The Politics of Recognition and Representation

Abstract

As I outlined in the introduction of this book, social movements that arose in the 1970s shifted away from claims for economic redistribution to calls for cultural and social recognition (Fraser, 1995; Melucci, 1985). Unlike movements that call

Online disclosure, a mechanism for seeking informal justice?

“…Considering gender-based violence, digital mobilisations, by giving a voice to survivors, allows them to cohere communities and form a shared identity, active agency, and catalysed purpose (Loney-Howes, 2020; O’Neill, 2018). Salter (2013) calls this the ‘trial by Internet’ where these platforms provide powerful opportunities for those who lack access to or faith in the criminal justice system.…”

“…Studies on online disclosure demonstrate that online spaces enable the building of survivor communities and, as a result, feelings of empowerment and justice (Chowdhury and Fileborn, 2020; Fileborn, 2014, 2017; Loney-Howes, 2020; Mendes et al, 2018; O’Neill, 2018; Powell, 2015; Salter, 2013). These spaces allow for the contestation of the dominant patriarchal culture where one feels free to voice one’s own experiences and even witness ‘their perpetrators punished or publicly condemned’ (Fileborn, 2017: 1486).…”

“…In addition, studies highlight that online communities allow survivors seeking advice and information, getting recognition, being validated, and establishing networked connections with supportive others (i.e. Chowdhury and Fileborn, 2020; Loney-Howes, 2020; O’Neill, 2018). Online platforms hence act as a ‘mechanism or avenue for fulfilling victim/survivors .…”

“…In addition, scholars highlight the diversity among survivors (i.e. Chowdhury and Fileborn, 2020; Loney-Howes, 2020; Salter, 2013) reminding that not all women have resources enabling them to ‘negotiate and navigate online geographies of safety/unsafety’ (Fileborn, 2017: 1498; Salter, 2013). Intersectionality comes up as another critical issue here as voices of women and individuals with marginalised identities are often underrepresented or missing in online spaces, and the credibility of their stories are questioned more often compared to cis-gendered, heterosexual, middle-class women (Loney-Howes et al, 2022; Tuzcu, 2016).…”

“…Our research, by situating six women’s lived experiences of online disclosure in Turkey, draws on previous work on online justice (i.e. Fileborn 2014, 2017; Gundersen and Zaleski, 2021; Loney-Howes, 2020; O’Neill, 2018; Powell, 2015; Salter, 2013; Wood et al, 2019). We explore how digital platforms can be utilised to seek ‘informal’ justice by survivors of gender-based violence.…”