Feminisms are oftentimes confronted with dissonance, resistance, and backlash. Invested in criticizing the cultural and institutional emergence of patriarchy and calls to re-order structures of inequality make feminism threatening to status quo power dynamics. “Women Against Feminism”—a social media phenomenon and space for women to post anti-feminist messages—began gaining notoriety in 2013. By 2015, “Women Against Feminism” expanded to multiple social media platforms, gained thousands of anti-feminist submissions, and received ample support and criticism across news outlets. This study explores “Women Against Feminism” as a potential site of 21st feminist backlash, noting nuanced rhetorical strategies that rely on fearing feminism, declarations of interpersonal and intrapersonal love, and co-opting feminist ideology to propagate anti-feminist narratives. I situate backlash as a communicative phenomenon of perception rather than a clear-cut movement reacting toward a stated goal of progress by a social group. In this way, feminist progress functions as an illusory cultural script where backlash reacts toward the perceived enactment of a feminist goal, rather than (although not excluding) the successful feminist execution of that goal. Thus, this study dually investigates what backlash strategies are used while also uncovering how differing audiences perceive feminism. Finally, I set forth a series of suggestive practical methods for feminist engagement across dissonance and difference.

abstract: This study compares some sites, structures, theories and praxis of transnational feminisms in India and the U.S., simultaneously guided by and interrogating contemporary academic feminist theoretical and methodological trends. The goal is twofold: to understand similarities and differences in feminist praxis of two geo-epistemological spaces; and to interrogate the notion and currency of the "transnational" within feminist knowledge-creation. The phenomenon of transnational feminist knowledge-making is interrogated from a philosophical/theoretical and phenomenological/experiential standpoint. The philosophical inquiry is concentrated on the theoretical texts produced on transnational/global/postcolonial feminisms. This inquiry also focuses on some unpublished, uncirculated archival materials that trace the history of academic feminisms and their transnationalization. The phenomenological side focuses on interview and survey data on transnational feminism, gathered from feminist practitioners working in the U.S. and India, as well as being "transmigrant," or "traveling scholars." Digital/institutional ethnography is used to ground the findings in operational spaces of knowledge-making, including cyberspace. This research shows that the global logic of circulation and visibility organize the flow of knowledge as data, narratives and reports from the global south, which are analyzed, clarified and theorized in the global north. Perhaps responding to many critiques on "speaking of" and "speaking for" the "other," the trend to represent third world women as perpetual victims has given way to newer representations and accounts of resistance, collaboration, and activism. However, this creates a fresh "theory-here-activism-there" model of transnational feminism that preserves unequal feminist division of labor. This comparative and critical study focuses not just on feminist discourses in two countries but also their relationships, suggests some viable models of transnational feminism that can preserve epistemic justice, and aims to contribute to the theoretical corpus of transnational feminism. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Gender Studies 2013

Orientador: Marko Synesio Alves Monteiro / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Estudos da Linguagem / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-21T18:57:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Schlindwein_AnaFlora_M.pdf: 5263073 bytes, checksum: e6e357acdd755474dc29c3d739c72925 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: O objetivo geral desta pesquisa foi observar como coletivos feministas no Brasil estão (ou não) se apropriando e usando as novas tecnologias de informação e comunicação (TICs) e como as questões sobre gênero estão circulando nesses novos meios. Principalmente no período pós Segunda Guerra Mundial escolas distintas (como a Escola de Frankfurt e a Escola de Toronto de Comunicação, entre outras) tiveram como objetivo entender o lugar das TICs na sociedade, alternando abordagens mais tecnofóbicas ou tecnofílicas. Uma das preocupações desta pesquisa foi mostrar a relação entre as teorizações sobre comunicação e mídia e os coletivos feministas, observando se as abordagens acima mencionadas se fazem (ou não) presentes nas publicações online de grupos de defesa da mulher quando estas tratam das questões de gênero. Após apresentar um panorama da relação entre as feministas brasileiras e a mídia a partir, principalmente, de periódicos (desde o século XIX até o século XXI), esta dissertação traz como corpus de análise o material produzido e publicado no formato e-zine (eletronic fanzine) pelo Grupo de Ação Feminista (GAFe), de Florianópolis (SC). Dentre os quesitos ponderados na escolha desse material estão o período de sua produção, a constante publicação de