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Cyberfeminisms Final
Resources:
https://www.ted.com/talks/billie_jean_king_this_tennis_icon_paved_the_way_for_women_in_sports#t-145022
"American Reflexxx" (short film by Signe Pierce and Alli Coates, 2013)
Kember, Sarah. 2012. "Notes Towards a Feminist Futurist Manifesto." Ada: A Journal of Gender, New Media, and Technology 1.
Week 14
I think we should understand cyberfeminism as just another strong platform for women to speak out against rights and issues they believe in. The internet is the most powerful thing right now and it can be such a good tool to express things. The internet is powerful and wether the issue be good or bad theres always the chance to spread knowledge on such issues. Wether its the hashtag, transgender blogs, female empowerment, online dating, and/ or different movements such as black girl magic, free the nipple, or the sad girl theory these things all mean something to women and are known because of the internet. The issues at hand are pivotal to what we are going through now. We should think of cyberfeminism as a online space to be heard, to make a difference, to document now, and so much more. Cyberfeminism is important to the future because we will have documented key things that have happened in our time. As Kember said, “The first consists of taking stock, of re-reading and of bringing forward, particularly those silenced, forgotten or marginalized areas of feminist debate so that we may avoid the tendency to repeat ourselves or indeed to make ‘turns’ that are predominantly or in part returns to concepts, categories and methodologies we have known.” I think this is a very important aspect because it only leaves improvement for the future to move forward and not backwards. She also mentioned something else that resonated with me, “Bearing in mind that anthropologists as well as novelists, feminists as well as scientists are storytellers and that writing long exceeded the word to include cells, sounds and media-making – I don’t think we have reached the full potential or implications of this approach.” Feminists are storytellers and even though some stories may need filtering it still makes a difference and we make a print on the world.
Kember, Sarah. 2012. “Notes Towards a Feminist Futurist Manifesto.” Ada: A Journal of Gender, New Media, and Technology 1.
I agree with and like your take on cyberfeminism. The internet and all that it entails is sometimes given a bad rep due to its effect on many social aspects and the way it has transformed the way we go about advocating particular causes. This isn’t always a bad thing, and it doesn’t have to be the only platform for which we advocate for feminist causes. I think, in terms of the internet and social media use in our day, cyberfeminism has only become more relevant and prevalent. The point of using the power of the internet in regard to cyberfeminism, as you put it, is to advance the cause and supplement it, not replace it. Regardless of the fact that “cyber-” is its prefix, it doesn’t mean that the power of its cause has its limits there. Anything, no matter how good or beneficial it may be, has to be used in moderation, or it loses its value and takes on a detrimental turn. It is important to remember that the internet is the tool, not the cause. We must use it effectively. They often say that technology is killing this generation and other things of the like, and well, to some degree it may be. However, if utilized properly, the cyberspace can be a great tool, otherwise cyberfeminism wouldn't be a coined term in the world of feminism. Feminism, as Kember put it, is not linear, rather, it is multifaceted and complex and can be traced back to or related to an immense variety of different concepts (2012). With this said, in order to keep the subject relevant and effective, we must tackle the issues feminism attempts to correct in a similar fashion. To do this, we must keep an open mind, and a cognizant one, to know how to approach the issues cyberfeminism advocates for efficaciously.
Sources:
Kember, Sarah. 2012. “Notes Towards a Feminist Futurist Manifesto.” Ada: A Journal of Gender, New Media, and Technology 1.
