Web 2.0: Reloading Women's voices

As a citizen reporter and young community leader, the Web 2.0 tools (new media, social media, social networking) empower me by giving voice to my plans and ideas both in conception and in execution; assisting me with strengthening my voice to reach a wider audience and in meeting people with whom I share thoughts, experiences and hopes. These tools offer me the platform to share news -with or without images and videos- as it breaks, building a reciprocal interaction with a global online community from whom I can expect instant feedback and insights to similar or divergent experiences.
I now have a better understanding of what I can do with these tools despite already being familiar with most of the Web 2.0 tools by name. Most exciting is the fact that I can write, edit, self-publish and share my work bypassing all the usual barriers that include ‘biased/influenced editing’ and censorship. Meeting all the voices on PulseWire and members of similar online communities also increases my enthusiasm to organise programmes and discuss issues as they affect women in my community.
By introducing me to the basics of virtual expression and interaction, Web 2.0 creates an unparalleled accessibility to facts and information that can change or improve my society where women despite being breadwinners in most of their homes are still advised to be totally submissive to their husbands and/or every male relative.
I have no doubt in the effectiveness of these tools in propagating change as Web 2.0’s internet solutions have been used successfully to create awareness on diverse development issues, create borderless connections between women across the world and give voice to progressive movements all in the name of positive global change. In other words, Web 2.0 has and continues to transform the way women and women-related issues are reported worldwide, especially in places where such issues hardly make the news.