novos tópicos e o contato entre esse grupo e outros movimentos sociais. A abordagem metodológica adotada foi híbrida - análise de conteúdo e pesquisa interpretativa - e objetivou a saturação dos dados. Os resultados apontam que o coletivo promove uma profunda crítica à subordinação feminina ao aparelho genital e à perpetuação da dualidade de gênero, sendo temas como violência, aborto e direitos da mulher os mais debatidos. As considerações finais mostram que apesar do GAFe se auto identificar como um coletivo de mulheres e homens que buscam o fim da dualidade de gênero e de afirmarem que o feminismo não é o contrário do machismo, o seu material no geral apresenta uma preocupação maior com questões femininas e delegam ao homem geralmente a figura de opressor. Com relação ao seu posicionamento frente à comunicação e à mídia, tanto momentos tecnofóbicos quanto tecnofílicos são observados / Abstract: The aim of this research was to observe how feminist groups in Brazil are (or are not) taking control and using new information and communication technology (ICT) and how gender issues are moving through these new media. Mainly after the World War II different schools (as Frankfurt School and Toronto School, among others) had as their goal to understand which place the ICTs had in our society, switching more technophobic and technophilic approaches. This research was concerned about showing the relation between communication and media theories and the feminist groups, observing if the approaches mentioned before can (or cannot) be found in online publications of women defense groups when they talk about gender issues. After showing a brief view of the relation between Brazilian feminism and the media, mainly through newspapers (since the 19th century until the 21st century), this dissertation has as its corpus the material produced and published in an electronic fanzine format by Grupo de Ação Feminista (GAFe), from Florianopolis (Santa Catarina State). Among the aspects considered to choose that specific material are (a) how long its production lasted, (b) the frequency of new publications and (c) the contact the group had with other social movements. The methodological approach was hybrid - content analysis and interpretative research - and it aimed the data saturation. The results demonstrate the group has a heavy criticism about women subordination to the female reproductive system and about the gender dualism, and themes as violence, abortion and women's rights as the most debated ones. The Final Considerations show that although considering itself as a group of men and women who search for the end of the gender dualism and stating the feminism is not the opposite of sexism, the material produced by GAFe presents, in general, more debates about women's issues and men have the role of the oppressor. About its position when the subject is communication and media, the group shows both technophobic and technophilic posture / Mestrado / Divulgação Científica e Cultural / Mestra em Divulgação Científica e Cultural

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Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2017-10-26T13:28:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Fernanda de Brito Mota Rocha_.pdf: 1259057 bytes, checksum: 8572e5311138aeefea6bcede26dd539a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-26T13:28:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fernanda de Brito Mota Rocha_.pdf: 1259057 bytes, checksum: 8572e5311138aeefea6bcede26dd539a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-31 / Nenhuma / A presente pesquisa contemplou o estudo da Quarta Onda do Movimento Social Feminista, justificando-se diante das mudanças sociais provocadas pela tecnologia da informação na promoção e divulgação dos ideais que constituem essa faceta do Movimento. Enfocando a ação do feminismo na internet, especificamente abordou-se a coleta de dados num blog feminista. Como objetivo geral, pretendeu-se analisar a configuração do movimento feminista na especificidade do ativismo digital, suas proposições de discussão e pautas oportunizadas via ferramentas tecnológicas, especificamente a internet, no processo de disseminação da luta feminista pela ampliação de direitos. Optou-se por verificar um ano de postagens no blog Escreva Lola Escreva e selecionar, por mês, os posts com maior número de comentários para, posteriormente, fazer uma análise das temáticas discutidas. Essa escolha metodológica se pauta no fato dos posts mais comentados terem suscitado maior discussão e interesse. Não foi objetivo dessa pesquisa analisar o teor desses comentários. Eles serviram de critério para seleção do corpus. Diante dos resultados apontados pela análise de dados realizada no corpus documental, o que chama atenção é a interação dos(as) leitores(as) enquanto sujeitos ativos, e eventuais mudanças de opinião e modo de encarar a vida, a partir daquelas interações. Destaca-se como categoria recorrente a crítica ao patriarcado em diversas perspectivas. Isso reforça a ideia da percepção crítica do sistema opressor, centrado no homem. À luz da análise empírica e apoiando-se na literatura pode-se afirmar a existência da Quarta Onda do Movimento Feminista, caracterizado pelo ativismo digital. Por apresentar e oportunizar as discussões e pautas vivenciadas no âmbito