Examples of Hashtag Activism Promoting Gender Equality (#9)...
Continuing on from my previous blog post on political engagement, platform publics, ‘clicktavism’ and hashtag activism, I thought I would feature some more detail on a couple of the hashtag activism movements that were mentioned in my last post...
#HeForShe - this campaign was initiated by the United Nations in June 2014, with the main goal to achieve equality by encouraging both genders to partake as agents of change and dismantle toxic and demeaning gender stereotypes and behaviours. The campaign includes Emma Watson and Justin Trudeau as spokespeople.
You can read more about the #HeForShe movement here: https://www.heforshe.org/en
#MeToo - Tarana Burke was the first person to use this hashtag in 2006 to ‘promote empowerment through empathy’, however the hashtag truly reached viral status in 2017 when famous Hollywood actresses began encouraging other women to share their experiences with sexual harassment and assault on Twitter. The #MeToo movement continues today, with the overall aim of significantly reducing the stigma around speaking about sexual assault and to ultimately end the violence inflicted upon women from the patriarchy.
You can read more about the #MeToo movement here: https://metoomvmt.org/
#DressLikeAWoman - this hashtag activism movement was instigated after a report alleged that President Trump preferred women to “dress like women”. Women took to Twitter to turn this phrase on its head, posting photos of themselves wearing their interpretation of the dress code and to promote an empowering message - that women are equal to men, nothing less.
You can read more about the #DressLikeAWoman movement here:
https://www.bustle.com/p/dress-like-a-woman-twitter-hashtag-nails-the-absurdity-of-dress-code-double-standards-35341