Week 13
In terms of the effect technology and social media have had on the "digital economy", it really is multi-faceted. If one enters expecting some sort of return, one has to know how to maneuver themselves within the cyberspace to actually yield the effect or result they're hoping for. As Kayla Newman (2015) said, "At the moment I haven’t gotten any endorsements or received any payment. I feel that I should be compensated. But I also feel that good things happen to those who wait." The thing is, with things as fleeting as internet trends and catchphrases, sitting back and expecting revenue or comepensation might just not happen, and once the catchphrase loses popularity, so will the person behind it. It's really astounding to me how easily one can become a celebrity just by posting something on the internet. As long as it's the perfect combination of funny, unique, and/or catchy, you're set to take off from there. Endorsements and ads can really make the difference for the individual, but just like music artists, they have to have new ideas coming to remain relevant outside the advertising realm. Something that really struck me as interesting, and, quite frankly, somewhat unfair, is the fact that just like the DIY pornography performers, these people aren't getting compensated for what they're putting out there, if you will. Newman, like she said herself, gave the world a word, she saw the world of media and music acquire and incorporate the catchy term, but all to their profit and none to her benefit. These sites, both XTube and Vine, all alike benefit monetarily from the unpaid performances and videos from their subscribers. However, despite this, the subscribers don't receive any financial incentive. YouTube, on the other hand, has taken it upon themselves to grow and take vlogging up a notch. YouTubers can, just like reality television stars, create revenue off of just filming video excerpts of their daily lives. Makeup artists can film the process and step-by-step routine of creating a certain look, pranksters can document their devious plots, and the list goes on. It seems so easy to obtain a platform in the social media world, but it takes real ingenuity, creativity, and drive to maintain this platform. It takes effort to remain relevant, and just like celebrities, you have to be careful with what you do. You're essentially giving your life an audience, and one has to be delusional if they think they're not under scrutiny. You are exposing yourself to all the faces of the cyber world, and you have to have a strong mindset to be able to stomach all of it, the good and the bad. Becoming a part of digital economy, if you will, despite it being relatively different to your regular job, but just like any worker, sometimes the job gets tough and sometimes you don't want to go through another session of hours of recording, editing, and idea brainstorming. Regardless, this relatively new realm of economic development provides a whole new set of different jobs for individuals with the previously unused set of skills necessary for the profession. St. Felix, Doreen. 2015. "Black Teens Are Breaking The Internet And Seeing None Of The Profits." (Fader)
Post 12
I think “cam girl-ing” is labor just like any other job. Just because its not the traditional 9-5 doesn’t make it less labor. It is still a job that you are being paid for and probably don’t want to do sometimes, just like any other job. The women doing it are “laborers” because they are doing something and being paid. I liked this film a lot it, it represents every day women and their struggles and the film makes it so the situations are relatable or have some aspects that you can understand. I think this is important because people are usually so quick to judge so this film does a great job preventing that. Also most people think it is wrong to “cam” but this film paints it in a different light, that its not something dirty but something they chose to do and that theres nothing wrong with that. As Sean Dunn says, “Oh no, they shouldn’t be doing this—somebody’s got to save these girls. What’s gone wrong?” The further I dug around, the further from the truth that sentiment could’ve been, because they don’t need help—they are empowered through this work and are gaining independence.” I like the way he said that. Women are providing for themselves and choosing how they want to do that and there is nothing wrong in whatever they choose.
I like your take on the cam-girl labor force, and I definitely agree with the notion that performing in this occupation doesn’t necessarily mean that something is wrong with them. Like with many things, introducing something new or attempting to change the status of something “taboo”, if you will, to normalization is often met with fear or scrutiny. People in this industry, and things of the like, are often faced with judgement for “reducing themselves to sex”. Well, the same can be said about a basketball player or a painter. They can also be reduced to their profession. Of course, regardless of whatever light we try to shine on people who partake in this industry, they will be viewed negatively, by many. However, the fact of the matter is that regardless of what society may say, it is up to the cam-girls or they DIY pornographic video makers if they want to be swayed or shut down by society. Rappers are often judged negatively for their use of curse words, but they continue to use them because it is their way of expressing their anger and oppression. "McGlotten portrays online amateur pornographers as liberated, joyful artists who reject the loathsome interests of capitalism and take charge of the politics of self-representation by creating pornography for pleasure rather than profit" (Ruberg, p.151). Online pornography doesn't necessarily entail a paid profession, it can simply be a form of artistic expression. This realm of free DIY pornography has also had its effect on digital economy in regards to the porn industry, however. As a matter of fact, according to Ruber (2016), the value of pornography has seen a decrease to about 66% since the 1990s (p.150). Also, regardless of whether you are a paid professional or leisure performer, it is so easy to steal online. The implications of the changes the cyber world imposes on the tangible world are definitely interesting.
