#metoo science

[vapolitique]

UCSF: nouvelle plainte contre le Pr Stanton Glantz pour harcèlement sexuel et discrimination raciste

Lundi 26 mars, une nouvelle plainte a été déposée devant la Cour Supérieure du Comté d’Alameda pour harcèlement sexuel, discrimination raciste et des fraudes académiques attenantes contre le Pr. Stanton Glantz, de l’Université de Californie San Francisco (UCSF). Cette fois-ci, la plaignante est une jeune femme d’origine amérindienne révèle le San Francisco Examiner. Après près de trois ans à…

[joannechocolat]

On why women’s rage is a superpower

My mother hates my new book. I gave her a proof just a few days ago, and although she’s still only halfway through, she can’t wait to tell me all the ways in which she hates my novel.

“Is this science fiction?” she says. (She detests science fiction.) “Were you ill when you wrote this?” (I was.) And repeatedly, she says: “Why are the women so angry?”

I get it. She’s out of her comfort zone. At 83, with no internet, no interest in pop culture and a deep-rooted hatred of anything close to horror or the supernatural, she wasn’t my target audience. And yet it’s never easy to hear such criticism from a loved one. But in some ways, she isn’t wrong. Broken Light is an angry book. It came from a time of lockdown, when social media was my only window onto the world. It came from a place of trauma, when I was fighting cancer. It came from a place of corrupt hierarchies, self-serving politicians, anti-vaxxers, Covid deniers, victim-blamers, and those eager to blame all their woes on minorities. And of course, it arose against the background of the #MeToo campaign and the Sarah Everard murder – a murder that shocked the nation, not least because the murderer turned out to be a serving police officer with a reputation for sexual misconduct - which unleashed a collective howl of protest, as well as an ugly, misogynistic backlash. Even so, my story came as something of a surprise to me: the story of a woman’s rage, and, on reaching the age at which women often feel least valued, her coming into her power.

It surprised me, most of all because I wasn’t an angry person. At least, I didn’t think I was. Those who know me describe me as someone who tends to flee conflict, who generally tries to find common ground, who gets upset when people fight. And yet, writing this story, I found myself saying and feeling certain things on behalf of my heroine, Bernie Moon; things I might not have said for myself, but which felt right and urgent, and true, and strangely liberating.

Anger has a bad press. A woman’s anger, especially. While men are encouraged to express feelings of justified anger, women are often criticized when they try to do the same. Angry women are often portrayed as “harpies,” “banshees,” “Furies.” It suggests that a man’s rage is righteous, but that a woman’s is unnatural, making her into a monster. Male anger is powerful. The God of the Bible is one of wrath. Seldom is he ever portrayed as expressing any other emotion. In the same way, men and boys are often led to believe that expressing emotion is weak - except for anger, which is seen as acceptably masculine.

In comparison, women are often criticized when they show aggression. Angry women are hysterical, shrill, out of control, unreliable, unattractive, unfeminine. A perceived lack of “femininity” makes a woman less valuable, less worthy of respect and of protection. The Press coverage of women victims of violence is a case in point. A victim of violence needs to be attractive, white, gender conforming and virtuous in every way if she is not to be overlooked, or worse, portrayed as somehow having contributed to her misfortune. When trans teenager Brianna Ghey was stabbed, the Press were very quick to state that her murder was not thought to be a hate crime, whilst at the same time obsessing over – and questioning - her gender. When Nicola Bulley disappeared, police felt obliged to divulge details of her struggle with the menopause, as well as her alcohol issues, even though this was privileged information and of no public relevance. When Emma Pattison, the Head of Epsom College, was murdered alongside her daughter, the Press immediately assumed that her husband George must have felt “overshadowed” and “driven to distraction” by his wife’s prestigious job. In all three cases, the victim falls under the hostile scrutiny of the Press, while the perpetrator is given an excuse. In all three cases, the victim – one trans, one hormonal, one better-paid than her husband - is effectively portrayed as “unnatural”. Subtext: Unnatural women do not deserve the protection of the patriarchy. Unnatural women come to bad ends.    

Once you start to acknowledge it, rage grows at a surprising rate. Over the past three years, I have found myself growing increasingly angry. Angry at the injustices committed by our Government; t the greed of corporations; angry at the prejudice extended to those who are different.

Connecting with others on social media has made me more aware of the lives and experiences of those from different backgrounds to mine, and with different levels of privilege. For a long time I’d been resistant to calling myself a feminist. Feminists are angry, I thought. What right have you to be angry?

Growing older, I realize that this was my mother speaking. A woman of a certain generation, who although she was aware of the challenges of living in a patriarchy, still had a level of privilege that many women do not share. White, professional, cishet women can sometimes have the luxury of choosing not to be angry. White, professional, cishet women can sometimes have the illusion of equality. But feminism isn’t only for just one kind of woman. A feminist must look beyond the limits of their own experience. And that’s where the anger really starts: anger at injustice; anger at corruption and lies. Most of all, anger at the prejudice against certain people for just being themselves; for being transgender, or Black, or old, or simply not conforming to what a white, patriarchal society expects and values. And once you start seeing injustice, you start to see it everywhere. It’s like an eye, which, once opened, cannot unsee inequality.

My anger flourished in lockdown. A time of growing divisions. Masks are invaluable in a pandemic, and yet they inhibit connection. They serve as a kind of reminder of who can speak, and who is to be silenced. While Boris Johnson was urging the public to trust the police, a vigil for Sarah Everard was broken up, with violence, by officers citing lockdown laws. While elderly people were dying alone; while I drove for four hours just to go for a half-hour walk in the park with my son; while I sat alone in my chemo chair, politicians were partying. Billionaires were enriching themselves. Behind the mask, the eye opened wide. I caught myself making faces behind my disguise at strangers. There was something weirdly liberating about this; as if, behind the piece of cloth, I could express myself at last. Not unlike writing a book, in fact. On screen, the eye opened wider. Bernie Moon, my heroine, was unlike like me in many ways, and yet anger connected us. The anger that comes from helplessness; from seeing others mistreated. Anger at a society that propagates inequality. And the anger that comes from hormones – those mood-altering chemicals that everyone produces, and yet which allegedly make women erratic; unreliable; hormonal.

In his novel, Carrie, Stephen King tells the story of a girl, whose telekinetic powers are unleashed by her teenage hormones. Carrie is unpopular, bullied, isolated. Her rage finds an outlet in her power. Driven to breaking-point by the bullies, she becomes a monster. Of course she does: after all, the author of this tale is a man, writing from the perspective of a couple of thousand years’ worth of patriarchal inheritance. In literature, a woman’s anger is unnatural; monstrous. It leads to terrible, unnatural things: makes murderers and infanticides of Clytemnestra and Medea; monsters of Medusa and Scylla. Unnatural, monstrous women are always punished in literature, even while acknowledging that they are often the victims of men. And unnatural women are often seen as physically repulsive – a reminder that, to be valued and loved, women must be young, and pure, and conform to the standards of beauty set out by their society. In literature, just as in life, those women who do not conform tend to be less valued, less seen, and when they do appear, do so as wicked witches, evil stepmothers, ugly crones and hideous travesties of womanhood.

