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Added content from proposed deleted page I Need Feminism Because to this page instead of its own as this is a spread of this similar project #ultimatewiki
→‎Spread: Created heading for "Similar Campaigns" so that campaigns born out of the same ideals as this one can be published here #ultimatewiki
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As with the original campaign, these spin-off campaigns have received criticism and backlash. The efforts of students at [[Altrincham Grammar School for Girls]] to participate in the campaign led to what one student described as a "torrent of degrading and explicitly sexual comments" when their pictures were published online; some of the participants received threatening messages.<ref name="AGGS 2013">{{cite news|last=Younis|first=Jinan|title=What happened when I started a feminist society at school|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/mortarboard/2013/jun/20/why-i-started-a-feminist-society|accessdate=23 April 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=20 June 2013}}</ref> Student Jinan Younis accused the school of failing to take action against the perpetrators and thus failing to support the participating students, while the school issued a statement recommending that students remove words or images they had placed online "that could compromise their safety or that of other students at the school."<ref name="AGGS 2013" />
As with the original campaign, these spin-off campaigns have received criticism and backlash. The efforts of students at [[Altrincham Grammar School for Girls]] to participate in the campaign led to what one student described as a "torrent of degrading and explicitly sexual comments" when their pictures were published online; some of the participants received threatening messages.<ref name="AGGS 2013">{{cite news|last=Younis|first=Jinan|title=What happened when I started a feminist society at school|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/mortarboard/2013/jun/20/why-i-started-a-feminist-society|accessdate=23 April 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=20 June 2013}}</ref> Student Jinan Younis accused the school of failing to take action against the perpetrators and thus failing to support the participating students, while the school issued a statement recommending that students remove words or images they had placed online "that could compromise their safety or that of other students at the school."<ref name="AGGS 2013" />

== Similar Campaigns ==


=== Ultimate Frisbee ===
=== Ultimate Frisbee ===

Revision as of 22:54, 26 May 2020

Who Needs Feminism? is a social media photo campaign started by students at Duke University in 2012. The campaign attempted to shed light on misconceptions about feminism and to explore the continued need and relevance of feminism in today's society. The campaign was most successful in its outreach with Tumblr, but the campaign received attention of Facebook and Twitter as well.

Origin

The Who Needs Feminism? campaign was conceived by sixteen Duke students as the final project for a class called "Women in the Public Sphere: History, Theory and Practice" taught by Dr. Rachel Seidman.[1][2] The students wanted to address what they saw as misconceptions on Duke's campus about the feminist movement and its relevance in today's society. They also hoped to promote a dialogue on the topic within the Duke community, "hoping to address relevance of feminism to all different types of people," according to an interview done with GOOD worldwide.[3] According to their website, the members wanted to "explain what feminism is by allowing everyone to create their own definition." They started by creating posters which they placed around campus, showing young men and women from a variety of backgrounds holding up whiteboards with the words "I need feminism because...", to show that there is no "typical feminist," with the title of the campaign imposed on the poster.[3] Subjects were chosen to demonstrate the importance of feminism to individuals from different genders, races, sexual orientations and backgrounds, reflecting the students' beliefs that "'typical feminists' don't exist" and that feminism is important for everyone, not just women.[1] In addition to designing and hanging the posters, the students also wrote an Op-Ed piece for The Chronicle, Duke's student-run newspaper, explaining the project and their motivations.[1][3] The students also relied on social media as "the most popular way to get the word out right now."[4] The students created interactive Tumblr, Facebook, and Twitter accounts for the project. Although they expected the Facebook account to serve as the main social media outlet for promoting the project, the Tumblr account "really took off." One student suggested that the site encouraged discussion without the moderation that the Facebook page required.[5] The Who Needs Feminism? team reported that the Facebook page received over 4,200 likes within 36 hours of the project's launch, while the Tumblr account was viewed by almost 13,000 people in over 2,000 different cities.[5]

Reactions

The campaign that began at Duke University spread to many colleges across the nation. But while the campaign did spark interest, it also experienced backlash. On Duke's campus, many of the posters were torn down or vandalized. Some of the vandals added signs to the posters reading "I need feminism because sandwiches can't make themselves," or "I need feminism because it's funny watching them try to play sports."[6] The online outlets also experienced significant backlash in the comments made on the movement in general and individual submissions.[7][8] One of the largest incidents of backlash was the Women against Feminism campaign that was created. This group took the original campaign's ideas of creating posters and changed the words to "I don't need feminism..." and posted them.