Sources:
Ruberg, Bonnie. 2016. "Doing it for Free: Digital Labour and the Fantasy of Amateur Online Pornography." Porn Studies 3(2): 147-159.
Week 11: Being Seen, Being Heard
I think, like many of us nowadays, are constantly drawn to the photographic or video transitions of so many trans individuals. It really is an interesting process, hence the reason many of us are intrigued. This, however, is the thing I believe many people in the trans community want to get rid of, the novelty of transitioning. This also may be the reason so many of them document their experience; not only to raise awareness about the process, but also to expose in order to achieve normality in a societal sense. Horak stated, "Some complain that transition videos are cliche´d and give the impression that all trans people are alike; for example, one vlogger grouses, 'Everybody sits on there and talks about the exact same shit. . . . ‘Oh, now that I’m on T, I can make a video like everybody else!’ So is that what you’re transitioning to be, like everybody else?' (7BLUNTS7 2011)' (2014). Of course, there are plenty of other ways people can go about raising trans awareness, but do any other forms hold the social media popularity that transition vlogs do? Thus, if this is the way they can reach out to the most people, why not?
Achieving a strong social media presence is certainly not the only reason trans individuals decide to document their experiences. Such reasons may be simply to have a timeline. Transitioning is no overnight process, and definitely not an easy one either, I assume. However, for whatever reason it may be that trans individuals decide to document and share their process, it raises awareness nonetheless. As Deshane said, "These small videos add color, motion, sound, and feeling to stories that once used to be static on a page or rendered in an over-dramatic TV movie (2014)".
I've seen, especially in the comments sections, plenty of people who show their support and empathy (although, as we learned a couple of weeks ago, there's your good share of bad ones). For these individuals, having the ability to add feeling and personal touch to their videos, as opposed to the "over-dramatic TV movie" renditions, has also built upon and diversified the members of the trans community, trans or not. These vlogs are good way to show they are people with feelings too, and being who they are and how they are wasn't necessarily of their choosing. Elaborating on this aspect helps others to have a basis from which to empathize, and perhaps, relate, in one form or another.
I tried to find a vlogger that was somewhat more "unconventional", if you will, and came across Lawrence T. Richardson. Lawrence T. Richardson is a trans priest, and to me, that was definitely an identity that surpassed many barriers. Religion, Christianity in this case, is always a difficult subject to tie with the LGBTQ community, and I found it very courageous of Richardson to take that step and merge the two: they don't have to be oil and water. I really liked how Richardson spoke of patience, and how it can be applicable to anything, especially transitioning. Before this video, Richardson documented the process of transitioning, and this definitely serves as not only basis for his argument, but also to show all the other aspects and implications involved in the process, other than patience.
Eve Deshane (2014). "This Is My Voice: YouTube and the Transgender Autobiography." The Atlantic.
Laura Horak (2014). "Trans on YouTube: Intimacy, Visibility, Temporality." Transgender Studies Quarterly.
Feelings? On Tinder?
This week I’m thinking a bit critically of one of our readings: Marie Hicks’ “Computer Love: Replicating Social Order Through Early Computer Dating Systems.” It’s not that I disagree with what Hicks has to say – I do think a majority of dating (or “matchmaking”) apps and websites are created by men to fulfill male desire, which can often skew the results of those services. And I do think because of how and by whom they are made, matchmaking apps and sites do cater most to cisgender, heterosexual, and maybe even middle- to upper-class users. However, I don’t think all online dating services work this way. This can be both positive and negative, depending on how you feel.