But what would happen if a woman took control of the narrative? In recent years, we have observed a number of retellings of Greek myths from the point of view of the monster. Stone Blind, by Nathalie Haynes; Medusa, by Jessie Burton; Circe, by Madeline Miller. In both cases, the monstrous woman is seen from a different perspective; her rage absorbed and justified; her narrative reclaimed from a patriarchy that seeks to tame and subdue a woman’s rage, even at the cost of her life.

My new novel, Broken Light, comes from the same process of reclamation. It owes a debt to Carrie, but I have avoided the explicitly paranormal theme of the original, as well as the girl-on-girl bullying and the psychopathic mother. In my version, Carrie lives; marries her childhood sweetheart; internalizes all her rage and suffocates her power. Until the menopause – a topic which until recently has been largely misunderstood and taboo – at which point her power returns, and with it, a new kind of freedom. Freedom from the male gaze; from the responsibilities of motherhood; from the largely impossible expectations of society. Unlike puberty, menopause is triggered by a lack of certain hormones; and yet the symptoms can be just as dramatic and isolating. Loss of libido, exhaustion, depression, emotional outbursts as well as unpredictable and alarming hot flashes – my version of Carrie’s pyrokinesis. Whether my heroine’s powers stem from any kind of paranormal source is very much up to the reader to decide – after all, paranormal is only a step away from unnatural. And what counts as unnatural is in the eye of the reader – an eye that has been opened, I hope, to a series of new possibilities.

One is that rage is natural. Living in a patriarchy, women have a right to their rage. In fact, it seems more unnatural to me when women are not angry, given how much misogyny remains in our society. And growing old is natural. Being hormonal is natural. Differences are natural; so are disabilities. All women matter; whatever their age, or colour, or sexual orientation, or marital or reproductive status. The value of a woman’s life should not be defined by her popularity, or her age, or her looks, or her kids, or her value to the patriarchy. And no-one else gets to decide what a woman ought to be. A woman is not what, but who - a person, not an object; an active participant in her world. Women have lived too long behind the mask. They deserve their own stories. Stories in which they are allowed the full range of human possibility. So, to answer my mother’s question: Why are the women so angry?

Because it’s a superpower.

[taylortruther]

i’m curious if you’re comfortable answering what places have you branched out to besides the atlantic as you’ve moved further left???

so this is hard to answer, because you can't just go to one source. i didn't just replace the atlantic with a single other publication, i just outgrew it.

anyway, i read A LOT. i've always been interested in issues of gender, inequality, prejudice, even before i knew what they were called. so beyond resources, i encourage you to read a lot, read from many different sources, and read critically. it is up to you to distill the truth from fiction, opinion from fact. also, you must think critically. you have to take the information and apply it, let it challenge you, let it stack up in your brain until you have convictions that you can actually justify.

🚨 also, disclaimer: i do not endorse EVERYTHING these publications or sites have printed. i don't co-sign every opinion these activists hold. i am sorry if i am ignorant to some crime against humanity within! i'm certain all the resources here are considered "problematic" or biased in some way, or to someone. some publications serve corporate interests, some have problematic business practices, some writers have problematic histories, and some of the info will challenge your worldview in a way that might seem harmful and cause you to deem them problematic. 🚨

mainstream news is still essential to stay aware of what's going on in the world (al jazeera, npr, cnn, to name a few) -- but these are some of the corporate interests i was talking about. they're biased, heavily, but sadly can't think of a news site that covers world news that isn't somehow beholden to their corporate overlords.

magazines, such as: mother jones, the nation, tempest, jacobin, dissent, inverse (for science) -- some of these are socialist publications. some, like mother jones, do excellent investigative reporting. you must know the difference between that and editorial - they are all valuable, but they aren't interchangeable. you will find a lot of editorials/opinions here, and you should assume any of them are owned by a bigger company and might be subject to their interests.

a selection of books i've loved at various times in my life: "aint i a woman? Black women and feminism" and "feminist theory" by bell hooks; "revolution and evolution" by grace lee boggs; "so you want to talk about race?" by ijeoma oluo; "bad feminist" by roxane gay; "unpacking the invisible knapsack" by peggy mcintosh; the publications of jackson katz, who researches what we now call toxic masculinity.

i also follow a lot of activists/thinkers, such as:

ericka hart - sexuality and Black history educator

tarana burke - founder of the metoo movement, Black feminist activist

laura danger - discusses domestic labor and gender inequality in relationships, and how global inequality creates it

megan jayne crabbe - writer and body positivity activist

ijeoma oluo - activist and author of "so you want to talk about race?"

abolition notes - not an activist, but a resource for educational material

following magazines and activists is probably the "easiest" solution, because you can expose yourself over time. read articles as they interest you, don't look away when activists say something that initially seems too extreme. idk! hope this helps!!

[ritchiepage2001newaccount]

Project2025 #CorpMedia #Oligarchs #MegaBanks vs #Union #Occupy #NoDAPL #BLM #SDF #DACA #MeToo #Humanity #FeelTheBern

JinJiyanAzadi #BijiRojava Raqqa largely liberated, Rojava revolution holds commune elections [UPDATES]

The flags of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) and Shengal Women's Units (YJS) were planted in the city centre of Raqqa, which had been the capital city of ISIS, on September 14…

RELATED UPDATE: Şîrîn Mihemed serves the Rojava Revolution with her pen and voice

RELATED UPDATE: Lessons From Rojava for the Paradigm of Social Ecology

RELATED UPDATE: SDF arrests ISIS leader in Raqqa

RELATED UPDATE: Kongra Star expresses solidarity with the resistance of women in India

RELATED UPDATE: Kurdish activist Kenan Ayaz sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in prison in Germany

RELATED UPDATE: American troops, Syrian Democratic Forces capture ISIS leader behind prison break

RELATED UPDATE: [VIDEO] US captures ISIS leader in Syria

https://thehill.com/policy/international/4859156-us-captures-isis-leader-in-syria/

RELATED UPDATE: 5th Children's Festival continues in Raqqa

FURTHER READING:

[fairfieldthinkspace]

“The future belonged to the showy and the promiscuous”: Why the 21st Century Loves Edith Wharton

Emily J. Orlando

E. Gerald Corrigan Chair in the Humanities & Social Sciences and Professor of English

Fairfield University

Photo: John Singer Sargent, Sybil Frances Grey, later Lady Eden 1905.

