"This title centres around digital gender activism focusing on the implications that the phenomenon of online gender activism has for politics, society, culture and gender relations/dynamics. On December 16th, 2012, Jyoti Singh, a female psychotherapy student from New Delhi was raped by six men in a
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moving bus while making her way home with a male friend. After 13 days spent fighting for her life, Jyoti Singh passed away. Abiding by Indian laws, Joytis actual name was never mentioned by the media and pseudonyms like Nirbhaya (Hindi for fearless) were most commonly used. The brutal attack instantly triggered domestic and global criticism and widespread protests across India over the high levels of violence against Indian women and children, making it one of the biggest gender movements that the country has witnessed. The Nirbhaya case thus became a turning point in the politics of gender justice in India. The nationwide protests that followed the case also witnessed one of the first and most extensive uses of digital technologies for activism in India having far reaching changes in how gender activism is conducted. Keeping the Nibhaya case at its core, this book explores and attempts to understand experiences and social constructs and investigate the use of digital technologies and social media by civil society actors, activists and organisations specifically for gender activism in India." (Publisher description)
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"En este texto se reúnen reflexiones e investigaciones que tienen, de una u otra manera, su mirada puesta en la ciudadanÃa. Intentando que la comunicación nos permita ver el bosque y que sepamos qué papel debemos jugar en esta realidad acelerada para construir ciudadanÃas activas e influyentes.
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Los diversos abordajes que aquà se presentan son variopintos y por ello enriquecedores del campo académico desde el que está escritos. Una suerte de pensamientos, hechos, relatoras y crÃtica social a las ciudadanÃas, o a sus formas y ausencias. La intención es plantear propuestas que nos relaciones con las muchas ciudadanÃas posibles y las numerosas maneras de abordarlas. La finalidad es que abran los debates y las reflexiones para ir sumando personas y acciones a la lucha por otra ciudadanÃa más universal, en el sentido que se entienden los derechos humanos, que trascienda lÃmites y fronteras." (Descripción de la casa editorial)
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"Maestri and Profanter highlight that the methodological approaches adopted in this volume are both interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary. Focusing on the changing relationship between the dynamics of Arab communication spaces and the role of Arab women both in and through the media, the introduct
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ion reveals the editors’ ambitious task to link a series of chapters reflecting applied research on highly sensitive and pivotal issues. The influence of new technologies and feminism is seen as an important historical determinant of the human development process in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Maestri and Profanter highlight the rise of new convergences between secular and Islamic aspirations in the Arab female world and in their media and cyberspheres, where education is confirmed as a vehicle of mutual respect." (Extract)
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"En esta investigación se analizan las potencialidades del acceso al ejercicio del derecho a la comunicación a través de radios comunitarias en América Latina por parte de mujeres afrodescendientes e indÃgenas, poblaciones históricamente excluidas del acceso y representación en los medios de
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comunicación de masas, y se examinan los elementos que obstaculizan y potencian el proceso de apropiación comunicativa. La investigación se construye y desarrolla a partir de dos ejes articuladores: como primer eje, se asume la construcción de la subalternidad como un producto de las relaciones de poder moderno-coloniales que es actualizada y legitimada por la representación que los medios de comunicación de masas realizan de la población subalternizada. El segundo eje aborda el reconocimiento del derecho a la comunicación en el contexto del debate latinoamericano con el que se abre una oportunidad histórica para el ejercicio del derecho a la comunicación de las poblaciones excluidas de los medios de comunicación de masas, tomando en cuenta las potencialidades de la comunicación para la transformación social. A partir de lo anterior se toma como referencia el análisis de dos experiencias comunicativas que han permitido comprender y analizar los procesos y ejercicio del derecho a la comunicación de mujeres afrodescendientes e indÃgenas. La primera experiencia que se toma como estudio de caso es la emisora Avanzadoras de Yoco, una radio comunitaria gestionada de manera exclusiva por mujeres afrodescendientes sin experiencia previa en comunicación, situada en el Estado Sucre, en el Nororiente de Venezuela. Como segunda experiencia comunicativa se toma como objeto de análisis el diseño, implementación y sistematización de una intervención comunicativa con mujeres indÃgenas sanadoras de la provincia de Chimborazo, Ecuador, dirigida al desarrollo de habilidades comunicativas que permitieran un acercamiento al ejercicio del derecho a la comunicación a través de la grabación de un programa de radio en la emisora comunitaria Escuelas Radiofónicas Populares del Ecuador (ERPE). La investigación demuestra las potencialidades del ejercicio del derecho a la comunicación para mujeres excluidas de la representación y acceso de los medios de comunicación de masas, en relación al desarrollo de un proceso de empoderamiento y de transformación social en el entorno. Sin embargo, dada la multiplicidad de situaciones discriminatorias que colaboran en la subalternización de estas poblaciones, es necesaria la concurrencia de diferentes circunstancias que permitan la superación de los obstáculos que encuentran en el acceso al disfrute general de sus derechos, incluido el derecho a la comunicación." (Resumen)