I do understand Hicks’ point with websites that require that you enter your interests and ideal relationship traits, then match you with someone who has entered similar items. However, with apps like Tinder (and subsequently, Bumble, HER, etc), things work a little differently. Tinder’s algorithms only take into consideration location, age, and gender. Deciding whether you’re a good match for someone based on looks or interests (or whatever else is revealed in their profile) is up to you – you just have to hope the other person agrees.
This can be both good or bad for self esteem. Matching with someone can be a huge ego boost – but what if they never respond to your first message, or worse, what if they stop responding after a few texts back and forth? Then you know they aren’t a fan of your personality. This may be why Tinder users report lower self esteem after using the app. You’re essentially swiping self-worth.
Of course, this can be positive as well. Sometimes you have great conversations with other users and make valuable connections, whether romantic/sexual or purely platonic. Sometimes a quick compliment shot your way is a huge ego boost, even if the conversation never goes further than that. In my opinion, it’s even a great self esteem boost to create a profile, because it requires you to choose your cutest photos/selfies and write something positive about yourself. You’re essentially showing yourself off.
In the end, I believe feelings can be both enhanced and hurt by online dating or “matchmaking” services. It all depends on what you’re looking for, which service you use, and the attitude you take into it. And sometimes luck. Some days Tinder is better than others.
I agree with your point in regards to the fact that not all online dating or matchmaking platforms are catered to a certain group of people, however, I do think similar groups of people gravitate towards these kinds of apps and/or websites. I found what your article mentioned very interesting, and although we might be somewhat aware of what we’re “worth”, per se, online dating platforms such as Tinder might make us more aware and as a result, more critical of ourselves. Hicks mentioned that people liked the concept behind online matchmaking due to the fact that it got rid of the messy emotional process of finding a match, but, as we see, according to the article by Strubel and Petrie, there’s still a negative emotional outcome as a result of using apps like Tinder; the difference is, it becomes a more personal one.
I always find it interesting when studies and body image campaigns target and focus their attention on women, as did the study behind the article “Tinder: Swiping Self Esteem?”. Self-esteem issues and things of the like are not sexually dimorphic, men and women alike experience these feelings. Yes, a larger percentage of women report issues like these, but how many men are experiencing these same problems and not reporting them?
Continuing on my previous point, I wonder if a part of the reason people experience a dip in their self-esteem after using Tinder is a result of the matches they’re getting. Were they expecting better-looking matches? I’ve never used online dating apps or platforms, but I do think that these platforms should make an effort to ensure a more positive experience in regards to the whole self-esteem issue. It’s important that we know there’s more to a person than their profile, and there’s more to you than what others perceive.
Sources:
Hicks, Marie. 2016. Computer Love: Replicating Social Order Through Early Computer Dating Systems." Ada: A Journal of Gender, New Media, and Technology 10.
Strubel, J. L. & Petrie, T. A. 2016. Tinder: Swiping Self Esteem? American Psychological Association.
Feeling(s) Online: Affect and the Internet
As beneficial and progressive the internet can be, just like with anything else, it has its downfalls and its trade-offs. Of all things I do feel like the anonymity people can hold on to online gives them the opportunity to insult others and say negative comments they wouldn't do regularly, in real life. It is an unfortunate reality, and the shield of anonymity isn't one-sided. The people who are commenting don't see the reactions or emotions they are eliciting and inflicting upon their target, making all that much easier to take the insults too far and making the damage they inflict all that more irreversible. There's individuals who have taken their own lives as a result of cyberbullying. It's so easy to make a comment; so effortless.
As a result of the progressive ideals being carried forth by our generation, those who reserve their conservative mindsets become particularly critical, and afraid. So how do they respond? "People fear and hate what they don't understand" (Avedisian, 2015). I can relate this sort of response from the public to the controversy regarding allowing trans students to use the restroom they identify their gender with. Much of what I had heard, in regards to those who opposed the regulation, was that they feared men dressed as women, and vice versa, would take advantage of this and use it as a means to molest or abduct little boys and girls. First of all, not only does this inflict fear on the general public, it also distorts the image of the trans individual.