If ever there were a good time to read the American writer Edith Wharton (1862-1937), who published over forty books across four decades, it’s now. Since the Wharton revival of the late 20th century, when directors were adapting (the Pulitzer-Prize winning) The Age of Innocence, Ethan Frome, The Buccaneers, and The House of Mirth, her star has continued to rise. As I yesterday prepared to teach The Custom of the Country, which many have called Wharton’s greatest novel, a friend texted me Sofia Coppola’s article on the surprising appeal of its social-climbing heroine. Coppola is developing Undine Spragg’s story for Apple TV. A kind of Gilded Age Material Girl, Undine has been ready for her close-up for years.

Coppola joins an impressive roster of contemporary admirers of Wharton that includes Roxane Gay, Laura Bush, Lisa Lucas, Peggy Noonan, Jennifer Egan, Stephin Merritt, Claire Messud, Meg Wolitzer, Mindy Kaling, Doug Hughes, Brandon Taylor, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Ali Benjamin, Vendela Vida, Ottessa Moshfegh, and Kristin Hannah. At a time when publishing houses are compelled to scale back, new editions of Wharton’s books are appearing in print with introductions by Coppola, Egan, and Taylor.

Photo: Sofia Coppola.

Those who think they don’t know Wharton might be surprised to learn they do. A reverence for Wharton’s writings informs Sex and the City (whose pilot welcomes us to “the Age of Un-Innocence”), Gossip Girl, Downtown Abbey (whose “Lady Edith” suggests a nod to Wharton), and HBO’s The Gilded Age which, like Downton, is created by the Wharton-appreciating Julian Fellowes. His Bertha and George, after all, are named for the power couple from The House of Mirth.  

But why Wharton? Why now? Perhaps it’s because for all its new technologies, conveniences, and modes of travel and communication, our own “Gilded Age” is a lot like hers. For the post-war and post-flu-epidemic climate that engendered The Age of Innocence is not far removed from our post-COVID-19 reality. In both historical moments, citizens of the world have witnessed a retreat into conservativism and a rise of white supremacy. Fringe groups like the “Proud Boys” and “QAnon” and deniers of everything from the coronavirus to climate change and Sandy Hook are invited to the table in the name of free speech, and here Wharton’s distrust of false narratives resonates particularly well. Post-9/11 calls for patriotism and the alignment of the American flag with one political party harken back to Wharton’s poignant questioning, in a 1919 letter, of the compulsion to profess national allegiance:

how much longer are we going to think it necessary to be “American” before (or in contradistinction to) being cultivated, being enlightened, being humane, & having the same intellectual discipline as other civilized countries?[i]

Her cosmopolitan critique of nationalist fervor remains instructive to us today.

Edith Wharton seems to have foreseen the excesses, obsessions, and spectacles of our current moment. The scandals documented in Wharton’s narratives serve as harbingers of the sensations that flash across our hand-held screens. Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking touches on the same nerve as the sexual exploitation of minors in Wharton’s Summer (1917) and The Children (1928). The quid pro quo run-in between Wharton’s Lily Bart and Gus Trenor looks uncomfortably forward to Harvey Weinstein and #MeToo. The rise to power of Donald Trump would not surprise Edith Wharton.

Photo: “Vanity,” by Auguste Toulmouche, circa 1870.

Wharton’s tenacious Undine Spragg—as horrifying to progressive era readers as she is admired by Generation Z—can be conceived of as the original social media influencer conscious of her brand. For Undine and her creator know that “the future belonged to the showy and the promiscuous”[ii] and that the turn-of-the-century “world where conspicuousness passed for distinction”[iii] foreshadows our own. Wharton would describe Undine in terms we might use for a “Real Housewife of Park Avenue”: “If only everyone would do as she wished she would never be unreasonable” (162). Undine’s world encourages her to aspire to the rank of trophy wife and the sexual double standard dictating that “genius is of small use to a woman who does not know how to do her hair”[iv] would apply to Wharton herself who, on the 150th anniversary of her birth, would be assessed by a male novelist in terms of how she sizes up to Grace Kelly or Jackie Kennedy.[v]  The writer who would declare, in her wildly popular interior design manual The Decoration of Houses, privacy “one of the first requisites of civilized life”[vi] would be appalled by what is broadcast across social media. Wharton also would’ve anticipated the racism directed at Meghan Markle and why granting Oprah an interview would not help relations with her spouse’s family. Children forcibly separated from families due to morally dubious immigration policies echo the plight of war refugees for whose welfare Edith Wharton labored, while the distrust of the cultural other echoes the writer’s own complicated nationalist allegiances.[vii]  

Ten years ago, Lev Raphael took the temperature of Wharton studies declaring in the Huffington Post: “Edith Wharton is hot.” She is now positively on fire. I offer below a short excerpt from the introduction to The Bloomsbury Handbook to Edith Wharton, which appears in print today.

                                                           *********************

The image gracing the cover of The Bloomsbury Handbook to Edith Wharton, capturing a scene on the terrace of Edith Wharton’s French home, reflects the cultural work that this book takes as its task. The writer is in her element: she cradles in her lap her beloved dogs, she sits outdoors at a well-appointed property she lovingly transformed, she surrounds herself with fashionably dressed cosmopolitans, and she smiles. The moment validates an idea expressed in The Age of Innocence: that “the air of ideas is the only air worth breathing.” As host, Wharton, by this point an internationally acclaimed artist, has brought together representatives of an admiring generation from diverse backgrounds that would outlive and perhaps learn from her. That sunlit terrace is doing something we hope this book will do: provide a foundation for future conversations with Edith Wharton at the center.

Photo: Edith Wharton publicity shot.

Around the time this photograph was taken, Wharton would reflect in A Backward Glance that “[t]he world is a welter and has always been one; but though all the cranks and the theorists cannot master the old floundering monster, . . . here and there a saint or a genius suddenly sends a little ray through the fog, and helps humanity to stumble on, and perhaps up” (379). Wharton’s writings arguably send a ray and help humanity stumble on and up in our own Gilded Age. It is the aim of this collection of essays, produced by leaders in the field at a time of global crisis, to make a meaningful contribution to the scholarship on and dialogue about the work of Edith Wharton and to open up new possibilities for understanding and embracing a writer whose corpus is as enormous as it is resonant. To borrow from Wharton’s preface to her anthology The Book of the Homeless (1916), in which she conceives of her volume, as she so often does, as a house: “You will see from the names of the builders what a gallant piece of architecture it is. . . . So I efface myself from the threshold and ask you to walk in.”[viii]

Emily J. Orlando is the E. Gerald Corrigan Chair in the Humanities & Social Sciences and Professor of English at Fairfield University. She is the author of Edith Wharton and the Visual Arts and editor of The Bloomsbury Handbook to Edith Wharton. She is currently preparing for publication a new edition of Edith Wharton’s first book, The Decoration of Houses.

