her friends and the platform on which the harassment was happening in. In other readings, like mentioned in The Origins and Evolution of Subcultural Trolling, sensitive topics are also not off limits (Phillips, 2015). For example, Instagram has trolls who will go as far as making fun of your family members or spamming your comments just to get under your skin, I have seen it happen to others for simply commenting their opinions. A large issue with this is how victims are the ones having to deal with the aftermath of these attacks, while the troll hides behind a persona (Phillips, 2015). 

How has politics made their way online? What purpose does it serve? 

One platform which I feel ticks many boxes is Instagram when it comes to constant changes over the years and participating in trends. In this case I have experienced its early stages when it was merely pictures, a place to be free. It is now sharing political candidates for the year into your ads even if you have not personally pushed the algorithm in that direction. I think it serves a good purpose and gets you thinking about what is going on in the world and spreads some ideas you might not have been exposed to before (Park 2025). On the other hand, knowing that these platforms push biases, we can become used to only seeing one side of a story with pure negative news, or only the pretty side of an individual when in reality this news could be outdated or even inaccurate. It is worth double checking any political movements online with caution and questioning why they are there in the first place. 

Bergstrom, K. (2011) Don’t Feed the Troll: Shutting Down Debate about Community Expectations on Reddit.com. First Monday. 

Park, E. (2025, September 16) 42% Of Social media Users Say the Sites are Important for them Getting Involved with Political, Social Issues. Pew Research Center. https://pewrsr.ch/41Rz37x 

Phillips, W. (2015). Defining Terms: The Origins and Evolution of Subcultural Trolling. In This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things: Mapping the Relationship Between Online trolling and Mainstream Culture. MIT Press. 

Silman, A. (2016, August 24). A Timeline of Leslie Jones Horrific Online Abuse. The Cut. New York Media. https://www.thecut.com/2016/08/a-timeline-of-leslie-joness-horrific-online-abuse.html 

[chipdipness]

Blog Post #6 Due 10/17

What is sexualization online? 

Sexualization of women is seen online in almost every platform although it can happen to anyone. People who are not the target of these representations can become desensitized to the harmful effects this causes. Many times, animated characters, and even actors are subjected to having to fit into the role of a sexualized woman to bring in audiences. This creates a false idea that women only exist in these ways and normalizes objectification. Oversized breasts and minimal clothing are often a feature most video game characters have. Some actors are even painted as only ever being seductive to have screen time. The issue is that women are a group which are affected by these ideas online, and rarely have little say in how we are represented (O'Riordan, 2006). 

Is there a point behind gender in technology? How is it used? 

In our everyday life we can see gender being implemented in automated voices, commercials, podcasts, and many other platforms. As professor Lee mentioned in our class GSS 320, one feature of the commercials that might be overlooked is who is doing the talking and what is the point of using a specific person to market an item. One variation of this example is the tone and pitch of the voices you hear. Things to consider is why some are more persuasive, or maybe soothing? For example, what do consumers find pleasant, and what are they willing to listen to? In some commercials, we can usually hear a man speaking about a branded vehicle, and women telling you about the latest deals at the market. These gendered scenarios along with the kind of voice you hear push subconscious ideas of how tasks are gendered. 

In what cracks do we find white supremacy in? 

As in earlier posts, white supremacy has made its way online making it easier for people with likeminded views to find each other. The idea of white supremacy is the belief that one is above everyone due to their culture, race group, and way of life influenced by the westernized world. A chapter that caught my attention by Daniels, “White Supremacy, and the Internet” mentions how women also enable white supremacist ideas in online spaces. This can sometimes be subtle, like creating profiles with clues about their political beliefs to let others know how to find them, without making it obvious to the point of being banned. Usernames like “Americangirlyonly” or “whiteontop567” are examples of users. Some local neighborhood groups will create a community online under the guise of connecting over shared experiences yet use these private groups to their advantage to discriminate others based on race, gender, religious beliefs etc. if they are not rooted in white supremacy (Daniels, 2009).  

 What kind of experiences have I had with gender roles? 

Growing up, I remember my parents used to want me to dress and act in a way that was considered properly “feminine” for a girl. There were behaviors that were expected of me simply because of my gender, that were not expected of others. I either needed to do more, or I was too much.  These kinds of things distorted my perception of myself, as Im sure they have for many others. Eventually I realized gender roles and expectations of women are made up by society and we truly can choose to be who we want, without having to fit the mold of someone else. It is a made-up construct that we can work to leave if it does not benefit us.  