What I've seen too, unfortunately, is that people who leave mean comments are also attacked, and they're attacked on the same grounds. Say if someone comments on someone's appearance online, chances are, they're going to be attacked on their own appearance as well. I really liked what Signe Pierce and Alli Coates said regarding the way we should use our freedom of speech, and that is to use it to be kind (2015). You don't have to agree with what someone says or does, and you don't have to like how someone looks, but you can like many other aspects of a person. There was a period of time when I had relatively bad acne, so I'd spend countless hours of time on YouTube trying to find anecdotal solutions from YouTubers. What I found on the comments section was on both ends of the spectrum, good and bad. What really warmed my heart, however, was how kind and thoughtful some of the comments were. In one of the videos, a young woman shared her journey on Accutane, and so many were quick to point out that they loved how she smiled in all the photos and many said she was brave and beautiful. For someone going through a journey where their self-esteem is at its frailest, the power of comments like these should never be underestimated. Instead of using the comments section as a platform to insult, we should use it as a platform to spread love and acceptance. It's very elementary, but it's so important to keep in mind to treat others how you'd like to be treated.
Ahmed, Sara. 2004. "Affective Economies." Social Text 22(2): 117-139.
"American Reflexxx" (short film by Signe Pierce and Alli Coates, 2013).
Interview with performance artist Signe Pierce and videographer Alli Coates about their short film (linked above)
When it comes to taking a stand or causing a wrinkle in the sheets of what is deemed as common place or as normality, we each, as a result of our life's experiences, feel more compelled to advocate for or work for certain causes that we resonate with. As a female biology major, I honestly don't find the distribution of male to female student ratio in my science classes to be all that skewed, but then again, the life sciences tend to be the more popular of the STEM fields among women in the STEM field (Beede et al., 2011). I'd like to see more women in the STEM field, but just as much, I'd like to see men occupy more job positions and tackle careers that are predominantly female. Inclusion of both of these genders in their respective unpopular, if you will, career fields is not just a need for equal representation, but is also a goal that can yield major benefits as well as a step forward for everyone. If we want to see change, however, we have to be the ones to initiate it. Studies have shown that the brain of the male and the female are wired differently, thus, inherently inclined to excel in spatial and language arts based problems, respectively. However, studies have also shown that when individuals from both genders are told they can do well in the subject areas they are less inclined to, they perform a lot better when presented with problems of said subject. With this said, we not only have to target the women who are already STEM majors, we also have to tackle the problem from the foundation, and that is the young women and girls who have yet to decide who or what they want to be in the future. I really like the "femme" take on feminism, and I think the same can be applied to the women who feel intimidated by the predominantly masculine environment of STEM careers. "My solution for resisting this pattern is to throw my own body into public space for the purpose of glitching. To force others to double take. To be confused. Compelling others to consider alternate trajectories for their own bodies that are not predetermined by the state or by big pharma" (Abi-Karem, A., 2016). In order to make what is originally rare or uncommon, common, we have to be ready to step out and take it upon ourselves to be the change.
According to Glass & Minnotte (2010), women are more likely to apply for STEM jobs if the faculty hold a relatively higher percentage of women. This, to me, sounds like women are seeking a safe space to avoid, at least to a greater degree, discrimination or feeling of alienation. However, to be able to achieve such an environment, women have to acquire STEM jobs in the first place. Although safe spaces, like online safe spaces, provide individuals the opportunity to feel like they belong somehow without having to face the harsh environments outside of their worlds, these should be the building blocks for the courage one will need to step out. Like Watson (2016) said, "...feminism doesn’t need to advocate for how awesome and fun being a girl is...", it can take on many different forms, and that can be taking on careers or liking things that the "boys like". If a woman likes science, a women should pursue her dream and use the simple act of doing whatever she wants as a "...material, a weight, a wedge, to jam that machinery and change those patterns" (Watson, 2016).
