Journal article
A case study of feminist activist interventions in Queensland party politics: #sackgavin
Outskirts, Vol.34, pp.1-18
2016
Abstract
This paper uses the case study of a Twitter hashtag label #sackgavin to offer a self-reflexive analysis of an Australian feminist activist campaign. More broadly, it provides a critical interrogation of online feminist political interventions into discourses of silencing, exclusionary tactics and victim blaming. Although this case study offers some critique about the normalisation of violence against women, it primarily tests the efficacy of employing online petitions to intervene in entrenched gendered discourses which shift responsibility from the perpetrator to the victim. I both narrate and interrogate my practices as a creator/campaigner. The main campaign goal was to increase awareness and to motivate people to take action. The success of this type of campaign is not quantifiable; however, I judge its achievement in terms of the "noise" created through social, online and mainstream media around victim blaming. Additionally, I explore the costs in terms of time, trolling and emotions. This paper argues that, while not always consistent with initial activist goals, what can be considered successful in a campaign such as #sackgavin is diverse, much like activism itself.
Details
- Title
- A case study of feminist activist interventions in Queensland party politics: #sackgavin
- Authors
- Sarah Casey (Author) - Griffith University
- Publication details
- Outskirts, Vol.34, pp.1-18
- Publisher
- University of Western Australia
- Date published
- 2016
- ISSN
- 1445-0445
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2016. Reproduced here in accordance with the publishers copyright policy.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Business and Creative Industries; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Creative Industries - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451250202621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
96 File views/ downloads
401 Record Views