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Social Movement Culture Online: Facebook, Blogs, and Young Feminists

Sun, August 17, 12:30 to 1:30pm, TBA

Abstract

Social movement scholars have devoted significant attention to the role of the Internet in movements, focusing primarily on structural and organizational features of online movements and the impact of the Internet on mobilization. Questions remain about whether cultural dimensions of movements may be created online. In this paper, I complicate conceptions of online social movements by examining the cultural features of Internet mobilization. I present unique qualitative data from a diverse group of college feminists to examine cultural dimensions of online activism. I draw from literature on women’s movements and online activism to identify three ways in which Facebook and feminist blogs nourish feminist culture: by creating feminist consciousness, providing opportunities for everyday feminism, and augmenting offline feminism. These findings point to the significant role of culture and meaning in online activism. I conclude the paper by discussing its implications for understanding the feminist movement and online activism more broadly.

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