14 women using social media to change the world, from Greta Thunberg to Tarana Burke

Women changing laws, perceptions and destroying stereotypes  

Olivia Campbell
Tuesday 20 August 2019 17:12 BST
Comments

From the Suffragettes who chained themselves to Parliament railings to condemn the treatment of women, to the grainy images from the 1970s of protestors marching for everything from reproductive rights to workplace equality; the mobilisation of women against misogyny has been a crucial part of 20th Century history.

Taking to the streets was – and still is – key to the ongoing fight for liberation, but social media has changed the playing field.

The rise of global online activism – or “networked feminism” – is the world's answer to this impassioned form of protest. Sites like Facebook and Instagram are being used to respond to sexism with just the click of a button.

Women such as Tarana Burke, an activist who first launched the #MeToo movement in 2006 on Myspace – years before allegations came to light against disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein’s for sexual assault – have utilised the tools at our disposal in the digital age.

Meanwhile, there are individuals like Chidera Eggerue, whose viral hashtag #SaggyBoobsMatter inspires body positivity all over the world.

Activists participate in a demonstration for women's rights on January 21, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. The 2018 Women's March is a planned rally and follow-up to the 2017 Women's March on Washington.

From exposing sexual harassment that women suffer on a daily basis to elevating the voices of minorities, social media has become a powerful tool for women to address the infinite problems in society.

Click on the gallery above to see the women who are using social media to make the world a better place.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in