[i]Lewis, Letters, 424.

[ii]Edith Wharton, The Custom of the Country, New York, Penguin, 2006, 117.

[iii]Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth, ed. Elizabeth Ammons, 2nd Norton Critical ed. (New York: Norton, 2018), 186.

[iv]Edith Wharton, The Touchstone, in Wharton, Edith, Collected Stories, 1891-1910, ed. Maureen Howard (New York: Library of America, 2001), 170.

[v]Jonathan Franzen, “A rooting interest: Edith Wharton and the problem of sympathy,” The New Yorker, February 5, 2012.

[vi] Edith Wharton and Ogden Codman, Jr., The Decoration of Houses (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1897), 22.

[vii]See Melanie Dawson, “The Limits of Cosmopolitan Experience in Wharton’s The Buccaneers.” Legacy 31.2 (2014): 258-80. Print.

[viii]Edith Wharton, Preface to The Book of the Homeless (Le Livre des Sans-foyer) (New York, Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1916), xxiv-xxv.

[qqueenofhades]

Do you have a favorite character relationship, platonic or romantic, that’s your favorite to write purely from an author format?

I feel like I’m wording this terribly, but I know for me personally, my favorite relationships to read and write from like… a fandom perspective based on what I ship? is different than the relationships that are interesting to me as an author, because trying to figure out how characters interact, trying to capture their relationship and banter and dialogue and mannerisms, I find in some ways is more fun and interesting and dynamic to write over even some of my absolute favorite relationships, because with my favorites, I read and write them so much that I’m very comfortable with them and sometimes it’s nice to know that I’m just able to go for it and write them because I trust my internal instinct about how to write them and how they act and talk.

But the ones that are more challenging to explore or more unique are in many ways almost more interesting to write, they scratch that author itch when I can pull them off, and especially enjoy.

Like, there’s the things fandom author me enjoys, and things literary author me enjoys, and while there’s a LOT of overlap I have different preferences and favorites on both sides

And honestly I think this goes for ALL writing, not just necessarily relationships? So yeah, there’s the question and I’m so sorry for the rambling, but what would you say are your favorite things and relationships and plots etc to write as a fandom author, and favorite ones as a literary author? I’m happy to try to explain more if I’m being confusing. Words. Hard. Sorry

Are you asking in terms of abstracts (i.e. overall character types/dynamics/broad themes) or specifics (i.e. actual characters/ships from particular media properties)? In general for fandom, I have certain tropes and dynamics that I gravitate toward: i.e. Trashy Garbage Man Falls For Tiny Fierce Woman Who Doesn't Take His Bullshit; Sunshine and Grumpy (any combination thereof); Stupid Homosexuals are Stupid and Cannot Communicate, Cause Problems for Themselves; Now With Even More Literal Centuries of Pining God They're So Fucking Stupid, and more. Most of my favorite and long-term ships, such as Garcy, Fivan, Dreamling, etc. fall into one or more of these categories. I also particularly enjoy or have enjoyed writing Flynn (Timeless), Hob (Sandman), Ivan (Shadow and Bone), and their associated relationships, for various reasons. I know all of their characters well and they give me joy, so it's easy to slip into their POV, create scenarios or headcanons, and put them in various settings and give them problems. So there's that.

In terms of my original stuff, I am much more experimental and interested in a broader range of styles and outcomes. When you're writing fic, you are usually heading toward a certain ending (a happy ending for the blorbos after various tribulations), and I therefore have a certain writing style for fic that reflects that. My original fiction is different and in some ways considerably darker, and pushes character boundaries, plotlines, and interactions beyond what you'll normally see in my fic. For example, I have two currently finished original novels that (and I KNOW I have said this before) I should just quit procrastinating on and publish, especially since I badly need the money. One of them, The Wives, is a dark feminist murder-version of #MeToo with an unreliable and extremely feral female narrator. The other, Wormwood, is an alternate-history science fiction saga that is a combination of The Man in the High Castle and Chernobyl. They're both considerably different from each other in tone, style, and character relationships, and they represent more experimentation, complicated morality, and plot conflict than is generally reflected in my fics, because long-form fandom writing is one kind of thing and original long-form writing is another. So hey.

I likewise am currently working on an original version of my fic The Key of Solomon, entitled The Empire of Bones, which is an epic ensemble political-magical fantasy set in a historically inspired world. @silverbirching has read Part 1 and very much enjoyed it, so I am hoping to finish that one sometime in the new year (probably not sooner, but we will see?) It is likewise quite different from The Wives and Wormwood, and will (I hope) readily appeal to fans of my fics, because it preserves some of the same themes, styles, and character dynamics, while also including a ton of original stuff, extensive world-building, and new plots, themes, and content.

Thanks for the question!

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

MERE HOURS REMAIN for the Kickstarter for the audiobook for The Bezzle, the sequel to Red Team Blues, narrated by @wilwheaton! You can pre-order the audiobook and ebook, DRM free, as well as the hardcover, signed or unsigned. There’s also bundles with Red Team Blues in ebook, audio or paperback.

#20yrsago Tablature for Super Mario Brothers https://artport.whitney.org/gatepages/artists/galloway/

#20yrsago Unix as she is spoke https://web.archive.org/web/20040215071845/http://www.eeng.brad.ac.uk/help/.faq/.unix/.pronun.html

#15yrsago Comprehensive excoriation of ebook stupidity https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2009/02/the-once-and-future-e-book/

#15yrsago Disneyland Paris’s smoking area/stroller rental https://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorow/3246021936/

#10yrsago Marx’s prescient predictions for the 21st century https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/marx-was-right-five-surprising-ways-karl-marx-predicted-2014-237285/

#10yrsago UK Parliament considers allowing secret courts to issue orders to seize reporters’ notebooks https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/jan/31/secret-hearings-police-journalists-deregulation-bill

#10yrsago Massive collection of Soviet wartime posters https://windowsonwar.nottingham.ac.uk

#10yrsago Toronto Mayor Rob Ford ticketed, allegedly for public intoxication, in Vancouver https://globalnews.ca/news/1122528/breaking-rob-ford-reportedly-ticketed-in-vancouver-for-jaywalking/

#10yrsago Neil Gaiman reads “Green Eggs and Ham” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKh_WOfxkA4

#5yrsago After #MeToo, whole industries have been blacklisted by insurers for sexual harassment liability coverage https://theintercept.com/2019/02/02/workplace-harassment-insurance-metoo/

#5yrsago Women weren’t excluded from early science fiction: they were erased https://www.wired.com/2019/02/geeks-guide-history-women-sci-fi/

#5yrsago Delayed, not saved: Foxconn’s Wisconsin “factory” announcement is a bid to help Trump save face https://www.cbsnews.com/news/foxconn-says-it-will-build-wisconsin-factory-after-all-citing-conversation-with-trump/

#5yrsago The plane(t) has been hijacked by billionaires, and we’re all passengers https://www.businessinsider.com/anand-giridharadas-billionaires-inequality-interview-2019-1

#5yrsago No Deal Brexit will lead to “putrefying stockpiles of rubbish” and “slurry” https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/01/revealed-plan-to-deal-with-putrefying-stockpiles-of-rubbish-after-no-deal-brexit

#1yrago Netflix wants to chop down your family tree https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/02/nonbinary-families/#red-envelopes

Back the Kickstarter for the audiobook of The Bezzle here!