Daniels, J. (2009). Chapter Five: Gender, White Supremacy, and the Internet. Cyber Racism: White Supremacy Online and the New Attack on Civil Rights (pp. 61-90).  

Haraway, D. (1985). A Cyborg Manifesto: Science, Technology, and Socialist-Feminism in the Late Twentieth Century. 

O'Riordan, K. (2006). Chapter 12, Gender, Technology, and Visual Cyberculture: Virtually Women. Critical cyberculture studies (pp. 243-252). 

[chipdipness]

Blog post #5 Due 10/10

In what ways do we see ourselves online? 

In Race After Technology, Benjamin mentions “as algorithms become more tailored, the public will be given the illusion of progress” to explain how the media plays on viewers emotions to make them feel represented unlike the world already filled with racism (Benjamin, 2019). This is a common tactic used to give off the impression that everyone is included, and colorism/racism/sexism does not exist. One example of this is now in 2025 with heavy discrimination being directed towards Latine undocumented people, yet commercials still take advantage of Latine culture going as far as using stereotypical “Latine” accents to promote their products in commercials, even for “cheese”. The goal of these actions is to give off the idea that cultural diversity is supported, when in fact it is only used when it looks good, literally. 

Where does white privilege appear in technology? 

One way white privilege makes an appearance is in Russian companies like Ntech, a facial recognition system known to be efficient. One can argue that it is meant to improve services by providing further information about a population, yet it is naive to not realize the negative impact it is bound to have on specific groups of people (Benjamin, 2019). For example, these systems invade privacy which many of us are not even aware of more than half the time. This is an uncomfortable position that is rarely talked about by the public and one that only affects us. These are felt more by people who are already targets of discrimination and being racially profiled, while the creators (likely not part of this group) will never feel the weight of this issue due to white privilege (Senft & Noble, 2014). Another example I commonly see is posts about Americans exploring new countries. One person will feel entitled to speak down on another country's customs because they have been taught their way of living is the ideal standard, even if the other person has no choice in how they can live, and this is white privilege. 

Why are online personas such a big deal? 

With Black, Latin, and many minorities being underrepresented online, people have taken the initiative to be the ones to advocate for themselves. With social media having a large influence and ability to spread ideas quickly, I think expressing ourselves and having the decision to do so brings power back to us. Avatars and customized pages can give our viewers a glimpse of who we are, and what catches our interests. In this way you can create an online persona that is still true to who you are, while you choose to be anonymous, or open. 

What is the inspiration behind my profile? 

My profiles avatar is the little roach from Sponge Bob Square pants eating a Krabby Patty at the Krusty Krab. The image brings me nostalgia from when I first discovered memes as a child, and so I felt it was perfect for Tumblr. The little cockroach in the picture just seems to have it all figured out, while also not having a single brain cell, and well I feel the same sometimes. In my head he’s just a chill guy. 

Benjamin, R. (2019) Race After Technology. Polity.

 Senft, T., & Noble, S. U. (2014). Race and Social Media in, The Social Media handbook. Routledge. 

[chipdipness]

Blog Post #4 Due 10/3

Is the online world a real place? 

In Race in Cyber Space by Kolko et al. (2000) the idea that race and gender is a social construct is introduced. In this case, it is something that is created by society and implemented in the online world as well as real life. We can see these systems being carried over to digital spaces like video games and avatars. For example, the same racial systems which paint Black, Asian, Latinx and many people of color in a stereotypical negative light, are being reinforced in gamer worlds where one can role play what a certain ethnicity would act like according to the creator's narrative they want to push. The same issues we see in person are appearing online as well. In a more positive light, gender can be explored, and the discovery of new culture through online personas can be accessible (Kolko et al., 2000). In episodes like Nosedive by Netflix, we are shown examples of how the online world can become strong enough to dictate our real life. This happens when we immerse ourselves in what we want to present to the public versus who we really are in person (Jones et al., 2016). 

How do gamers contribute to digital labor?  

In the video game Shadow Warrior and 3D Realms, two examples of problematic role playing are mentioned in The Revenge of the Yellowfaced Terminator by Jeffrey A. Ow (2000).In one of the games, the player is an Asian character which commits sexist, offensive, and murderous actions while the other is a cyborg terminator with its violence barely differing. The creators of 3D Realms share their opinion of the game's creation, with their intention being to bait and draw in more players even if it means being offensive. This is all while mocking Asian culture and incorporating violence in their model (Ow et al., 2000). Here we are able to apply this perspective to many other forms of media which are fed to us, and question how we as consumers are contributing and/or are victims of digital labor. Not all games are made the same, yet it does bring up the question of how these spaces can be exploited and brushed off as “not that serious” when imitating real world violence through role playing. 

