‘On the internet, there is no women-only space’: Male Power in Digital

Abstract

Social media visibility has made feminists and feminism increasingly vulnerable to interference and surveillance. This chapter charts how men are using social media to shape and influence feminist organising. I argue that, despite the various tactics adopted by activists to try to create women-only space on social media (such as closed/private Facebook groups, content moderation and anonymity/pseudonymity), a male presence is inescapable. Women’s attention remains focussed upon trying to keep themselves safe from men, and many activists self-surveil in an attempt to avoid abuse. In this chapter, I explore how digital space offers men increased opportunities to intervene in and police feminist debates, locate and watch feminist activity and harass individual activists, raising new challenges for women’s autonomous political organising.