Again, the issue isn't just about recruiting more women in STEM job fields, it is making what is taboo or uncommon or unaccepted, accepted. However, it's going to take a lot more than just writing about it and complaining about it, you have to encourage others to be unforgivably, undeniably themselves and do what their heart desires. You have to be the change. Once we begin to acknowledge the power we hold not as a gender, but as a human being, then is when we will be able to see and react to the world in an a way that is untainted by our own prejudices or our own preconceived inabilities.
SOURCES:
Andrea Abi-Karem, "Glitch the Cis-tem." (GUTS Magazine, 2016).
Beede, D. N., Julian, T. A., Langdon, D., McKittrick, G., Khan, B., & Doms, M. E. (2011). Women in STEM: A gender gap to innovation.
Glass, C., & Minnotte, K. L. (2010). Recruiting and hiring women in STEM fields. Journal of diversity in Higher Education, 3(4), 218.
Lucy Watson (2015) "How girls are finding empowerment through being sad online." Dazed.
Resisting Inequalities Online
I found this particular unit quite interesting mostly because I resonated with the agenda cyber safe spaces are trying to push. I am honestly not one to vent my frustrations online, however, I really like the message behind each of these online spaces of “resistance”. In my view, the gist of what these online spaces provide for women is the ability to express themselves or portray themselves however they please. The range, in terms of what each safe space provides, is very large, and each is centered on opposing and/or embracing social prejudices and stereotypes. Participants and/or members of these spaces either own the offensive nomenclature given to them, or give sharp contrast to what would be expected or accepted as the norm. Take for instance, suicidegirls.com displays erotic images taken by the models themselves (usually tattoed, pierced, punk women), but also features a blog where each of the models speak up about their experiences and daily struggles. Considering this is a website that displays sexual images of women, it is quite unusual to find that hardly any of the blog posts are sexual, but rather intellectual expressions of themselves and their lives (Magnet, 581). Other social media sites that provide a safe space is that of Audrey Wollen and her “Sad Girl Theory”. This movement assures “femme” that they aren’t limited to the contemporary depiction of a feminist, it is their right to complain and cry about the unfortunate nature of being seen as the “lesser sex” (Watson, 2015). I find it great that so many are able to find a safe place to express themselves and be who they want to be, however, I do feel that although the cyberspace is an incredibly effective tool for pushing for equality or acceptance or whatever agenda, it is necessary to step out of the safe space and be an advocate. I do acknowledge a lot of social media sites are open and vocal advocates, but sometimes some remain within the confines of these safe spaces where people form support groups, but never actually reach out and speak up. Sometimes being an advocate for your cause may be as simple as doing whatever you want despite societal pressures and stereotypes. Whether it be “Black Girl Magic” or a completely different spell of your own, I think the best stance you can take in the face of opposition is being who you want to be (Hobson, 2016).
Janelle Hobson (2016). "Black Beauty and Digital Spaces: The New Visibility Politics." Ada: A Journal of Gender, New Media, and Technology.
Shoshana Magnet (2007). "Feminist Sexualities, Race and the Internet: An Investigation of Suicidegirls.com." New Media and Society.
Lucy Watson (2015) "How girls are finding empowerment through being sad online." Dazed.
Below is the logo and the Facebook page of the “Harmless Hugs” safe space initiative.