What are some marketing strategies that we do not see? 

In the real world, one example of where we as people are providing digital labor is in the beauty industry. It is not obvious, as the marketing sells beauty and confidence. We share posts, leave reviews on items, and even recommend them to our friends. By wanting discounts, free items, and participating in raffles we contribute to the cycle. Some brands will use real people's stories, Images, and even culture to appeal to certain groups. Most of the effort put into winning over customers is performative for their company's gain. This happens often with ads on social platforms and online stores trying to sell an ideal image in hope of us sharing and buying. 

In which ways does hate show up online? 

With the idea that an online world is not “real”, many people seem to openly share their racist ideologies as “freedom of speech.” Hate online like white supremacy can show up as disinformation as well, with ads spreading fake propaganda about specific groups of people. One thought to note is that behind the screen one uses, the intention is real. People have taken advantage of how easy and fast the internet is to hide behind anonymous personas and do harm to others (Daniels 2009). 

Daniels, J. (2009) White Supremacy in the Digital Era: An Introduction by J. Daniels. 

Jones, R., Schur, M., Brooker, C. (Writers) Wright, J. (Director). (21 October 2016) Nosedive. (Season 3, Episode 1) [Tv series episode] Black Mirror. Netflix. 

 Nakamura, L., & Rodman, G. B. (2000). Race in Cyber space: An Introduction by Kolko, Nakamura and Rodman. Routledge. 

Ow, J.A. (2000). The Revenge of the yellowfaces Cyborg Terminator. Routledge.  

[chipdipness]

Last week, the Women’s Resource center held a Student Faculty Mixer in the Pollak library. This event provided the opportunity to meet professors and other students, while showing students how to look for campus resources and learn more about our professors. Activities like trivia were a part of the event, and presented fun facts about the school's history all while letting us connect and work as a team. There were many amazing stories shared regarding how we can overcome obstacles and grow through negative experiences like the world's criticism. Another great conversation was had about how we can reach out whenever we need guidance, and take action on our curiosity. Overall, this event was full of inspirational stories from professors like our own Dr. Lee!! Knowing how many great professors are on campus definitely set the positive energy for the rest of semester and has me excited for the future! 

[chipdipness]

Blog Post #3 due 9/19

How Powerful are names, how do they shape us? 

  In Race After Technology, author Ruha Benjamin mentions not wanting to name her child an Arabic name, due to it being negatively associated to a current world event. In acknowledging this, we can see that names are sometimes tied to negative stereotypes. Knowing that names are “racially coded” can make us self-aware of how we are viewed, and how we view others. Things like names are one of the many factors used to determine who we are. Benjamin makes a point to describe how they hold weight in what opportunities will be available to us, which is discrimination. It is significant because the kind of opinions that are formed about your character are examined through a racial, and biased lense yet can be inaccurate (Benjamin, 2019). 

In what ways does The New Jim Code reveal the racism going on in the tech world? 

The New Jim Code is a spin on Jim Crow Laws, which legalized segregation and racism amongst African Americans. The twist with this new wording is that it is not all that different from history. Models of technology systems are said to be unbiased and beneficial when giving your employers and banks your information in order to give everyone a fair chance at scoring a job, or even a loan. Even with this idea being held to a high regard, the truth is that for this data collection to occur, other people must create this coding, and people indeed have biases. These systems influence how much more often your resume will show up for job opportunities, or how your name will be tied to negative search results depending on your ethnic background. Another way in which technology has shown bias is by a new media trend called "memes". This is sometimes a casual way in which users can spread political ideas, or share random opinions in a short description, along with a humorous image. They are not always used with good intentions, and some have been used to share insensitive stereotypes towards minorities. This pushes further discrimination online, and in person. Another issue with this trend is that regardless of media platforms having rules in place to protect communities, many posts are racially coded with lack of interference by the apps moderators. By allowing this kind of content to spread, along with the authors experience with search results, one can assume there is racism, and lack of cultural sensitivity/empathy towards people of color by those responsible for these algorithms (Benjamin, 2019). 

