#Feminist; An Analysis of the meaning and impact of Hashtag Feminism for Young Nigerian Women.

Ayinde-Tukur [formerly Abubakiri], Nifemi

Abstract

In recent years, the widespread use of social media, in all cultural contexts, has made them not only an instrument of entertainment, but also a way to communicate and disseminate ideas. This has become particularly important when it comes to the feminist discourse, with activists everywhere, including Nigeria, using the hashtag feminism (#feminism), a term used in this research study to encompass hashtags involving feminist discourse, as a major tool for their activism. This work posits that there is a political and theoretical gap in existing knowledge in understanding feminist activism in non-western nations and aims to contribute to existing knowledge with specific attention to the digital revival of feminism discussed in the Nigerian context.
This qualitative case study adopts an interpretivist approach with the aim of understanding the role of #feminism in the development of feminist activism in Nigeria. 58 Nigerian university students participated in a survey, which was followed by an online focus group with 7 participants. Thematic analysis showed the presence of three main themes: social media and #feminism are the main sources of feminist knowledge for Nigerian female students; #feminism has been raising Nigerian female students’ awareness about equality and gender-based injustice; Young Nigerian women believe in feminist ideals but are reluctant to call themselves feminists or engage directly in offline activism.

It can be concluded that engagement in #feminism appears to have developed greater awareness of feminist issues among young Nigerian women and that it has played a role in making them feel more aware of their rights. This has reinforced the belief that reaching gender equality is paramount, which is a significant step for a society, which still largely upholds Victorian and religious values, where women have known little independence. However, participants’ lack of active interaction with the hashtag (they did not create any) and lack of offline engagement may hint at the presence of socio-cultural inhibitors,
refraining them from becoming more active.

Citation

Ayinde-Tukur [formerly Abubakiri], N. (2024). #Feminist; An Analysis of the meaning and impact of Hashtag Feminism for Young Nigerian Women. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Jan 10, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 27, 2024
• Award Date: Jan 26, 2024