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"This edited volume offers the first extended, cross-disciplinary exploration of the cumulative problems and increasing importance of various forms of media in the Middle East. Leading scholars with expertise in Middle Eastern studies discuss their views and perceptions of the media’s influence on
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regional and global change. Focusing on aspects of economy, digital news, online businesses, gender-related issues, social media, and film, the contributors of this volume detail media’s role in political movements throughout the Middle East. The volume illustrates how the increase in Internet connections and mobile applications have resulted in an emergence of indispensable tools for information acquisition, dissemination, and activism." (Publisher description)
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"Campaigns are likely to be more successful when they include messages about legal penalties for non-compliant behaviour and fresh information, and when they reach a large proportion of the intended audience. Digital campaigns must therefore work alongside laws and policies. Legislation can be a key
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tool in changing behaviour and perceptions of cultural and social norms. Laws and policies that make violent behaviour an offence send a message to society that it is not acceptable.
Success is more likely if messages are tailored to audiences using social marketing principles and create a supportive environment that enables the intended audience to make changes – e.g. by mobilising communities in support of the campaign.
To develop effective campaigns, it is also important to use research, such as interviews with key stakeholders and focus groups with members of the target audience, to determine existing attitudes and beliefs and ways of motivating people to change their behaviour.
Campaign messages should also be pre-tested to ensure they are understood correctly and to minimize any unintended negative effects.
The most successful interventions work with experienced organisations to develop and deliver sophisticated television/radio programming and communications combined with community mobilisation strategies aimed at changing gender-related norms and behaviours." (Overview, page 3)
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"ActionAid’s efforts of bring together communities radio stations from different states across the country in the recent National Consultation on Community Radio held at Bhubaneswar was quite useful to discuss the best practices of community radio stations, the challenges they face and the way for
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ward. We thank Young India and Radio Namskar for partnering with us in this effort. The present publication on the best practices of the community radios in different parts of the country encapsulate the experiences and journey of the community radio stations in amplifying the voice of the marginalized communities, the change result they have achieved partnering with the communities and the larger aspirations of the community for social justice and equality. Through this publication we would like to share the learnings emerging from the practice of community radio stations. I look forward to carrying these conversations further with you dear readers, and hence I look forward to receiving your comments and feedback on this report." (Foreword)
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"La emergencia de las radios comunitarias se da al interior de un proceso comunitario y colectivo de toma de conciencia de las agresiones institucionales por parte del Estado; de los intentos de despojo del territorio por parte de empresas trasnacionales, de la desinformación de los medios comercia
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les y de opresión polÃtica. En este proceso se articulan diferentes actores, entre ellos el movimiento de la CNTE, detonando un movimiento sui generis como fue el de la APPO en 2006, la lucha del 2016, y que dejarÃan su impronta hasta la fecha. La paulatina apropiación de esos medios, va sacando de las sombras una cotidianidad local y regional culturalmente densa y vital que potencia a hombres, mujeres niños y ancianos, y que se orienta a otros horizontes civilizatorios. Y va nutriendo y se va nutriendo de los movimientos sociales. Sin embargo, el patriarcado que históricamente ha determinado la sumisión de la mujer, la subordinación del espacio doméstico al espacio público, la negación de la participación de las mujeres en dicho espacio público, se hace visible también en la forma de funcionar de las radios comunitarias, con mayor énfasis en el ámbito rural que en el ámbito urbano. La mayorÃa de las mujeres entrevistadas, fuimos expulsadas de los propios procesos que encaminamos, expulsadas por la violencia que en esos espacios se reproduce y se controla. Espacios que, si cumplen con una función social, que están ahà siendo contestarÃas para otras causas, pero no para defender la vida e integridad de sus mujeres. Ocurre que mujeres que habÃan ya problematizado los roles de género, gracias a la influencia de maestros, al hecho de haber salido de sus comunidades, al rechazo al prototipo de mujer vivido en el hogar, se encuentran que, en las radios, que pretenden subvertir un sistema injusto, se reproducen las relaciones de género machistas. Eso no les impide seguir luchando a contracorriente en un proceso que va reconfigurando sus identidades e impactando las identidades masculinas. Al finalizar esta investigación, arribe junto a una serie de reflexiones que me hacen abrir la mirada con mayor profundidad. Iniciaré compartiendo desde una mira en perspectiva que si bien la situación de las mujeres en los medios de comunicación se presenta como un objeto estereotipado y cubriendo las cuotas de género que se exige en la sociedad." (Reflexiones finales, página 113-114)