[fullhalalalchemist]

https://neurosciencenews.com/neuroscience-pornography-brain-15354/

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ab.20367

https://exoduscry.com/articles/violent-porn-is-shaping-children-everywhere/

https://nbc-2.com/news/2021/01/12/heres-how-your-porn-habit-could-be-helping-human-sex-traffickers/

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/oct/26/former-porn-stars-recall-industry-abuses-struggles/

https://www.collectiveshout.org/porn_stars_speak_out

https://www.engadget.com/2016-04-21-legal-porn-sites-hiding-child-abuse.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/04/opinion/sunday/pornhub-rape-trafficking.html

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-18/pornhub-videos-lawsuit-rape-exploitation-minors/100227966

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58917993

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/porn-could-bigger-economic-influence-121524565.html

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19862768/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3050060/

https://endsexualexploitation.org/articles/three-ways-domestic-violence-is-connected-to-pornography/

https://verilymag.com/2015/08/porn-industry-playboy-mansion-sex-trafficking-belle-knox-rashida-jones-holly-madison

https://fightthenewdrug.org/how-porn-can-promote-sexual-violence/

https://fightthenewdrug.org/can-tell-difference-metoo-stories-porn-plot-lines/

-ncose, exodus cry, ftnd, endsexualexploitation, are all far-right christian fundamentalist organizations who's goal is to eradicate all queerness and sexuality from the public sphere. they do not gaf about traffiking becaues none of their resources have ever actually gone to traffiking victims. leila mickelwait fucking post CSAM on TWITTER that she had saved on her phone. SEVERAL of these news articles take their info from them and use them as a source when they just lie and make shit up all the time about traffiking and porn. and all these news sites just repeat what they say with NO fact checking. they are not trustworthy sites and should never be used as sources on anything.

-there is NO medical consensus on porn addiction. it is not a 'real thing' and most of the time the source is some form of religious guilt, shame, depression, etc and sex is the quickest way to get endorphins. which is why porn is such a big economic influence. porn has always been one of the main drives of pushing innovation.

-linking a few studies does not prove anything. thats literally not how science works. yall need to also understand that porn is going to affect different people differently. cis men and cis male teens who already don't ever evaluate their role in society, or ever think twice about gender roles and already have their set-in-stone ideas about sex and gender are going to be affected differently. these studies never take into account the sociological aspect of these men and where they stand on sex and gender or how they interact with each other.

people are obsessed with sex and porn! they always have been! sex and sexuality is normal and desirable and yall need to stop acting like it isnt or is some huge taboo thing or that it NEVER has affected our society and shaped how we do things. people have ALWAYS been obsessed by it and it has always shaped laws and society.

[leblogdemarinaetjeanmarie]

MARDI 23 MAI 2023 (Billet 1 / 3)

Nous venons de recevoir ce document envoyé par un sympathique voisin, très cultivé (principalement dans le domaine des techniques et des sciences), très informé, très bricoleur… et adorable avec nous. Il nous a déjà rendu de multiples services. Cerise sur le gâteau, il a de l’humour. Nous lui avons demandé de qui il tenait ce texte, il a botté en touche. Si ça se trouve, c’est peut-être lui qui l’a écrit… car en plus, il est modeste.

Ce texte est à lire à haute voix, il est tragiquement drôle !

________________________

Une prospective qui circule... et qui, avec ou sans virgules, ne manque pas de nous apostropher !!!

Ce matin de 2035, mon fils de 8 ans m’a fait une crise et a menacé d’appeler le 119 car je refuse qu’il aille à l’école en jupe & avec du vernis aux ongles. Ma fille Julie de 15 ans, qui se sent « non binaire », m’a traité de « boomer » car j’ai refusé de l’appeler « iel » en parlant d’« elle » et parce que je refuse de changer son prénom à l’état civil. Elle veut s’appeler « Jul » pour ne pas qu’on puisse supposer son genre. Et aussi parce que « Jul » est son chanteur préféré.

Je pars au boulot à vélo, car depuis la loi Hidalgo de 2026, la voiture (même électrique) est interdite dans les grandes agglomérations. Je parcours donc 35 km tous les jours à vélo. Avec la chaleur de ce mois de juillet, j’arrive au boulot trempé et décoiffé.

Mais ce n’est pas grave, c’est le cas de tout le monde : ici, personne ne se regarde et personne ne se juge, car c’est passible d’une amende et, éventuellement, d’une peine de prison selon la gravité de la remarque.

Mon patron me fait savoir qu’il m’a mis un blâme car, hier, j’ai écrit un mail sans écriture inclusive et qu’une cliente s’en est plainte. La prochaine fois, c’est la porte ! Il faut que je fasse attention à ce que j’écris et à comment je l’écris. Et aussi à ce que je dis… 

Ma nouvelle collègue, qui partage mon bureau, n’est pas là aujourd’hui, car c’est sa semaine de « congé menstruel ». C’est un congé mis en place depuis 2023 afin de permettre aux personnes possédant un vagin (sans distinction de genre, pour éviter d’éventuelles stigmatisations) de rester à la maison, pour motif de règles douloureuses, une semaine par mois.

Grâce à son absence, je peux donc exceptionnellement fermer la porte de mon bureau. En effet, après le mouvement #MeToo, la France a imposé l’interdiction de « portes closes » lorsque des employés de genres différents travaillent ensemble. Certaines entreprises créent même des « espaces safe », c’est-à-dire des bureaux sans aucun homme hétérosexuel pour éviter tout risque d’agression sexuelle.

A midi, pour la pause déjeuner, je n’apporte plus de viande dans mes plats, car j’en avais marre de me faire traiter de « carniste », de « spéciste » ou carrément d’arriéré par mes autres collègues – pour la majorité d’entre eux devenus « végans ». Par ailleurs, lorsque je fais les courses au supermarché et que j’ose m’acheter un rare morceau de poulet à 45 euros le kilo, je me fais systématiquement dévisager par les autres clients, emplis de dégoût.

