You may have heard the phrase 'Tumblr Feminism' being thrown around in online spaces, but what exactly does it really mean? As someone who is active in this community of fourth-wave feminists, I have seen first hand how this network of young people is not only facilitating critical dialogues about public health and creating better health outcomes for young people, but also giving young people the tools they need to change the world they live in. This presentation will not only answer the above question, but show you how you can engage (or even tap into yourself!) this online community of young activists.

1. Tumblr Feminism:
How Young Feminists on
Tumblr are Interrupting the
Non-Profit Industrial
Complex and Creating
Better Health Outcomes Presentation By: Erin McKelle
@ErinMcKelle
Erinmckelle.com

2. My Tumblr Background
 Blogger on site for ~4 years
 Creator of Fearless Feminism, Facts About
Feminism, and Period Positive/Moderator of
Blogs Like Feminist BitStrips
 Used the platform in my work as an activist
 Helped other organizations and people
utilize Tumblr for their change making

3. Learning Objectives
 To understand how and why young feminists
are utilizing Tumblr for activism.
 To recognize why this type of organizing is
effective, useful (possibly for their own
work), and undermining oppressive
structural barriers many young people face.
 To learn about how Tumblr feminism is
eradicating specific negative health
outcomes that disproportionately affect
young people (sexual violence, eating
disorders, etc.).

4. Tumblr Feminism
 Those who use Tumblr blogging to spread
awareness to social and cultural issues,
create social media campaigns, and
intervene in VAW, eating disorder recovery,
and other gender-based oppressions.
 Popular formats include feminist blogs, body
positive blogs, queer and gender non-
conforming blogs, and intersectional activist
blogs.
 Usually cultivated as community

5. Why Tumblr?
 Offers unique ways for activists to connect,
share work, and spread messages
 Tumblr isn’t as commercialized as other
social media platforms
 Allows for fast sharing and in-depth learning
 Allows for anonymity
 The audience in mostly women!

6. Case Study: Who Needs
Feminism?

7. Case Study: Facts About
Feminism

8. Case Study: Saved By The
bell hooks

9. Why Is This Working?
 Accessibility
 Reach
 Interrupting organizational structures
 Provides an in for those with knowledge, but
who are not professionals (peer-to-peer)
 Structural barriers are eradicated- education
level, privilege, access to resources
 Meets young people where they are at

10. Tumblr is Changing Young
Public Health
 To learn about how Tumblr feminism is
eradicating specific negative health
outcomes that disproportionately affect
young people (sexual violence, eating
disorders, etc.).
 Youth Health is at the center of Tumblr
blogging
 Self-care, ED recovery, suicide prevention,
mental health, sexual and reproductive
health

11. Eating Disorder Recovery
“The new eating disorder battleground.”
• Resources and Support
• Validation
• Recovery
• Emphasizes self-love

12. Sexual and Reproductive
Health
Intersectionality!
Focus on LGBTQ health
and rights
Not shame based- output
of truthful

13. Conclusions

14. Thank You!