Tweeted Articulations of Resistance Against Patriarchal Violence

Abstract

Research on digital articulations of patriarchal violence—sexual gender-based violence, harassment, intimidation, and bullying—as experienced by women and femmes globally is still exploratory. Despite the continued research development, feminist academics and activists still have challenges designing online platforms that are safe spaces for all genders and expressions of sexuality. Thus, this chapter extends current research and focuses on the root causes of digital violence. This chapter also focuses on the uses of social media, mainly Twitter, and the developments of feminist discourses by activist organizations in Southern Africa: @womenforchange5 and @SisterNambia. This chapter discusses the use of feminist organizations as tools in building community, developing social change strategies, and the ability to combat cis-heterosexist patriarchal conditioning and violence. Consequently, this chapter aims to contextualize social media as an echo chamber of societal violence. Moreover, social media affordances result in digital realms becoming field sites of misogyny and misogynoir.