Le soir, tout en grignotant mon bol d’insectes accompagnés de pousses de soja (bien plus écoresponsable que mon bifteck d’antan), je peux enfin me distraire devant un film Netflix : c’est l’histoire de Napoléon, joué ici par Omar Sy, et Joséphine, sa femme, jouée par une actrice mexicaine dont le nom m’échappe. La parité dans ce film est parfaitement respectée et on apprend, par ailleurs, que Napoléon était bisexuel, afro-américain et musulman. Le film a d’ailleurs obtenu 12 oscars, battant ainsi le précédent record de 11 statuettes, remporté par « Titanic », un vieux film qui racontait l’histoire grotesque d’un couple blanc hétérosexuel, voyageant dans un paquebot de luxe au début du XXe siècle.

Le film terminé, je décide de me glisser dans mon lit pour continuer ma lecture du moment « La Gloire de mon parent n° 1 ». (Pour les plus anciens comme moi, ce livre s’appelait autrefois « La Gloire de mon père », et faisait partie de la série « Souvenirs d’enfance », de Marcel Pagnol).

Je vais, d’ailleurs, bientôt attaquer « Le Château de mon parent n° 2 » qui est la suite du premier. J’ai hâte.

Ne riez pas, on y va en courant…

[praphit]

Beavis and Butt-Head: A proud Fifth Choice

Your eyes do not deceive you. The movie joint I'm rockin, today,  is "Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe". You might say "They have a movie?" "Why?" "Why would you even watch that mess?" "And why would you review it?" "Are you feeling ok?" "Have you lost your mojo?" "Are you on a bender?" - All valid questions.

I asked myself those questions for a bit. At some point, I'm going to either lose my way (however you'd like to interpret that) or lose my passion to ramble about movies. Perhaps this lapse in judgment is the beginning of the end.

I can't be too hard on myself though; B&B weren't my first choice (sorry, boys). I recently discovered that we have Paramount + (The Arby’s of streaming services). In clicking on it, I then discovered that those mischievous, dumbass boys from the the 90' and 2000's are back (for this new movie, AND the series is back). 

I then said to myself "Nope". I never really got them, so... "meh".

I then saw the trailer for "Incantation" (first choice)

YES! Watch this trailer! Do it!

Look how scared she is... she's seen some shit! I'd like to witness the same said shit.

Well, then I watched a lil bit of the actual movie, and within minutes... "meh". It's about... 

... wait, it doesn't matter what it's about, it sucks!

You can tell if a movie is gonna suck within the first few minutes. It's kinda like conversations. Now, that I've gotten older (and care way less about certain social things) I just walk away from conversations that have the smell of suck. You know you can do that?? Just say "This convo sucks." and leave :) Some call that rude, but I call it time management.

I then saw the title (only) for "Lou" (second choice). I'll spend some time watching a movie about some dude (or lady) with the cool name of "Lou" The crazy thing is that they had me at the title and lost me with the trailer.

They also look scared, but they look like they're scared of a better movie coming along.

"Barbarian" (third choice) is out there, 

but I was too lazy to go see it. 

And "Dahmer"(fourth choice). 

I thought it might be a two or three parter, but it's like 10 epi's. Even if I wanted to, one can't simply sit down and watch a whole day's worth of blood and cannibalism. That can't be healthy.

So, here we are (fifth choice). 

Lemme give the young people a chance.

I normally question young people's tastes in music 

 Their choices for Tv

(this TikTok was simply someone peeling an egg... that’s it:)

 their convo

Wait, that’s Adam Levine talking. He’s my around my age, I think. But, the kids are def talking like that.

 And their general decision making 

, but why not.

Beavis and Butt-Head set out to do the universe, and it all started with Butt-Head kicking Beavis in the balls. Many, many, many times did he do this. They were at a science fair, and it was thought that a marathon of crotch-kicking to see how long it would take for Beavis to pass out... was their experiment - the trials of human endurance.  Nope. They were just doing it to do it.

Beavis's balls lead them into outer space where they found themselves trying to get into the pants of this woman right here. Serena. Up until now, I thought I had made a mistake with this movie, but it was at this point I started to get it.

Beavis and Butt-Head are always trying to "score" Life IS about points isn't it??!: Games as kids. tests as we get older, points with the parents, points with your boss, points when you fly, points when you buy, trying to appear better than someone else as to take points away from them, etc etc... and of course the type of points they're into.

The pursuit of scoring led them into the future (2022) where they continue to look for Serena, simply to score with her. (poor boys, they aren't aware yet of the METOO movement).

She doesn't know that they're trying to score with her - she thinks they're there to ruin her career/life. Meanwhile the government believes these boys to be some sort of threat like aliens or terrorists or something.

It took some time, but I finally saw the light!

These boys have taught me a lot in this movie. I get it now! They're like idiot geniuses. And there's a lot of idiocy: they learn of the iphone and fall in love with Siri, they travel the country covered in feces and nacho cheese, they are told about their white privilege by a room full of feminists (after the boys invite them all to a "slut party") and so use their new found "power" to commit crimes, and we see a reappearance of The Great Cornholio 

(real G's know).

But, then it's their simplicity that has enchanted me today.  Points and Nachos. Nothing else matters. Everything either is “cool” or it “sucks”. Very simple. Add in some fresh animation, there dedication to slap stick (genius comedy duo btw:), and their witty word play - 

"Woodson. You've got wood, son. Boiiiiiinnng" 

Fantastic!

All this and more has gained them not only a high grade from me, but it has awakened a call to simplicity for myself, and  new hope in our.... well, I was going to say "our youth", but let's not go too far... um... a new hope to learn and laugh at the idiocy of others. Thank you, B&B. I've never been more sure about my movie judgment and mojo.

I've thought long and hard about this - I only wish they went a lil more over the top. Grade: B+ 

Fine cinema.

huh huh I said "long and hard" huh huh  Yes, fine cinema indeed.

[peachz-reviews]

Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer - Limited Series [2024] on Hulu/Disney Plus

Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer makes you rethink lots of things. From Criminal Minds to #MeToo. Loved every second. Dr. Ann Burgess might be one of the most underrated personalities in all North America. Her work is essential to most of the advances in psychology, studies of serial killers, as well as developing the whole Behavioral Science Unit in the FBI. For anyone who liked Mindhunter…

[deepakcalinfo]

Most Exciting Qualitative Research Topics For Students

Qualitative research allows for deep exploration of complex topics and human experiences. Here are some exciting qualitative research topics for students across various fields:

Social Sciences

Experiences of Racial Discrimination in the Workplace: How do individuals from different racial backgrounds perceive and cope with workplace discrimination?

Impact of Social Movements on Individual Identity: How do participants in social movements like Black Lives Matter or MeToo perceive changes in their identities?

Perceptions of Police Presence in Urban vs. Rural Areas: How do residents in urban and rural areas view the role and impact of local police forces?

Education

Experiences of First-Generation College Students: What challenges and triumphs do first-generation college students encounter in higher education?

