In this presentation, I discussed cyber feminism on social media and also addressed the issue of online abuse towards women. I highlighted how I examined the unfortunate instances of mistreatment and harassment that women face in digital spaces.

1. Reading Cyber
Feminism in Social
Media
Prepared by Bhavyayta Kukadiya

2. Name: Bhavyata Kukadiya
Roll No: 4 Enrollment No: 4069206420220018
Sem: 3
Paper Name:Contemporary Western Theories and Film Studies
Paper Number: 204 Code : 22409
Topic: Reading Cyber Feminism in Social Media
Submitted to:Smt S.B Gardi ,Department of English, M.K.B.U.
E- mail: bhavyatakukadiya@gmail.com

3. Table of contents
History of Cyber Feminism
Where is Feminism in Cyber Feminism?
02
04
01
03
04
05
Cyber Feminism in Social Media
What is Cyber Feminism
References

4. Cyberfeminism, which examines women’s relationship to the Internet, considers issues such as how power operates in online spaces,
who has access to digital technologies, and how the design of online architecture may reproduce gender inequities(Heather M.
Crandall)
Cyberfeminism is a feminist movement and theoretical perspective that focuses on the intersection of feminism and
technology, particularly in the context of the internet and digital spaces. It seeks to understand and address how digital
technologies impact and shape issues related to gender, women's rights, and feminist activism. Cyberfeminism advocates
for the empowerment of women in the digital age, encourages their active participation in online spaces, and raises
awareness of the unique challenges and opportunities that the digital realm presents for women. It encompasses various
forms of online activism, creative expression, and critical analysis related to gender and technology.(chatgpt)
What is Cyber feminism

5. ● In 1994, in Britain, Sadie Plant, the director of the Cybernetic Culture Research Unit,
coined the term "Cyberfeminism."
● Sadie Plant used this term to define the work of feminists interested in exploring,
critiquing, and theorizing cyberspace, the Internet, and new-media technologies.
● The Cyberfeminism Unit was established at the University of Warwick to further research
and activities in this area.
● The growth of "third-wave" feminism is closely tied to the development of
cyberfeminism.
● "Second-wave" feminism, the precursor to contemporary feminist movements, began in
1970 and focused on women's equal rights, following the "first-wave" feminism of the
20th century, which concentrated on women's suffrage.
● Cyberfeminism initially aimed to assist younger women who were technologically
proficient, primarily from middle-class, Western, and white backgrounds.
● Today, the number of cyber feminists is increasing, and with this growth comes a
diversity of perspectives on what constitutes cyberfeminist beliefs and actions.
(Cyberfeminism: A Relationship between Cyberspace, Technology, and the Internet)

6. History of Cyber Feminism
Richard and Gray (2018) continue to build on the work of Donna Haraway
of 1997 by writing that, in 1990, cyberfeminism started and acquired an
international impact. During this time, Donna Haraway started “cyborg
feminism”, a specific feminist branch that helped women use new tech-
nologies to profit themselves and fight against patriarchy (Richard & Gray,
2018). Haraway established A Cyborg Manifesto that involved technology,
Socialist-Feminism, and science but echoed Karl Marx’s 1847 “Commu-
nist Manifesto”. Haraway disapproved the second-wave feminism and
echoed feminism that substituted identity from affinity. Haraway deployed
the cyborg metaphor to challenge feminists to participate in politics that is
beyond essentialism and naturalism. Within which she called the “Infor-
matics of Domination”, Haraway’s manifesto aimed at justifying feminists’
hesitance to acknowledge their situation (Richard & Gray, 2018). Haraway
noted that people lived in a period where circuits and wire were gaining
ground instead of flesh. It was time they appreciated the cyborgization that
was holding ground in different fields of advancing technology. According
to Haraway, a cyborg represented a postmodern utopia of a world without
Gender that has no beginning (Richard & Gray, 2018).

7. Where is Feminism in cyber feminism?
The article delves into the world of cyberfeminism, focusing on the diverse practices of "cybergrrl"
groups on the internet. It highlights the creative and often humorous nature of these feminist
communities but notes their tendency to avoid deep political critique in favor of direct expression
through art and interaction. The text questions the limited presence of women in leadership roles in the
digital world and the persistent gendered structures within technology fields. It suggests that a potent
fusion of the creativity of "grrl" internet artists with engaged political theory and practice could open
new avenues for feminist activism in the digital space, challenging the prevailing status quo. (Lorde,
Audrey)
Online harassment often targets women. In discussions about politics, women in online spaces are sometimes seen as
outsiders in what's considered a male domain. When it comes to gender-related issues, some well-known female
activists and bloggers have chosen to shut down their online accounts because of the harassment they face (McAdam,
Crowley, & Harrison, 2020). (Toto)

8. Cyber feminism in Social Media
Examples of cyber gender harassment show S 31that it routinely involves
threats of rape and other forms of sexual violence. It often reduces targeted
women to sexual objects36 and includes humiliating comments that reinforce
gender-constructed stereotypes,31 such as "[w]ho let this woman out of the
kitchen?" and "why don't you make yourself useful and go have a baby., 38 The
online abuse • . can be "more vicious" if targeted women are "lesbian[] ,,39
(Citron)
The #MeToo movement, started by Tarana Burke in 2006, aims to
address sexual harassment and abuse, with a focus on supporting
survivors, holding perpetrators accountable, and challenging
societal norms. It gained prominence after accusations against
Harvey Weinstein. This movement has prompted survivors to share
their stories and seek justice. This special issue on the "#MeToo
Movement" explores the widespread nature of sexual harassment,
challenges traditional categories, and emphasizes societal issues
like patriarchy. Healing from abuse involves accountability and
changing how we talk about it, both in therapy and in broader

11. References
ChatGPT, OpenAI,"Cyberfeminism." 2023, Accessed 21 October 2023, https://chat.openai.com/c/c8fdcc5f-159b-4509-b528-
94e2d48211df .
Citron, Danielle Keats. “Law's Expressive Value in Combating Cyber Gender Harassment.” University of Michigan Law School
Scholarship Repository, Michigan Law Review, 2009,
https://repository.law.umich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?params=/context/mlr/article/1300/&path_info= . Accessed 21 October 2023.
Cunningham, C.M., Crandall, H.M. (2014). Social Media for Social Justice: Cyberfeminism in the Digital Village. In: Van Deventer Iverson,
S., James, J.H. (eds) Feminist Community Engagement. Community Engagement in Higher Education. Palgrave Macmillan, New
York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137441102_5
Lorde, Audrey, et al. “Where is the feminism in cyberfeminism?” Monoskop, n.paradoxa, 1998,
https://www.ktpress.co.uk/pdf/vol2_npara_6_13_Wilding.pdf . Accessed 21 October 2023.
Megan Murphy (2019) Introduction to “#MeToo Movement”, Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 31:2-3, 63-65, DOI:
10.1080/08952833.2019.1637088

12. Reddy, Niranjan. “The metaverse of harassment and hate - Times of India.” The Times of India, 15 July 2022,
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spotlight/the-metaverse-of-harassment-and-
hate/articleshow/92897196.cms . Accessed 21 October 2023.
Toto, Giusi Antonia, & Alessia Scarinci. "Cyberfeminism: A Relationship between Cyberspace, Technology,
and the Internet." Elementa. Intersections between Philosophy, Epistemology and Empirical
Perspectives [Online], 1.1-2 (2021): 135-
151.https://www.ledonline.it/index.php/Elementa/article/view/2810/1584 Web. 21 Oct. 2023

13. Thanks!