Interrogating Wokeness as a Movement for Social Change: An Analysis of "Woke" on Twitter

• In Event: 64.089 - Sheraton Roundtable 12 - Grand Centre
  In Roundtable Session: 64.089-5 - The Role of Discourse in Shaping Policy, Space, and Performance in Higher Education

Abstract

‘Woke’ and #StayWoke call attention to structural inequities, reflect on historical violence, and reference current-day movements. The term ‘woke’ was historically used to recognize issues of injustice. However, many have co-opted ‘woke’ to fulfill self-motivated ends or critique misunderstood movements. Additionally, social media continues to have an increasing presence in curriculum across higher education. This study interrogates ‘wokeness’ as a movement for social change as defined and practiced via the social medium of Twitter to provide a clearer understanding of its use. By offering this deeper understanding for the use of ‘woke’, we are able to envision ‘wokeness’ as a social change movement within higher education: one that promotes activism, disrupts performativity, moves beyond binary thinking, and encourages community.

Authors

• Sacha Sharp, Indiana University - Bloomington

• Berenice Sanchez, Indiana University - Bloomington

• Jana Clark

• Reginald A Blockett, Grand Valley State University