The usage of new media for women empowering
by Wendy Xie | September 11, 2011 at 6:06 PM
The introduction of Web 2.0 can be viewed as the most influential innovation in the new century. It brings dramatic changes in technology development, people’s lifestyle, social and cultural development, etc. Among all those fields, what impresses me most is its positive function in elevating women’s voices to a global level. It is the traditional media which often causes the exclusion of women either in its stereotypical images against women or for it is often controlled in the hands of male. However, the application of Web 2.0 enables women with Internet connection to speak for themselves and get their texts disseminated which to a great extent free from the strict censorship of traditional media and government. Meanwhile, one great advantage of Web 2.0 lies in that it can build connections for people on a global scale without time and space limitations. In this manner, the scattered women groups of different races, economical backgrounds, ethnic status, etc could unite together and promote interests for the common goods of female. They can post their stories on Web 2.0 which read by other members could have far-reaching influences. The foundation of the Rafaki Club is a good example to illuminate the positivity of Web 2.0.
However, although I am in agreement with that Web 2.0 does in some degree brings benefits to global women’s empowerment movement through its low threshold for women to speak their voices and by collaboration and dissemination their voices could get support from others, which thus may lead to certain changes in changing women’s subordinate and prosecuted positions, I still reserve strong doubts about its usefulness in women empowering. First, the scale of women with Web connection is far from satisfying compared with the overall amount of women globally. In addition, there now is not any strong evidence to prove that the influences of the new media could be equal or surpass the influences of traditional media. Web 2.0 does provide women with spaces to speak but how far can their voices be viewed as the counter-forces to traditional stereotypical media holds questions. Last, it is worthwhile in this place to propose that only if women use Web 2.0 in the manner that they can raise people’s concern and awareness over women’s problems and predicaments which are universal and sentimentally understandable for people, the values of Web 2.0 can be mostly exploited. Besides, the emergence of online communities based on common interests may contribute to building connections for the minor groups and make the once invisible visible.
As a university student, I’m quite a fan of social networking. Twitter, Facebook, Renren( Chinese Facebook), Weibo(Chinese twitter), Youtube and blog are all my favorite websites often be visited several times a day. The use of these tools not only provides me with the updated news resources but also offers me the platform to express personal opinions and to communicate with others. It feels nice to speak for myself, transmit my thoughts to others and vice versa.
Comments
Great Critique!
Wendy Xie, this is an excellent critique of Web 2.0 media. You clearly recognize the faults with new media, especially the lack of availability of internet. Keep thinking critically and I hope you work toward solving these issues you see in the world!
thx for your comments. I do
thx for your comments. I do have faith in that through cooperation and persistent struggle, web 2.0 could be resorted to as the powerful platform for women to change the world. The process must be hard but we should make efforts.