https://www.facebook.com/harmlesshugs/
Algorithms: Creating Your Perfectly Catered Internet Experience
The three articles we read this week (on emojis, gaming and VR porn) are all examples of places where technology gives us the opportunity to make changes in the way we see and interact with each other, but unfortunately people choose to reproduce the same inequalities that are in the “real world” into the virtual world. I don’t want to think most humans are naturally bigoted and mean, but in a place like the Internet where you can be anyone who you want to be, people still choose to bring their politics and personal disagreements into virtual worlds. I believe that a big reason why people do this is because of uncertainty and fear of the unknown. The Internet and its ability to be whatever you make of it is probably very frightening to close-minded people, so they do everything they can to bring their moral (or other) issues into the web from their personal lives. Cyberfeminisms are all over the Internet today (especially on sites like Tumblr), but the way the Internet works makes it so people who aren’t already interested in Feminism won’t stumble across a Motherboard article, for example. Tools like cookies and targeted ads figure out what your likes/dislikes are, and cater your Internet experience to be perfectly targeted towards YOU. If you are a conservative, white cisgender man who likes football, chances are all of the news stories on Facebook and ads you will see online are going to be for football and razors. Unless you are specifically looking for something outside of your bubble of interests, chances are you won’t just stumble across it. This is why so many people in the world right now are completely in denial about what the Trump administration is doing- they are only being fed the news and information they want to see, thanks to algorithms on Facebook and other social sites.
Algorithms work to make sure the content you see is content you will enjoy to look at and interact with. At first glance, this may seem like an incredible opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals.. but at what expense? I believe my mom is the perfect example of someone who is being kept in their own anti-feminist bubble due to Facebook algorithms: she is a white, upper class Trump supporter living in the nation’s capital. I know for a fact my mom doesn’t see the majority of things I post because her algorithms prevent her from doing so. I actually took a look at her timeline on her phone over Thanksgiving break and saw that almost her entire feed was covered in conservative, Trump supporting posts. To her, it seems like she is clearly right in her beliefs because all of the news outlets and her friends appear to agree with her.
In a time like today, these algorithms absolutely terrify me. People are trapping themselves further and further into their own bubbles of self-affirmation and are not being exposed to opinions and facts they won’t agree with. It’s not just Facebook, either. Almost all websites, Internet browsers and ad services collect information about users to cater their results to their mindset. Although it is liberating to connect with other like-minded individuals, this has the opportunity to perpetuate oppression more than anything else on the Internet because people don’t even realize it’s happening!
Here is some further reading on Facebook algorithms:
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/28/magazine/inside-facebooks-totally-insane-unintentionally-gigantic-hyperpartisan-political-media-machine.html
http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2016/09/how-facebooks-algorithm-could-influence-us-election-result
*********
How to break your bubble!
http://www.motherjones.com/media/2016/10/social-media-news-facebook-algorithm-we-voters
Hi deannaasu!
If we’re speaking in terms of marketing and advertising, cookies and algorithms set to adjust your feed and internet pop-ups to your liking are a very effective marketing tool. However, I completely agree with you in terms of how that might constrict our views of the world. I find also, however, that even though our social media feed may be adjusted for us, many, voluntarily, tend to lean towards media and news outlets that support our views. My boss was an avid supporter of his chosen presidential candidate and always watched the same news outlet, which happened to support the same party as his candidate. While that’s perfectly fine, I think, in order to become more open-minded, empathetic people, we have to look at the needs and the views of others and try to understand them, rather than just looking for reasons to oppose them. While we may still hold true to our own beliefs, it remains important to understand others so we don’t become close-minded or scrutinizing people. In my opinion, taking it upon ourselves to step out of our “zone” and open our minds is what’d make the difference between a discussion and a fight if two individuals of differing viewpoints were to communicate their opinions and beliefs.
Group 1 - What are Cyberfeminisms?