Teacher Perspectives on Inclusive Curriculum Design: How do teachers perceive the challenges and benefits of designing inclusive curricula for diverse classrooms?

Impact of Bilingual Education on Cognitive Development: How do students in bilingual education programs perceive their cognitive and academic development?

Health and Well-being

Experiences of Caregivers for Alzheimer’s Patients: What are the emotional, physical, and social experiences of caregivers for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease?

Impact of Fitness Technology on Exercise Habits: How do users of fitness trackers and apps perceive their impact on motivation and physical activity?

Patient Perspectives on Palliative Care: How do patients and their families perceive the quality and impact of palliative care services?

Business and Economics

Women in Leadership Roles: Barriers and Successes: How do women in executive positions perceive their journeys and the barriers they face?

Consumer Trust in Online Reviews: What factors influence consumer trust and decision-making based on online product reviews?

Impact of Remote Work on Company Culture: How do employees perceive changes in company culture and team dynamics due to remote work policies?

Technology

Experiences with Virtual Reality in Education: How do students and teachers perceive the effectiveness and engagement of virtual reality as a learning tool?

Privacy Concerns with Smart Personal Assistants: What are users’ perceptions of privacy and data security when using intelligent personal assistants like Alexa or Google Home?

Influence of Social Media Algorithms on User Behavior: How do users perceive the influence of social media algorithms on their content consumption and behavior?

Cultural Studies

Impact of Cultural Festivals on Community Cohesion: How do cultural festivals contribute to community identity and cohesion?

Perceptions of Body Image in Different Cultures: How do cultural norms influence individuals’ perceptions of body image and self-esteem?

Role of Traditional Music in Cultural Preservation: How do communities use traditional music to preserve and promote their cultural heritage?

Environmental Studies

Public Attitudes Towards Wildlife Conservation: How do different communities perceive and support wildlife conservation efforts?

Perceptions of Environmental Justice in Urban Planning: How do residents of different socio-economic backgrounds perceive the fairness and impact of urban environmental policies?

Experiences with Community Gardening Projects: How do participants in community gardening projects perceive their impact on social connections and ecological awareness?

Psychology

Experiences of Individuals with Anxiety Disorders in the Workplace: How do individuals with anxiety disorders navigate and perceive their workplace environment?

Impact of Mindfulness Practices on Stress Management: How do individuals practicing mindfulness perceive its effects on their stress levels and overall well-being?

Perceptions of Therapy among Different Age Groups: How do perceptions and attitudes towards therapy vary across different age groups?

Political Science

Voter Perceptions of Election Fairness: How do different demographic groups perceive the fairness and integrity of the electoral process?

Impact of Political Satire on Public Opinion: How do audiences perceive the influence of political satire shows on their political opinions and knowledge?

Youth Engagement in Political Activism: How do young people perceive their roles and effectiveness in political activism and social change movements?

These topics aim to cover a broad spectrum of contemporary issues, providing ample opportunities for students to engage in meaningful and impactful qualitative research.

Also Read : 189+ Most Exciting Qualitative Research Topics For Students

[ritchiepage2001newaccount]

CorpMedia #Oligarchs #MegaBanks vs #Union #Occupy #NoDAPL #BLM #SDF #DACA #MeToo #Humanity #FeelTheBern

JinJiyanAzadi #BijiRojava The US Must Not Abandon the People of Rojava [UPDATES]

While we value the decision of President Obama to support Rojava militarily against ISIL, the administration can do more. The United States must not abandon the people of Rojava for the interests of the regional states who are actually doing very little to fight ISIL…

RELATED UPDATE: Rojava Conflict

RELATED UPDATE: The Dirtbag Left’s Man in Syria

RELATED UPDATE: It has been confirmed as accurate, and you can see in the maps, that around 55% of Raqqa has been taken back from ISIS. The YPJ, YPG, and SDF officially declared the start of the battle for Raqqa city on June 6th, 2017.

RELATED UPDATE: Confessions of a communard: All-in for the revolution

RELATED UPDATE: A new book documents art and resistance in Iran

RELATED UPDATE: Iranian authorities stop Jina Amini's lawyer, seize EU Parliament Sakharov Prize

RELATED UPDATE: Women in Rojava express solidarity with the women and people of Balochistan

RELATED UPDATE: Thirtysix Fights: Martial arts event for women's shelter in Rojava

FURTHER READING:

[kkkkoreo]

#MeToo: How Social Media Sparked a Gender Revolution

(WEEK 6)

In this digital age, social media has become an integral part of our lives. Not only that, but it has become a powerful tool to drive political engagement and activism. Today, let's talk about how the #MeToo movement, a sensational global movement, has influenced society and driven change through Hashtag Publics.

Let's go back to 2017, the year when a huge wave was created on social media: the #MeToo. in fact, the story of #MeToo began back in 2006, when it was started by social activist Tarana Burke to raise awareness about sexual harassment and assault. However, in 2017, when Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault scandal came to light, actress Alyssa Milano instantly set the world ablaze when she tweeted a call for other victims to speak out using the #MeToo hashtag.

Through the #MeToo hashtag, countless women (and of course men) have shared their personal experiences. This was not just the sharing of personal stories, but the formation of a global platform for conversation, a giant Hashtag publics, supporting each other in a common call for social change.

The #MeToo movement is more than just a social media phenomenon; it has inspired political engagement and policy change. Thousands of stories have emerged, breaking the silence that has long surrounded sexual harassment and assault. These collective voices didn't just stay on social media; they sparked a broad public discussion that compelled politicians and legislatures to take action. In the United States, for example, the #MeToo movement has spurred numerous policy reforms at the state and federal level. California passed several laws aimed at strengthening sexual harassment prevention measures in the workplace. Congress has also conducted relevant investigations and made policy changes to address sexual harassment. These are the direct political outcomes of the #MeToo movement and fully demonstrate the power of Hashtag publics in driving political change.

Of course, #MeToo is more than just an online voice; it has spawned widespread activism. Social media became a powerful tool for organizing and promoting action. Protests, rallies and discussions across the globe were coordinated and promoted through the #MeToo hashtag. Whether it was street demonstrations or online discussions, #MeToo became an important symbol of activism.

This collective action has not only brought attention and support in the short term, but has also contributed to social and cultural change in the long term. The #MeToo movement has challenged deeply entrenched gender biases and power structures in many societies, prompting a re-examination and change in understanding and attitudes towards gender relations. In this way, Hashtag publics are more than just online communities; they are a significant force for actual social change.

So let's keep watching, keep speaking out, and keep acting, because in this digital age, each of us can be part of the change! #MeToo is more than just a hashtag, it's a movement, a revolution, a force that is pushing us towards a more just and equal world.

reference

Anderson, M, Toor, S, Rainie, L & Smith, A 2018, Public attitudes toward political engagement on social media, Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech.

