The Power of a Woman with a Meme

[seabeyond]

Women dominate nearly every major social media network. Weekly, 67.5 million women are logged on to social media sites. They drive 62% of daily Facebook activity, and 68% of traffic on Pinterest. They comprise 53% of Twitter users and tweet more frequently than men. Women who are active on social media also tend to be active across many social platforms.

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And yet, with the exception of consumer products companies reaching out to the large and influential community of mom-bloggers, many organizations don't seem to understand the organizing power of women connected online. And it boggles my mind that in this day and age, rather than listening to what women really care about, communicators simply often "pinkwash" products in an attempt to gain women's support — from the ill-fated "Bic for Her" pen to Ann Romney's "I Love Women" RNC Convention speech to the new pink Honda Fit.

The people who comprise women's social networks are more than just strangers on the internet — women trust their online friends and followers. Seventy-seven percent of women active on social media now turn to blogs for information. Women are influencing each other's decisions through non-stop conversations on social media. In the 2012 elections, these conversations helped organize women against Republican candidates like Todd Akin, Richard Mourdock, and Mitt Romney.

Strong online networks build strong social capital, which study after study has shown increases civic participation. While some have cast doubt on social media's ability to spur action, as opposed to discussion, the case of Todd Akin is instructive. Social media erupted within hours of the TV interview in which he stated that in the case of "legitimate rape," women's bodies have a way of shutting "that whole thing [pregnancy] down." My Facebook page lit up with frantic fact-checking and ideas about how we could mobilize support for Akin's Democratic opponent for Senate, Claire McCaskill. Darkly hilarious animated gifs, Tumblrs, and memes exploded. But it wasn't just talk: When the third quarter fundraising numbers were announced, Akin had raised $1.6 million, less than a third of McCaskill's $5.8 million.

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/11/the_power_of_a_woman_with_a_me.html

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not a big deal article. just a reminder of what we are able to do with the net.

[redqueen]

1. It's great for organizing and consciousness raising too.

Many women copy the caricaturing they see and never give a second thought to it. It wouldn't be consciously recognized as caricaturization at all. But images like men doing pin up poses, or posing like female comic characters, make it painfully obvious.

For example, here we have Steve Carell, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert offering another demonstration of what men would look like if posed like women often are in ads.

[KitSileya]

2. Have you seen the Tumblr meme The Hawkeye Initiative?

It started when someone drew Hawkeye of the Avengers in the same posture as a female superhero in coverart. Somehow, they usually twist women's bodies in these covers so that they can show their breasts and buttocks at the same time. Drawing Hawkeye the same way really highlights how sexist comics are when it comes to their artwork.

[ismnotwasm]

3. I think someone posted pictures of that

There was a thread or two about that. It was fascinating. I just saw a 'Wonder Woman' drawn fully clothed article--also very interesting

[redqueen]

4. Yep!

That's another great consciousness-raising example.

I long for the day when women aren't routinely portrayed as caricatures of sexuality.

[seabeyond]

5. i saw that the other day. and yet, two of them cant seem to shake the patriarchy off all the way.

they still want to hold onto the rewards of superiority.

i know they are good men. one is raising a daughter. but you see it periodically in their shows.

[redqueen]

6. I think it is very hard to do.

Unless one spends a lot of time working at it. It's the default setting we grow up with, so it never goes away completely.