After the convening "Making a Feminist Internet in Africa and the Diaspora (MFIAfrica)", held in Johannesburg from 28 to 31 October 2019, a lot of debates, dreams and conversations kept going around among the women who were there. Feminists from eighteen African countries came together to discuss what the internet means for their lives, what a feminist internet looks like, and most importantly what does feminist movement building in a digital age look like for African feminists? We knew that this conversation is just beginning and many topics remain open, perhaps until the next meeting.
Several months later, in these uncertain times with the current global crisis brought about by the spread of Covid-19 virus, it seems difficult to meet physically in such a powerful way, at least at this moment. The conversation must go on by other means. That's why this GenderIT special edition gathers together a series of articles inspired from and continuing the conversations started in South Africa, and even before, since the first Imagine a Feminist Internet convening in 2014.
To enrich this conversations, we also included reflections from Imagining a Feminist Internet South East Asia, content created by students in Europe writing about the relevance of the Feminist Principles of the Internet to them, and the experience of an Afro-feminist Cuban activist challenging the Wikipedia content gap on Africa and Diaspora topics.
The All Women Count-Take Back the Tech! (AWC-TBTT!) project at the Association for Progressive Communications Women’s Rights Programme (APC WRP) present this edition, in the spirit of sharing and connect feminist experiences of the internet, and centering the voices of African women.
In this edition:
Making a feminist internet in Africa: why the internet needs African feminists and feminisms (editorial)
In this editorial article, Sheena Magenya challenges the dominant narrative on Africa and technology, calling for more African feminists and feminisms on, in, around the internet, to counter the idea that technology somehow levels the playing field for all, and is an infallible solution to all our problems.
Dealing with ruptures: how we can build stronger feminist movements in Africa
In order for our movements to be successful, not only do we have to find each other, but these connections have to be sustained with intention. Within our movements, we are faced with internal challenges because every movement is founded on relationships, and relationships are vulnerable to all kinds of challenges.
Review: No Roses from My Mouth
No Roses from My Mouth is a collection of poems written in jail by feminist poet and academic Dr. Stella Nyanzi. In this article, Wairimu Muriithi looks at the feminist solidarity movement that is organising offline and online actions for Nyanzi’s release, and reflects on the interconnected struggle that Nyanzi represents.
Ennegreciendo Wikipedia
Ennegreciendo Wikipedia es un proyecto fundado por Ivonne González, quien en este artículo nos introduce a esta iniciativa para crear más contenido en la enciclopedia libre acerca de grupos oprimidos y marginalizados, especialmente mujeres africanas o afrodescendientes.
Making a feminist internet: access and inclusion in feminist movements
It is fundamental to ensure when organising that we do not overlook women who do not have “feminist” in their bios, but are resisting and defying in their homes, schools, and workplaces. We need to make sure that we do not forget the women who do not have access to the same spaces.
How can one imagine embodiment in our “disembodied” online lives?
Shivani Lal shares her experience attending the Imagine a Feminist Internet workshop in Malaysia in November 2019. Shivani explores how one can imagine embodiment in our “disembodied” online lives as a part of our very networked lives today.
Dare to imagine
When is the last time that you daydreamed, spending hours imagining some unrealistic ideas? Have you found yourself becoming overwhelmed by different feminist issues around the world? Is it difficult for you to take a break and to enjoy your daydreams?
Finding the feminist internet: students respond to the feminist principles of the internet
Students of journalism and online communication came together to respond to different Feminist Principles of the Internet, and how they relate to their lives and realities. Here’s a selection of their pieces.
Read the full edition at GenderIT.org.