social, atesta que os movimentos sociais digitais estão conquistando espaço e representatividade. / The present dissertation contemplated the study of the Fourth Wave of the Feminist Social Movement, justifying itself in the face of the social changes provoked by information technology in promoting and disseminating the ideals that constitute this facet of the Movement. Focusing on the action of feminism on the internet, specifically addressed the collection of data from a feminist blog. As a general objective, the aim was to analyze the configuration of the feminist movement in the specificity of digital activism, its proposals for discussion and timelines opportunized via technological tools, specifically the internet, in the process of dissemination of the feminist struggle for the expansion of rights. It was chosen to check one year of posting of the blog “Escreva Lola Escreva” and select, each month, the posts with the highest number of comments to later make an analysis of the topics discussed. This methodological choice is based on the fact that the most commented posts have generated greater discussion and interest. It was not the purpose of this research to analyze the comments. They served as criteria for corpus selection. Considering the results pointed out by data analysis performed without documentary corpus, what draws attention is an interaction of readers as active subjects and possible changes of opinion and ways of facing life, from those interactions. It is highlighted as a recurrent category the critique of patriarchy in several perspectives. It reinforces the idea of the critical perception of the oppressive system, centered in men. Considering the empirical analysis and based on the literature, one can affirm the existence of the Fourth Wave of the Feminist Movement, characterized by digital activism. By presenting and opportuning the discussions and guidelines experienced in the social sphere, it testifies that digital social movements are gaining space and representativeness.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T18:18:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marina Gazire Lemos.pdf: 3920643 bytes, checksum: f5c5b9210e9e6909383314384ce4121e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-10-22 / The communication technologies enables a new configuration in the process of organization of several social movements for instance the feminist movement, that after incorporating the new electronics networks has gained a new practice called Cyberfeminism. This dissertation intent to investigate how the appropriation of electronic networks allows Cyberfeminist groups to build new approaches in the feminist discourse. Many of these groups utilizes the communication technologies, such as the Internet, not just to politically organize their selves, but use these mediums as an instrument to question the woman condition through works that connect art with activism. The actions of groups like Old Boys Network (Germany), VNS Matrix (Australia) and the Brazilian artist, Helga Stein are investigated as a social phenomena and new way of modal discourses under the communication theories lens. From this theoretical point of view, this research uses the Cyborg Theory (1984) by Donna Haraway and the post-human studies developed by Mark Dery (1995) and Lúcia Santaella (2003 and 2008). We will present the examples described above as much as a in its theoretical as in its empiricist scope and their relation to the technologies / As novas tecnologias de comunicação possibilitam um redimensionamento dos modos de organização de inúmeros movimentos sociais como, por exemplo, o feminismo que, a partir da popularização de redes eletrônicas de comunicação, apresenta uma nova prática denominada Ciberfeminismo. A dissertação pretende investigar como a organização em redes eletrônicas permite aos grupos ciberfeministas novas construções do discurso feminista. Muitos dos grupos ciberfeministas utilizam as tecnologias de comunicação, como por exemplo, a Internet, não só para se organizarem politicamente, mas também para problematizar a questão da mulher através de trabalhos que mesclam ativismo e arte. As atuações de grupos como as Old Boys Network (Alemanha) , VNS Matrix (Austrália) e da artista brasileira Helga Stein são investigadas aqui como fenômenos sociais e manifestações dos novos discursos feministas sob viés das teorias da comunicação. Do ponto de vista teórico, a pesquisa se apoia na Teoria do Ciborgue de Donna Haraway (1984), nos estudos sobre o Pós-Humano de Mark Dery (1995) e Lúcia Santaella (2003 e 2008). Apresentaremos os fenômenos descritos acima tanto em âmbito teórico quanto empírico, procurando investigar as diferentes possibilidades do discurso ciberfeminista e sua relação com a tecnologia

