tumblr feminism: how young feminists on tumblr are interrupting the non-profit industrial complex...
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Tumblr Feminism:
How Young Feminists
on Tumblr are
Interrupting the Non-
Profit Industrial
Complex and Creating
Better Health
Outcomes Presentation By: Erin McKelle @ErinMcKelle
Erinmckelle.com
#YTHLIVE
My Tumblr Background
Blogger on site for ~4 years
Creator of Fearless Feminism, Facts About Feminism, and Period Positive/Moderator of Blogs Like Feminist BitStrips
Used the platform in my work as an activist
Helped other organizations and people utilize Tumblr for their change making
Learning Objectives
To understand how and why young feminists are utilizing Tumblr for activism.
To recognize why this type of organizing is effective, useful (possibly for their own work), and undermining oppressive structural barriers many young people face.
To learn about how Tumblr feminism is eradicating specific negative health outcomes that disproportionately affect young people (sexual violence, eating disorders, etc.).
Tumblr Feminism
Those who use Tumblr blogging to spread awareness to social and cultural issues, create social media campaigns, and intervene in VAW, eating disorder recovery, and other gender-based oppressions.
Popular formats include feminist blogs, body positive blogs, queer and gender non-conforming blogs, and intersectional activist blogs.
Usually cultivated as community
Why Tumblr?
Offers unique ways for activists to connect, share work, and spread messages
Tumblr isn’t as commercialized as other social media platforms
Allows for fast sharing and in-depth learning
Allows for anonymity
The audience in mostly women!
Why Is This Working?
Accessibility
Reach
Interrupting organizational structures
Provides an in for those with knowledge, but who are not professionals (peer-to-peer)
Structural barriers are eradicated- education level, privilege, access to resources
Meets young people where they are at
Tumblr is Changing Young Public Health
To learn about how Tumblr feminism is eradicating specific negative health outcomes that disproportionately affect young people (sexual violence, eating disorders, etc.).
Youth Health is at the center of Tumblr blogging
Self-care, ED recovery, suicide prevention, mental health, sexual and reproductive health
Eating Disorder Recovery
“The new eating disorder battleground.”
• Resources and Support
• Validation
• Recovery
• Emphasizes self-love
Sexual and Reproductive Health
Intersectionality!
Focus on LGBTQ health and rights
Not shame based- output of truthful