As many of the readings mentioned, the lines between cyberfeminism, the “flesh”, and the real world have become very blurred, if not obliterated. This, in fact, has become literally true. Cyberfeminism today, in my perspective at least, has centered its focus on raising awareness and encouraging body positivity and overall love for oneself. Women on social media have blasted companies for photoshopping women’s bodies on their ads and/or placing only women with a thin, fit body composition. This has caused unrest amongst many women due to the fact that this sets unrealistic expectations for women in terms of what their body is supposed to look like. As a result of these societal pressures many have lowered self-esteem, body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and the list goes on. One campaign I liked was the Dove Beauty Campaign, and their goal, to put it simply, is to turn beauty into something we all posses and exude, not some shallow goal we all strive for but can’t reach (http://www.dove.com/us/en/stories/about-dove/our-vision.html). Although the foundation of the cyberfeminist movement, I believe, remains relatively the same (to blur the lines between the things that separate us and strive for a world where we are equal), the methods and approaches to reach this goal have changed significantly over time. I do see still, in many approaches to cyberfeminism, that women still use the strong vocabulary and slurs that the VNS Matrix used in their cyber art collective (i.e.: cunts, sluts, etc.) as a form of empowerment and ownership. However, I also see that these words have taken a more exclusive place in feminism, so you have to be careful how you use them and not everyone can say them (without getting into some sort of trouble), kind of like the “N word” is for African-Americans. Movements, people, and ideals change as the inevitably fickle world that we live in changes, so it’s no surprise the internet is no longer a staple source for the cyber-pornographic expression of the cyberfeminist movement. But the movement remains, in one form or another! Below I attached a video regarding Dove’s Beauty Campaign.
Tumblr Post #1
Hello everyone! My name is Rudy Flores and I am a female, Mexican-American of 21 years of age. Many tend to associate my name with that of a male’s so I often get a surprised look when I meet people in person, along with a string of questions about my name. I am a Biological Science major with a focus in animal physiology, neurobiology and behavior. I am also currently working on acquiring my Secondary Education Certificate. I was raised in a family and culture where man is the head and what he says is done, as is common in most Mexican families, but I honestly don’t feel like I was severely affected by this mentality. My parents raised me in an environment where I felt like I was only limited by the extent of my own will, not necessarily by any stereotypical “predispositions”, if you will. They were always very supportive of me in whatever endeavor I took upon, whether it be any extracurricular activity, hobby, etc. Despite its good parts, however, I also had a very difficult upbringing, stricken by trauma and violence, but fortunately, we are given a life where you have the power to dictate how these experiences affect you and/or shape you.
To be completely honest, I use the Internet mainly for a source of funny entertainment or a source of information. I think like many of my generation, I use the Internet A LOT. In this time and age, it’s basically impossible to lead a life where your life doesn’t revolve around the Internet. I use the Internet for completion of homework assignments, for entertainment, for news/information, for ideas for my next arts/crafts project, and so on. When I’m with friends or family, however, unless I absolutely have to, I don’t use my phone or the Internet whatsoever. I hold that those kinds of things are essential to keep organic. I try to keep my use of the Internet relatively moderate, I don’t think I’m on either extreme side of the spectrum. I realize the Internet is becoming increasingly crucial, but I also very much appreciate and enjoy the world outside of my computer screen. What interests me most about the Internet is the immense impact it has had on the portrayal of information. Now in day, it is incredibly easy to find information on absolutely anything at the reach of your fingertips. It also interests me how easy it is to bring awareness to something simply by using the Internet. What scares me about the Internet is the ridiculous amount of bullying that takes place online. The amount of bullies for one person can grow exponentially if this bullying is moved to the Web. I also believe, however, that the Internet has the potential and power to reverse this behavior by bringing awareness to the negative impacts. I strongly believe that the feminist movement has received a lot more attention and awareness thanks to the Internet. (http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/how-social-media-changing-the-feminist-movement) It has, however, also had its share of bad thanks to the growing stigma of what defines a feminist, and its wrongful portrayal of this stigma on the Web. I’d like to see and learn more of how feminists use the Internet to get their message across and push their agenda. What are the most popular sites or social media used? How are cyberfeminists using these forums? What are the major feminist topics being pushed for? Who’s against it and how are they going about opposing cyberfeminism? Social issues have never really been a subject of a lot of attention for me simply because I’ve never really felt affected, at least in a negative way, by them. However, I do realize that this has great potential to change, and there is a world outside of my own where these issues are true and real and they affect people to extents I have never come to experience. I hope that, by taking this course, I am better able to empathize with those who are affected by these kinds of issues by becoming informed on the foundations and the work that goes behind cyberfeminism.
