“#TeenVote2020 for all women” Redefining feminism through hashtag activism on Twitter

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to expose the prominent focus on white women in feminism, and look into how hashtag feminism can be used to include a greater variety of women. Current literature (e.g. Susana Loza) acknowledges that this focus is present and that some resistance has occurred in the form of hashtag activism. #TeenVote2020 is an example of how women from different ethnicities, gender and creed, are included into this social media-based activism. For the analysis of the following research question: “How does #TeenVote2020 on the @TeenVogue Twitter contradict the focus on white women that, according to Loza, is usually associated with hashtag feminism?” I will conduct a critical discourse analysis in order to look into the inequality that is currently present in feminism. Tweets and articles that are posted by TeenVOGUE on Twitter are used to underpin my claims that #TeenVote2020 is a great example of how all women should be included in feminism, and that this could be achieved through hashtag feminism. I show here how the designated Voter Committee consists of demographically, ethnically, and politically diverse young people, that take part in issues that are important to them. Also, #TeenVote2020 enables women who are normally left out of the mainstream media and feminism to speak up and engage in discussions that concern the upcoming election. The significance of this study is that it moves away from the focus on white women, and implicitly offers resistance to this, by addressing issues that are focused on women of color and other minority groups.