ERIC Number: ED655786
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 192
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-5699-8494-7
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
From Subjects of Change to Agents of Change: Digital Literacy Practices of Algerian Women during the 2019 Popular Movement
Bahia Braktia
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Sam Houston State University
Through a content analysis, this study sought to examine women's digital literacy practices during the 2019 Algerian popular movement called the Hirak. Data were collected from Twitter. The selection criteria for the sampling was set to be user-generated content mined through the hashtag [foreign characters omitted]# (#Let_her_speak). Tweets, comments, videos, photographs, and pictures were collected. The timeline for the data collection was set between March 29, 2019 and April 30, 2019. The analysis procedures were inductive and followed a coding process of five cycles. Findings indicated that women's digital activism via Twitter went through a simultaneously empowering and oppressing dynamic. Women relied on the speed, interactivity, and flexibility of social media platforms to support the feminists' demands and place women's rights in the Hirak. This study's findings mirrored the body of research that considered social media as a game changer for gender equality and viewed Twitter as a powerful instrument to push women's issues onto the public agenda. However, Twitter did reflect the real-world patterns of the Algerian society, and verbal attacks and threats of physical abuse took place. Feminists were threatened with acid attacks and were verbally abused on Twitter. The online harassment of women shed light on how the digital world is far from being a utopia, and the constant analysis of the utopian and dystopian aspects of social media platforms is necessary to advance women's digital literacy skills. Women's activism during the Hirak uncovered a few digital practices that can be incorporated to boost learners' political participation. First, it is imperative for educators to address the digital divide in their classrooms to ensure digital equity for everybody. Second, understanding learners' social media use is a key element to inform future education policies and practices. Finally, learners have to develop a critical perspective toward social media and fully understand the empowering and disempowering nature of online spaces. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Digital Literacy, Females, Foreign Countries, Change Agents, Social Action, Activism, Social Media, Civil Rights, Feminism, Sex Fairness, Public Opinion, Violence, Skill Development, Technological Literacy, Information Technology, Computers, Computer Oriented Programs, Handheld Devices, Telecommunications
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Algeria
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A