Visual representation in a complex cultural landscape: feminist resurgence, Gamergate and the demise of Page 3’

Toms, Katie

Abstract

This entry analyzes visual representation in a complex cultural landscape, juxtaposing a resurgence in feminist activism in the mid- to late 2000s with an intensification of online misogyny. It considers the internet as at once a key enabler of feminist activism and a disabler of progress toward equality for women, where a popular feminist zeitgeist is mirrored by a popular misogynist zeitgeist. It examines the significance of campaign groups such as Object and No More Page 3 and their impact on seismic shifts in UK media such as the move to a covered-up Page 3 (The Sun) and the end of lads' mags. This entry draws on examples of feminist resurgence, such as the backlash against the “Beach Body Ready” posters and hashtag feminism, such as #MeToo. It examines key case studies of women who have been targeted by misogynistic online abuse, such as the campaigner Caroline Criado-Perez, MP Diane Abbott, and Professor Mary Beard and considers coordinated campaigns of “male supremacy hate” such as #GamerGate and the “toxic technocultures” of men's rights activist (MRA) groups gathering on the “manosphere,” via discussion sites such as Reddit, 4chan, and 8chan. This entry scopes the current mediascape and assesses this deeply contradictory environment for women, seeking to understand this power struggle as part of the ongoing project to silence women who take up public space.

• Online Publication Date: May 15, 2020
• Publication Date: Jul 8, 2020
• Deposit Date: Sep 13, 2022
• Publisher: Wiley
• Book Title: The International Encyclopedia of Gender, Media, and Communication
• ISBN: 9781119429104
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119429128.iegmc043
• Keywords: Cultural landscape, resurgence, Gamergate, Page 3, Visual representation, Feminist activism, Mysogyny, Sexism
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/9970677
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/9781119429128.iegmc043
• Related Public URLs: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781119429128