How are humans affecting programming meant to be Neutral? 

The same people who are responsible for coding websites, creating data sharing/collecting tools for search engines like Google, are the same people who we may walk past every day. James Damore an author of a hate filled manifesto, which many workers at Google shared similar sexist ideas with, believed women were less qualified at being engineers. These were some of the same people in charge of the technology we use every day, which brings up the question, how trustworthy can we be of these “neutral and unbiased” algorithms, if their creators do not personally believe in them, or equality? There is no way to ensure their personal opinions will not be apparent in the technology models we see. (Noble, 2018). 

How do search results contribute to the marginalized groups who are already facing oppression? 

In the reading, Algorithms of Oppression, a simple google search became a shocking moment for the author Safiya Noble. Inappropriate search suggestions like pornography, and completely unrelated results showed up when looking for children related ideas. In observing these results which were aimed at black women, Noble brought to light how far Google was willing to go in order to market, and profit even if it meant spreading a negative portrayal of women which was rooted in racism and sexism. This also brings to light how easy it is for these images/search results to spread without a filter (Noble, 2018).  

Benjamin, R. (2019) Race After Technology. Polity. 

Noble, S. (2018) Algorithms of Oppression. NYU Press. 

[chipdipness]

Blog Post #2 9/12/25

In what ways has technology shaped the healthcare system? 

In the healthcare system, algorithms are being used to analyze data, such as which groups should be prioritized in the future by racial bias. This involves seeing who is spending more on their health, which puts already marginalized groups at risk of receiving less healthcare resources (Brown, 2020). 

2. Who is being impacted by algorithms? 

Without many people being aware, scores are being assigned to determine how much of a risk we are socially. Specifically with policing, people of color are more at risk of being targeted, and even universities are providing students information for this information to be created. (Brown, 2020). 

3. What are the consequences from faults in facial recognition systems? 

Facial recognition has not been perfected to the point of being 100% accurate. It has been used in criminal cases to track down individuals yet made mistakes identifying the correct person. These imperfections have affected many people's livelihood, having them go through difficult processes to confirm their innocence. People like Najeer Park, Robert Williams, and Michael Oliver are a few of the men who have been victims of this problem (Hill, 2020). 

4. How trustworthy are algorithms in the justice system? 

Within the same case for Nijeer Parks, a man wrongfully arrested, the use of algorithms was used to determine whether he was able to be released from incarceration. This involves collecting data on an individual's past convictions and using it to replace a human's judgment on whether they are or not a danger, when released. Nijeer’s case was luckily dismissed yet in another instance this system would have put him in danger of a longer sentence if the same technical difficulties would have arisen, as with facial recognition. (Hill, 2020). 

Brown, Nicole. (2020 September 18). Race and Technology [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/d8uiAjigKy8?si=Wx9Hl_Z9lfPghhkl 

Hill, Kashmir. (2020). Flawed Facial Recognition Leads to Arrest and Jail For New Jersey Man. The New York Times. 

[chipdipness]

Technology became Tech-Gives-No-Apology: Blog post #1 Due 8/29  

At one point in time, I used to be online much more than I am now. I had gained momentum on my social media page, and as it grew rapidly, I was discovering new profiles and interests. I was lucky to find such an understanding and down-to-earth community. It was to the point where social media was becoming an important part of my life. The connections I was making were genuine and I met some of my best friends there. All my favorite poets, local activists, photographers, musicians, and lifelong friends were easy to reach at a moment's touch. I even got into photography, which was the focus of my account, which I used as my main gallery instead of my regular phone album. I felt immensely proud of what I would capture, and many others enjoyed my work as well. The photos told stories of the city, hidden hangout spots, and humanity. Unfortunately, I had a habit of logging in and out and using random devices. I eventually lost my account due to suspicious activity. I was deeply disappointed because I had grown fond of my mutuals. I also thought the platform was automatically saving my photos with its unique feature, to an offline gallery which turns out was never happening due to issues with the app always glitching. I lost all my memories and hard work with no copies, and I was never able to reach out again to some of my childhood friends or regain my memories of my trips, or favorite food spots. I was able to make a new account of course, yet I lost out on some things.  At this time, the social media platform I was using was supposed to be advanced yet had me going through hoops to gain my account back. It was never able to let me log back in regardless of verifying my identity and it even deleted my account due to inactivity. In the end it was a shocker that technology let me down in this way.

[chipdipness]

I'm looking forward to this semester !