Meg Thomas
It has been over a year since there was a rapid rise in misogyny-based murders in the UK. Undoubtedly, the media spree that subsequently followed began to change the shape of feminism in the UK. The rise in femicide is not something that can be menially discussed, nor should it be a topic of debate for shock value.
Ultimately, it is not possible, ethically, to list the names of the women we’ve lost and minimise them to another statistic. It is valuable, however, to track a clear shift in feminist sentiment amongst young people in the UK in the last year, and how the social media age changes the movement.
An issue with the perception of the feminist movement is the outsider idea: the notion that feminism is angry women attaching themselves to something, and consequently choosing to be outspoken, unruly and rebellious. The reality is the opposite. Feminism is something innate in most of us. It is not just a political movement. Feminism is a desire to be assertive, represented and equal. So, when turning on the news and seeing the face of another victim became commonplace, anger became commonplace too.
When did the change begin?
Several weeks into 2021, an unspoken social contract was created. Nobody wanted to talk about the horrific details. Phone calls from crying friends, helplessness when watching the news and the emergence of a pattern – a pattern that feels long ignored in the UK. Even when women are being murdered, and hard-working politicians are mocked by the media for being working-class women, the UK still cannot look its misogyny problem in the eye.
And then a second horror was revealed: this patriarchy is institutionalised. Our so-called ‘protectors’ are actively working against us. With institutions like the police acting blind to misogyny – notably when the Ex-Commissioner of Police, Cressida Dick, refused to accept internalised misogyny in the police – we realise that the police are instruments of capitalism, working to keep us down and to stop us questioning violence. Therefore, if our ‘protectors’ cannot act accordingly, we must put in the action ourselves.
Isolation triggering reflection
The national COVID-19 lockdown forced us to analyse our lives, and this period of self-reflection in parallel with the rise in misogyny-based hate crimes has led to this increase of feminist thought. Before the pandemic, many women may have perceived feminism as a movement not meant for them, due to its stereotypes of burning bras and rowdy shouting.
“But now, women are waking up and realising that this behaviour cannot be tolerated”
But the pandemic has catalysed social change, and young feminists no longer feel held back by these preconceived ideas rooted in homophobia and patriarchy. It is becoming clear that feminism is a movement for the many.
All too long women have felt they need to ignore the rolling eyes of men when they speak in the classroom, the pitiful smirks when girls discuss their career aspirations and the sexualisation of the AFAB bodies in schools. But now, women are waking up and realising that this behaviour cannot be tolerated.
What does the ‘digital age’ have to do with this?
It is ignorant to assume that a deep dive into ideological feminism is feasible for all – many of us are focussed on getting by day to day. Ultimately, it is both unfair and privileged to penalise those who aren’t able to spend time reading theory or getting directly involved in activism. It is much more productive to ensure that passion does not go ignored, regardless of where you come from, and realise that no contribution is too small. When were all locked inside our homes feeling hopeless, the internet and media helped us utilise our terror for change.
This fear links to the rise of feminist ‘influencers’. Nobody’s feminism is perfect, especially when such a struggle is utilised for profit. This is a common dispute within feminist circles. How useful can influencers be within feminist liberation, if they are making use of their platform to promote beauty standards, or to trick their viewers into the consumer cycle?
“If we work together, we can create online spaces of refuge and have a future where feminists use the internet positively.”
The truth of it is, ‘influencers’ have always been there, taking the form of writers, speakers and activists. We cannot regress our movement by condemning change that happens online. For some people, the only power they have is their voice, and their voice is elevated by social media. A criticism is that if an idea does not attempt to rip apart patriarchy and gender all in one, it is useless. This is not the case, as change is gradual. Personally, I am as grateful for any person who is passionate online as I am for people setting up community support groups, or challenging sexism in their workplace.
It is evident that feminism is changing in the digital age, and this is an exciting development. If we work together we can create online spaces of refuge and have a future where feminists use the internet positively: online forums for support, free education resources making feminism accessible for all , apps to help feminists know where others are to combat male violence. All of these things are possible thanks to the recent increase in feminist belief.
Where does the feminism movement go from here?
It’s been over a year since we saw women arrested for mourning, followed by a lack of legislative action and then a bill that criminalises protest itself. It’s been over a year since every young girl I saw at school didn’t want to watch the news, and did not want to go into a lesson because people still made jokes about femicide. I don’t know if its changed. I don’t know if all the vulnerability shown by the feminist movement has catalysed any progress to dismantling the patriarchy that harms us all.
“I ask you to make your feminism consistent, a repeated choice until it becomes an instinct.”
What I do know, however, is that feelings are changing. The older I get, the less of a ‘dirty word’ feminism is, and more conversations are finally being heard surrounding the movement.
While it is not perfect, feminism in the digital age is a gift to us all. In a decade or two, when we will hopefully be much more liberated than we are now, the media will provide a step by step proof of our movement. Feminists can look back and be proud of themselves.
I ask you to make your feminism consistent, a repeated choice until it becomes an instinct. Protect your friends, openly question the media you consume, and look out for women even when it is difficult. Feminism is for everyone: no individual should be excluded from the movement.
Consider how oppression overlaps. No identity is mutually exclusive. Understand that as a white middle-class woman, your experiences with patriarchy are different to those of a woman of colour, or a member of the working class, or a transgender woman. Do not stop at the wins that benefit you.
Most importantly, understand that the fight is not over.
Featured image courtesy of Giacomo Ferroni on Unsplash. Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.
