Project reference number: GSBS-2019-113
Dicker and Piepmeier (2003: 14) argue that third wave feminism an identity and a theory (or a range of theories) that is located culturally within ‘in a world shaped by technology, global capitalism, multiple models of sexuality, changing national demographics and declining economic viability’. In this PhD we want you to explore the emergence of ‘fourth wave’ feminism examining how in particular social media has been utilised to influence policy and public opinion in relation to men’s violence against women. This may include:
1.Everyday acts of sexism
2.Structural and symbolic violence
3.Street harassment
4.Online harassment
5.Hashtags
6.#metoo movement
Specifically, it would be useful to look at the ways in which women communicate the messages of empowerment online (platforms and apps, forms of discussion and modes of participation) as well as explore the effectiveness of these messages, their translation into everyday attitudes, wider societal perspectives, gender representation in moving image narratives (Film and TV), and their legal and political implications (such as protection against sexual harassment, for instance).
Proposed methodology is qualitative, and may include interviews, questionnaires, focus groups and textual analysis.