Web 2.0: A New Form of Consciousness Raising

The internet has proven to be a vital tool in helping people who otherwise don't have a voice, get their voices heard. Examples of this would be Egypt's revolution, social media was used to raise awareness about what happening under Hosni Mubarak. Blogging is another example of how people now have the opportunities to have their voices heard. Governments have been known to censor blogs that expose corruption and oppression. With the rise of Web 2.0, now there are debates as to whether internet access should be a human right. This is what excites me most about Web 2.0

Why do I consider this the new consciousness raising? If you're familiar with Western second wave feminism, consciousness raising is a political act in which women come together and share their voices to discuss a wide range of issues from domestic violence, motherhood, sexuality, pregnancy, abortion, etc. Essentially, it's brings women together so they can analyze and understand the condition of their lives.

The solutions that Web 2.0 can bring to global women's empowerment is first and foremost allowing women the opportunity to connect with people across the globe and share their stories. Secondly, it allows for activists to have the tools to raise important issues. Most importantly, with the rise of technology, computer literacy has become vital.

What this can do for me is allow me to connect with other women who are as passionate as I am. I'm interested in hearing their stories and how they were able to overcome their obstacles. For me, having internet access is something of a privilege.

Web 2.0 allows for like minded women to create safe spaces for ourselves.