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Bayasibulala: #AmINext? an analysis of Instagram as a tool for activism against Sexual Gender-Based Violence in South Africa
Research over the years has shown that there is a global rise in hashtag activism, this type of activism has also inspired what scholars call - hashtag feminism. Hashtag feminism utilizes Social Networking Sites to raise awareness about issues that are often not covered in traditional news media out...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Centre for Film and Media Studies
2023
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| _version_ | 1867613335029022720 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Mazana, Nandipha Nwabisa |
| author2 | Ndlovu, Musawenkosi |
| author_browse | Mazana, Nandipha Nwabisa Ndlovu, Musawenkosi |
| author_facet | Ndlovu, Musawenkosi Mazana, Nandipha Nwabisa |
| author_sort | Mazana, Nandipha Nwabisa |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Research over the years has shown that there is a global rise in hashtag activism, this type of activism has also inspired what scholars call - hashtag feminism. Hashtag feminism utilizes Social Networking Sites to raise awareness about issues that are often not covered in traditional news media outlets such as TV, newspapers, and Radio Stations. Through this paper, I seek to investigate how Instagram has become one of the Social Networking Sites that has recently started being used for online activism in South Africa. This is done by conducting a qualitative analysis of 700 posts from the hashtag #AmINext, with a period focus of 3 months during South Africa's COVID-19 Level-5 Lockdown. The findings suggest that activists follow similar lines of the hashtag and social media activism parameters such as those of the #MeToo and #BeenRapedNeverReported movements. The analysis found that activists use Instagram to participate in Citizen Journalism by sharing information, raising awareness, organizing, mobilizing, and advocating (Vegh, 2003). Furthermore, there is clear Civic Engagement and Citizen Journalism through things such as sharing information and having calls to action while utilizing hashtags as a way to gain momentum and attention. The findings suggest that these hashtags are able to cultivate a community of activists all around the country while also making sure to encourage more participation. The analysis also shows how there is an importance of such activism when movement is restricted due to national Lockdowns implemented to curb COVID-19, as many victims of SGBV found themselves at home and trapped with their abusers. In paying attention to this analysis, I conclude that perhaps through the exploration of new ways of activism, we can ensure that no voice is ever left behind. Furthermore, despite the possibilities of these new ways of raising awareness and activism, it is always important to see how we can apply the old with the new. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/37515 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:34:28.941Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publishDateRange | 2023 |
| publishDateSort | 2023 |
| publisher | Centre for Film and Media Studies |
| publisherStr | Centre for Film and Media Studies |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/37515 Bayasibulala: #AmINext? an analysis of Instagram as a tool for activism against Sexual Gender-Based Violence in South Africa Mazana, Nandipha Nwabisa Ndlovu, Musawenkosi COVID-19 SGBV GBV South Africa Violence Violent Masculinities Instagram Activism Hashtag Activism Hashtag Feminism Research over the years has shown that there is a global rise in hashtag activism, this type of activism has also inspired what scholars call - hashtag feminism. Hashtag feminism utilizes Social Networking Sites to raise awareness about issues that are often not covered in traditional news media outlets such as TV, newspapers, and Radio Stations. Through this paper, I seek to investigate how Instagram has become one of the Social Networking Sites that has recently started being used for online activism in South Africa. This is done by conducting a qualitative analysis of 700 posts from the hashtag #AmINext, with a period focus of 3 months during South Africa's COVID-19 Level-5 Lockdown. The findings suggest that activists follow similar lines of the hashtag and social media activism parameters such as those of the #MeToo and #BeenRapedNeverReported movements. The analysis found that activists use Instagram to participate in Citizen Journalism by sharing information, raising awareness, organizing, mobilizing, and advocating (Vegh, 2003). Furthermore, there is clear Civic Engagement and Citizen Journalism through things such as sharing information and having calls to action while utilizing hashtags as a way to gain momentum and attention. The findings suggest that these hashtags are able to cultivate a community of activists all around the country while also making sure to encourage more participation. The analysis also shows how there is an importance of such activism when movement is restricted due to national Lockdowns implemented to curb COVID-19, as many victims of SGBV found themselves at home and trapped with their abusers. In paying attention to this analysis, I conclude that perhaps through the exploration of new ways of activism, we can ensure that no voice is ever left behind. Furthermore, despite the possibilities of these new ways of raising awareness and activism, it is always important to see how we can apply the old with the new. 2023-03-24T06:39:34Z 2023-03-24T06:39:34Z 2022 2023-03-24T06:39:10Z Master Thesis Masters MA http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37515 eng application/pdf Centre for Film and Media Studies Faculty of Humanities |
| spellingShingle | COVID-19 SGBV GBV South Africa Violence Violent Masculinities Instagram Activism Hashtag Activism Hashtag Feminism Mazana, Nandipha Nwabisa Bayasibulala: #AmINext? an analysis of Instagram as a tool for activism against Sexual Gender-Based Violence in South Africa |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Bayasibulala: #AmINext? an analysis of Instagram as a tool for activism against Sexual Gender-Based Violence in South Africa |
| title_full | Bayasibulala: #AmINext? an analysis of Instagram as a tool for activism against Sexual Gender-Based Violence in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Bayasibulala: #AmINext? an analysis of Instagram as a tool for activism against Sexual Gender-Based Violence in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bayasibulala: #AmINext? an analysis of Instagram as a tool for activism against Sexual Gender-Based Violence in South Africa |
| title_short | Bayasibulala: #AmINext? an analysis of Instagram as a tool for activism against Sexual Gender-Based Violence in South Africa |
| title_sort | bayasibulala aminext an analysis of instagram as a tool for activism against sexual gender based violence in south africa |
| topic | COVID-19 SGBV GBV South Africa Violence Violent Masculinities Instagram Activism Hashtag Activism Hashtag Feminism |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37515 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mazananandiphanwabisa bayasibulalaaminextananalysisofinstagramasatoolforactivismagainstsexualgenderbasedviolenceinsouthafrica |