7. Online vs. Public Sphere Activism Can this type of activism lead to social/political change? Or is it only public sphere activism that can create an impact?
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Notas del editor
Media can be defined both as a medium to communication, interact and promulgate as well as to create meaning. Activism on the other hand is the ability to change or make history. It represents the practice of striving for change from reactionary as well as progressive aims and ambitions. Different forms of media activism are e.g. electronic promotion, culture jamming, and hacktivism. New media activism differs from the traditional activism since being more reliant on technological competence and mobile devices and being more geographically dispersed.
Men get more space in the media, and are less often stereotyped in the same way as women are. It is said that instead of giving attention to issues of representation it is argued that more attention should be given to strategies for change. Some approaches normally used are the political approach which highlights conflict and power relations and the countercultural approach which challenges values and norms in a patriarchic society. The women’s alternative media have been existing since the 1970s and in recent year’s internet has allowed this to develop even further. Unfortunately this media is often read or noticed by an already committed audience but nevertheless, many of these media have given voices to women who would never been heard in the mainstream media. In short, internet has had a positive effect on the women’s debate and has increased the information spread. However, as pointed out, a lot of the information circulating internet is only read by those already engaged in the matter.