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"This book probes the vitality, potentiality and ability of new communication and technological changes to drive online-based civil action across Africa. In a continent booming with mobile innovation and a plethora of social networking sites, the Internet is considered a powerful platform used by pr
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o-democracy activists to negotiate and sometimes push for reform-based political and social changes in Africa. The book discusses and theorizes digital activism within social and geo-political realms, analysing cases such as the #FeesMustFall and #BringBackOurGirls campaigns in South Africa and Nigeria respectively to question the extent to which they have changed the dynamics of digital activism in sub-Saharan Africa. Comparative case study reflections in eight African countries identify and critique digital concepts questioning what impact they have had on the civil society. Cases also explore the African LGBT community as a social movement while discussing opportunities and challenges faced by online activists fighting for LGBT equality. Finally, gender-based activists using digital tools to gain attention and facilitate social changes are also appraised." (Publisher description)
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"In this article we depart from studies on empowerment and its intersections with the informal economy and market women in the Global South and promises of the mobile phone in so-called developing regions. Conducting an explorative study among market women in Kampala, the aim is to examine what role
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s (if any) the mobile phone plays for them in terms of empowerment. Our findings resonate with studies from other parts of the world, suggesting that while pivotal for their business endeavors, mobile phone practices are also embedded in patriarchal structures. By discussing how these market women navigate the tensions between using the phone for their business and in relations to their partners, the article contributes a more nuanced and context-specific understanding of mobile phone practices and the empowerment of market women. We conclude the article by suggesting a situated approach to the study of empowerment." (Abstract)
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"Case studies of micro-enterprise, girls' education, and population programs suggest that our discourse limits our potential to conceive of development, communication, and gender outside of neoliberal ideologies. Advocacy for global social justice demands a different accountability through critical
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research." (Publisher description)
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"In March 2006, socialist politician Michelle Bachelet became not only the first woman to assume the presidency of Chile, but also the first female president in South America. Bachelet appointed a cabinet with an equal number of men and women. Although there were several other changes to her cabinet
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as well, hers was significant for being the only government since the country’s return to democracy that established equal representation of female and male ministers (Fernández and Rubilar 2011). Bachelet’s rise to power was a milestone in the fight for equal rights among men and women in Chile, a movement which began toward the end of the 19th century and continued throughout the 20th, with Chile’s first wave of feminism and women’s demands for access to education and the right to vote (Kirkwood 1986). Despite this longstanding movement and the gender milestone represented by her presidency, Bachelet did not fundamentally change the participation of women in positions of political power." (Abstract)
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"Community radio is a third tier broadcasting along with public and private radio broadcasting. Community radio is managed, run, controlled and owned by a community for the benefit of the community and serves the needs, interests and aspirations of a community. CR (Community Radio) gives marginalise
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d communities where their voice is not heard an opportunity to express their views where in the mainstream media these voices are not provided any space or time. Voluntary organizations, civic groups, NGOs, Women’s groups/organizations, etc. are now entering into broadcasting to share, express, empower, give voice, to many communities to benefit them with the broadcast. In community radio the public are voluntarily participating and producing programmes for themselves for their own benefit. CR plays an important role in the lives of women as it creates awareness, provides information and education, improves their skills and on the whole it promotes social, cultural, political and economic development or empowerment of women. Many studies have proved that community radio is an instrument of power in changing the lives of women." (Abstract)
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