[yhlifestory]

Week 6: What is Digital Citizenship? Hashtag Publics, Political Engagement and Activism

Welcome back to my blog! ☀️

This week's content is gonna be a little bit serious as we're going to talk about the world of digital citizenship, focusing on how hashtags bring people together for political engagement and activism. I'll break it down so it's easy to understand and fun to read. So, what exactly is digital citizenship? Basically is having the know-how to use digital tools to connect with others, share ideas, and be active in our online communities. It's all about being a positive part of the digital world. (Media smarts, 2022)

I guess all of us are very familiar with hashtags (#), even I also love using hashtags when posting stuff on social media. For me, hashtag publics are like online groups that come together around specific hashtags. When people use the same hashtag, they join a bigger conversation. I’ve seen two famous hashtags #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo have created huge online movements (the impact is legit crazy). (Bestvater et al., 2023) These hashtags bring together people with similar concerns, letting them share stories and raise awareness. It's pretty cool how a simple hashtag can connect voices from all over the world, showing us how serious these issues are and that they're happening everywhere, we can't just ignore or brush them off.

I deep down really think that hashtag publics are really powerful because they make it easy for people to get involved in political engagement. Political engagement involves activities like voting, campaigning, or sharing information to influence government and public policies. Social media has made this incredibly accessible. I remember seeing #BlackLivesMatter was everywhere, and all of my social media platforms were flooded by this hashtag, that's why I did some research because I was too curious about how is this hashtag became so famous.

#BlackLivesMatter started in 2013 after Trayvon Martin's killer was acquitted. Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi created it to fight racism and violence against Black people. It became a worldwide movement where millions used the hashtag to share their stories and call for justice. (Adams, 2020)

Another hashtag #MeToo is also frequently being used and mentioned. I know one of the cases in China, there's a big #MeToo moment occurred involving a former intern, Xianzi, accusing a famous TV anchor, Zhu Jun, of sexual assault. Xianzi's accusation sparked a wave of support online, with many women sharing their own stories of harassment in the entertainment industry using #MeToo. This moment highlighted the power of such movements to create a sense of community and empower people to fight for what's right. (Nast, 2018)

Hashtags aren't just for raising awareness—they're also a big part of activism. Activists use them to get organized and keep the ball rolling. Like during climate strikes, hashtags such as #FridaysForFuture help folks rally worldwide. Students from all over use these tags to swap stories and get others fired up to join in. It's wild how a little tag can turn into a big force for making things happen.

In short, being a good digital citizen means using hashtags wisely, talking about politics, and getting involved in activism. That's how we can make the internet better and make real change happen. So, if you see a hashtag that speaks to you, jump in and add your voice to the conversation.

References :

Adams, C. 2020. A movement, a slogan, a rallying cry: How Black Lives Matter changed America’s view on race. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/movement-slogan-rallying-cry-how-black-lives-matter-changed-america-n1252434.

Bestvater, S., Gelles-Watnick, R., Odabaş, M., Anderson, M. and Smith, A. 2023. #BlackLivesMatter Turns 10. [online] Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2023/06/29/blacklivesmatter-turns-10/.

Media smarts, 2022. What is Digital Citizenship? [online] MediaSmarts. https://mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy/general-information/digital-media-literacy-fundamentals/what-digital-citizenship.

Nast, C. 2018. One Year of #MeToo: How the Movement Eludes Government Surveillance in China. [online] The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/one-year-of-metoo-how-the-movement-eludes-government-surveillance-in-china.

[jjwong16]

Week 6: What is Digital Citizenship ?

The term "digital citizenship" describe how people who engage with the digital world should use technology in a responsible and appropriate manner. It includes a broad spectrum of actions and procedures that support the responsible, moral, and effective use of digital tools and platforms. (media smarts, 2022) A person who practices digital citizenship will be aware of their rights and obligations, communicate online with others in a polite manner, be digitally literate, and safeguard their security and privacy. It is crucial in today's globally interconnected society because it enables people to make wise decisions, negotiate the complexity of the digital environment, and constructively engage with the digital community. (media smarts, 2022)

The emergence of social media has led to a phenomenon in the field of political activity and involvement called hashtag publics. These are social media groups built around certain hashtags that act as hubs for mobilization and conversation on a range of subjects. Hashtag publics can swiftly unite disparate groups of individuals around common interests or causes since they are frequently spontaneous. By enabling people to take part in public debate, organize movements, and make their voices heard, they play a crucial role in promoting political involvement and social change. The capacity of hashtag publics to promote political engagement is among their most important effects. People can easily join political conversations and voice their opinions on hot-button issues by using hashtags. (Anderson et al., 2018) For example, social justice campaigns have gained international attention thanks to hashtags like #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo, which have enabled millions of individuals to share their stories, spread awareness, and demand change. These internet platforms democratize political engagement by allowing anyone to participate in the conversation and shape public opinion who might otherwise be excluded. (Anderson et al., 2018)

Hashtag publics also give marginalized voices a platform to be amplified. Certain groups may find it difficult to be heard in traditional media because of institutionalized prejudices and gatekeeping. Social media hashtags, on the other hand, can get over these obstacles and help underrepresented groups speak up for their rights and tell their stories. Issues that might otherwise go unnoticed may become more visible and receive more support as a result of this amplification. For example, the #MeToo campaign gave survivors the confidence to speak up and demand justice by drawing attention to the widespread problem of sexual harassment and assault. (Anderson et al., 2018)

To sum up, hashtag publics and digital citizenship are essential elements of the contemporary digital environment. Because hashtag publics create vibrant, influential online groups that propel social change, they are essential to political engagement and action. By adopting these ideas, we may create a digital society that is more knowledgeable, welcoming, and proactive as we traverse the digital landscape.

References

Anderson, M, Toor, S, Rainie, L & Smith, A 2018, ‘2. An analysis of #BlackLivesMatter and other Twitter hashtags related to political or social issues’, Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech, Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech, viewed <https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/07/11/an-analysis-of-blacklivesmatter-and-other-twitter-hashtags-related-to-political-or-social-issues/>.

Bell, L 2023, ‘The Role of Hashtag Activism in Amplifying Causes’, AdLift, viewed <https://www.adlift.com/blog/the-role-of-hashtag-activism-in-amplifying-causes/s/#:~:text=The%20Benefits%20of%20Hashtag%20Activism&text=Another%20benefit%20of%20hashtag%20activism,support%20for%20a%20particular%20cause.>.

media smarts 2022, ‘What is Digital Citizenship?’, MediaSmarts, viewed <https://mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy/general-information/digital-media-literacy-fundamentals/what-digital-citizenship>.

Zook, C 2023, ‘What Is Digital Citizenship & How Do You Teach It?’, www.icevonline.com, viewed <https://www.icevonline.com/blog/what-is-digital-citizenship>.