By Sanet Witbooi
27 Jun 2020
I believe the viewpoints that are presented by Sheena Magenya in this article are multifaceted but converge to the idea that a feminist internet may be the solution to a growing crisis of an oppressive internet, false African narratives and exclusion of the marginalized during a time when we are turning to the internet as a substitute for face-to-face connection.
The first crucial point that resonates with me is that feminism is needed to counter the idea that technology levels the playing field for all. On a continent marred by deep inequalities, it is absurd to assume that because we can no longer physically see the inequality it vanishes once we enter a virtual world. Yet, people are being required to continue with business as usual on the internet we do not all have access to through technology that is a luxury many of us cannot afford. A brazen example of this is the shift to online learning in South African schools and universities. The pandemic has exposed the basic lack of access to technology and the internet for students which they now have to rely on to receive their education. These struggles are not being met with complete comprehension. In fact, many cases slip through the cracks while others are met with tone-deaf responses.
Another imperative point the article highlights is the abusive nature of the internet, especially in African spaces where legislation or more local governance is not fully established to keep internet users safe who are more prone to receiving hate because of their differences. Since the first Imagine a Feminist Internet meeting in 2014, internet usage indeed increased across the continent along with the diversity online. However, it cannot be ignored that it also came with increased accounts of gender-based violence and human rights violations. People are being pointed to an internet that does not have compassion for diversity and by doing so we are risking creating a post-quarantine society that is more conservative while others are less intolerant. A feminist internet fights this growing darkness by shining a light on the unjust and bringing to the forefront those who have been sidelined.
Along with Chimamanda Adichi, a self-proclaimed feminist, stands Lebogang Mashile- a South African poet who unapologetically calls out the injustices she witnesses. In her poem ABCs, she speaks about the untold stories of Africans "who'll rhyme without pens, And perform without a stage". Who similarly highlights the dangers of telling a one-dimensional story of a people who are depicted by the world as less capable than and through the perpetuation of the internet, can come to see themselves like that too. She aptly demands to know "how it’s possible for people who walk on gold to not know how to read”. When it comes to technology and innovation, Africa is positioned as a beneficiary of technology not innovators of it, all while Africa has been making groundbreaking contributions throughout history. And like with their resources, much is taken but little is returned.
The aim of creating a feminist internet is to create a true and more positive representation of Africa, and through doing so create a more inclusive space. Feminists are the beacons of justice and equality for those who do not fit into a heteronormative society and in so doing seeks justice for the entire continent. Therefore, the transformation of the internet should stand to be a reminder that we will not quietly disappear amongst the chaos of an abusive world.