Feminism And Cyberfeminism - 1712 Words

Cyberfeminism is an offset of feminism characterized as â€Å"a range of theories, debates, and practices about the relationship between gender and digital culture (Daniels 102).† While this definition addresses some of the most basic ideas associated with Cyberfeminism, it is not actually a theory with a universally accepted definition, but rather centers on a number of central ideas and practices. However, it is generally accepted that the preliminary concepts of cyberfeminism, namely the idea of a â€Å"cyborg,† were presented by Donna Haraway in her 1984 piece â€Å"A Cyborg Manifesto.† While her article was written in the mid 80’s, Cyberfeminism achieved popularity in the late 80’s and 90’s in relation to the blossoming technological advances,†¦show more content†¦The goal of adopting the cyborg figure is to lessen such power, in order to create a society in which those with partial or contradictory identities may embrace those identities proudly, without fear of policing or invisibility (295). One tactic recommended in this Manifesto, and later echoed in various Cyberfeminist works, is irony. Irony, according to Haraway, is so effective because it draws attention to pieces that do not fit neatly into a larger whole, as well as the â€Å"tensions† that arise from holding incompatible things together because â€Å"all are necessary and true (291).† In fact, it’s these tensions themselves, the consequences of hardships of living a hybrid life that become the focus of some later Cyberfeminist works, such as the struggle between the physical and the non-physical, or between the physical body and an online persona. What remains central, however, is Haraway’s insistence that such an examination of tension, or benefit, never become totalizing. One cannot â€Å"rely on ‘essential’ unity (295)† to define or understand something, especially something as complex as a bo ard-crossing, boundary dissolving cyborg. That idea carries over to Cyberfeminist activism, ideology, and theory. Just as Haraway speaks against a unified idea of â€Å"women† based on perceived, inherent characteristics, including innate innocenceShow MoreRelatedThe Rise Of Social Media And Its Impact On The Feminism Movement Essay1542 Words   |  7 Pages Media Research Literature Review The rise of Social Media and its impact on the Feminism Movement Abstract: The new media Internet, social media platforms, has been an increasingly popular tool for feminists to promote the feminism movement. With the broad reach of the internet and social media, this has led to a wider awareness of the feminist movement. The broad reach of the internet and social media however has also open the female gender to various levels of objectificationRead MoreThe Guerilla Girls Are A Women s Activist Art Group Essay2159 Words   |  9 Pagesdemonstrates a central problematic of GGOT’s feminist politics. GGOT’s push for increased recognition of women’s contribution to and inclusion in the public sphere,along with their historical, political impulse toward solidarity, epitomizes cultural feminism in ‘‘its dedication to the propositions that women’s feminine attributes amount to a consciousness or culture, that their consciousness or culture is improperly devalued, and that the reform goal is to revalue it upward. (White 324) Analyzing women