Sexual difference has emerged in the last three decades as an enduring question for feminism. Drawing attention to the embodied nature of subjectivity, it enables feminists to counter the more insidious presumptions of universality and the phallocentric economy of knowledge production, and makes possible feminine expressions of subjectivity. At the same time, engaging the nature of difference has opened the way to a more detailed interrogation of identity, specifically the identity of ' woman' and 'the feminine' as categories of feminist analysis. However, tensions have emerged within this field over the concept of community, and how to motivate for political change on the basis of a common identity when the identity of woman is itself contested. In tracing these arguments, this thesis raises a number of considerations about the way difference is understood. It finds that a conceptual commitment to the specificity of the body as properly constitutive of the political can run the risk of sidelining, denigrating and presuming to excise what appears as universal, masculine, or phallocentric. In doing so, it potentially leaves aside a full political engagement with the generative and implicated nature of these terms in the formation of all identity. Consequently, questions around thought, universality, virtuality, and disembodiment may not be given full consideration, with the outcome that feminism may be foreclosing its political domain from important formative concerns. The primary aim of this thesis is to open these categories of analysis to question, to understand how they have been constructed in debates around difference, and to bring to light some of the assumptions which remain axiological to what properly constitutes feminist politics. Engaging Luce Irigaray's reading of divinity for community and identity, this thesis argues that if the implicated nature of identity is taken seriously then the organising categories fundamental to notions of political action and community become a general field of difference which exceeds the reach of feminist politics as it currently stands.

This thesis problematizes early cyberfeminist claims that heralded the Internet as a liberating space for women. Cyberfeminism emerged in the early 1990s, at the dawn of the “Internet Age,” and is heavily influenced by Donna Haraway’s 1985 “A Cyborg Manifesto.” Haraway theorized a new way of looking at the nature of female identity, using the figure of the cyborg found in science fiction literature and films. Traditionally, women have been explained in terms of sexual difference and have been forced to uphold a gender binary that privileges men. By contrast, Haraway argues that the cyborg, a hybrid of human and machine, escapes binary logic, thereby resisting categories and hierarchies, and embraces a more fluid understanding of identity. This model contains powerful ramifications for women. Every day, we become more like Haraway’s cyborgs as our physical bodies become increasingly intertwined with modern technologies, specifically in our ever-growing relationship with the Internet. In online interactions, users are no longer confined to their physical bodies and are free to play with identity. Early cyberfeminists believe that this leads to a more fluid understanding of identity and, more importantly, allows for the deconstruction of gender. These claims, however, do not apply in practice as well as they do in theory. From the anonymous text-based spaces that early cyberfeminists describe to social networking sites like Facebook, Internet spaces tend to polarize the gender binary rather than blur it, and women are now colonized on a new front. This becomes increasingly dangerous as the boundaries between our virtual and real lives continue to blur.

Sexual difference has emerged in the last three decades as an enduring question for feminism. Drawing attention to the embodied nature of subjectivity, it enables feminists to counter the more insidious presumptions of universality and the phallocentric economy of knowledge production, and makes possible feminine expressions of subjectivity. At the same time, engaging the nature of difference has opened the way to a more detailed interrogation of identity, specifically the identity of ' woman' and 'the feminine' as categories of feminist analysis. However, tensions have emerged within this field over the concept of community, and how to motivate for political change on the basis of a common identity when the identity of woman is itself contested. In tracing these arguments, this thesis raises a number of considerations about the way difference is understood. It finds that a conceptual commitment to the specificity of the body as properly constitutive of the political can run the risk of sidelining, denigrating and presuming to excise what appears as universal, masculine, or phallocentric. In doing so, it potentially leaves aside a full political engagement with the generative and implicated nature of these terms in the formation of all identity. Consequently, questions around thought, universality, virtuality, and disembodiment may not be given full consideration, with the outcome that feminism may be foreclosing its political domain from important formative concerns. The primary aim of this thesis is to open these categories of analysis to question, to understand how they have been constructed in debates around difference, and to bring to light some of the assumptions which remain axiological to what properly constitutes feminist politics. Engaging Luce Irigaray's reading of divinity for community and identity, this thesis argues that if the implicated nature of identity is taken seriously then the organising categories fundamental to notions of political action and community become a general field of difference which exceeds the reach of feminist politics as it currently stands.