Hashtag Feminism

Hashtags are an important and popular way to connect people on social media in order to share stories/experiences, share resources, or show solidarity with a larger systemic problem. Some hashtags catch on and go viral – and these are the hashtags that get the most attention. Using Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Tumblr I want you to choose a Feminist hashtag to analyze.

Include the hashtag you chose – you can select a hashtag that’s recently gone viral or one that has a quieter existence, but it must be related to feminism/feminist thought in some way (the hashtag does not need to be explicitly feminist). #MeToo is one of the most famous hashtags at the moment – consider something that hasn’t received as much attention.

In a 2-3 page double-spaced paper:

Explain why you chose that hashtag (and how it relates to feminism). What is its purpose?
Discuss the role of technology/social media in promoting ideas of social movements and building social support.
Were the posts generally positive or did “trolls” rear their ugly heads and take over the hashtag? Is the hashtag sarcastic? Serious? Is it promoted by a company or organization? Is there an opposition hashtag that you found? (where there’s #WhyINeedFeminism, there is also #WhyIDontNeedFeminism).
What was your overall experience going through the tweets? how did they make you feel? Was it empowering? Upsetting? Funny? Confusing?
This paper should follow APA or MLA formatting and reference/citation standards, including double-spacing and a separate reference page. No abstract is needed if using APA formatting.

If you use resources in your discussion, be sure to cite them and use a reference page. You don’t have to cite/reference each tweet you discuss, but make sure to include the user name (@username) as your source for any quotes. Make sure to incorporate additional resources (such as news articles about the hashtag or social issue being discussed) and cite content you utilize in your research.

Some hashtag suggestions:

#GirlsWhoCode/#IAmANastyWoman/#WhyIDidn’tReport/#NiUnaMenos/#WhyIStayed/#STEMinism/
#EffYourBeautyStandards/#HeForShe/#Fem2/#AskHerMore/#BringBackOurGirls/#GenerationEquality