Spread

After its start at Duke, a number of different colleges, universities, and other organizations instituted their own campaigns. The original Duke campaign created a start up guide to assist the efforts of other institutions to carry out a Who Needs Feminism? campaign.[9]

In addition to colleges and universities, Who Needs Feminism has been adopted by a number of other institutions and organizations. For instance, feminists in India started their own Tumblr account to encourage submissions. The Feminism in India Project was founded by Japleen Pasricha, a research scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Pasricha claimed that the movement was required to "unravel the F-word and demystify all the negativity surrounding it."[10] Pasricha organized a campaign at Indira Gandhi Institute of Technology and Ambedkar University Delhi on April 15, 2014, which exceeded its goal of 100 photographs.[11] Organizations such as the National Council of Women of New Zealand, North York Women's Centre, and National Young Feminist Leader Conference have started campaigns and shared the images through the original Who Needs Feminism? Facebook page. The group UK Feminista started their own Tumblr and Facebook page, soliciting submissions at events such as the Glastonbury Festival and encouraging people to start their own campaigns at schools and colleges.[12][13]

As with the original campaign, these spin-off campaigns have received criticism and backlash. The efforts of students at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls to participate in the campaign led to what one student described as a "torrent of degrading and explicitly sexual comments" when their pictures were published online; some of the participants received threatening messages.[14] Student Jinan Younis accused the school of failing to take action against the perpetrators and thus failing to support the participating students, while the school issued a statement recommending that students remove words or images they had placed online "that could compromise their safety or that of other students at the school."[14]

Similar Campaigns

Ultimate Frisbee

"I Need Feminism Because..." was a social media campaign movement created by the Boston University Women's ultimate team, Lady Pilots, in December 2016.[15][16][17] Captains of the team that academic year (2016-2017) were Annika Chan ('18) and Jacki Salustro ('17).[15][16] The team created a photo series of them holding discs that said "I Need Feminism Because" with handwritten explanations . The project went viral and spawned multiple copy-cat photo series predominantly in the ultimate community, but also in other sports[18][19].

Background

The "I Need Feminism Because..." project was partially born out of the results of the 2016 election. BU players on the team were feeling dejected and fearful following the election and how the results demonstrated a greater need for gender equity.[16] The campaign idea originated with Apryl Hsu, a sophomore player at the time.[15][16][20] “[S]eeing the lack of morale among women, especially the women on our team who are so passionate about feminism and equality,” post-election was the catalyst that made her bring the idea to the team captains.[16][20] Hsu had previously done a social justice photo series in a feminist club in high school and wanted to continue it at BU.[15]

Other factors that can be cited as an influence to the project were the sport's governing principle "Spirit of the Game," which outlines that competitive play should never supersede mutual respect and sportsmanship and is vital as ultimate is still largely a self-officiated game with no referees. In 2016, the sport was also making several similar pushes for gender equity, creating a climate the Lady Pilot's then co-captain Jacki Salustro said was ripe for a campaign like that of the Lady Pilots.[16] One such documented push happening at the same time as this campaign was the push to get equal media coverage in the sport’s professional leagues as they developed ESPN deals and coverage.[16] Salustro said specifically the BU campaign “was in line with that initiative."[16]

Project

The "I Need Feminism Because" project had players writing directly on the underside of their discs (Frisbees) outlining why they need feminism. Each person started with the same tag line of "I Need Feminism Because" and then filled in the back half of the statement.[15][16][17][20] Black and white photos were then taken of the players holding their frisbee with the handwritten note.[15][16][20] The BU men's team (Ozone) were practicing when they saw the women's team as they started inscribing the discs and decided to join in.[16] Sixty players, nearly all the members of both teams, participated.[16][15] The messages by the players emphasized why feminism is still vitally necessary ranging from the personal to political.[15][16] Sample messages from both teams included:

I Need Feminism Because...

  • “...we have yet to have a woman president” - Apryl Hsu, Lady Pilots player and credited person for the campaign idea [16][20]
  • “…no one can limit me in what I am capable of.”- Jacki Salustro, Lady Pilots co-captain [16][20]
  • "...I play like a girl."- Annika Chan, Lady Pilots co-captain
  • “... sexual assault occurs on campuses without serious consequences.” - Elizabeth Hannigan, Lady Pilots player [15][16]
  • "... my self-worth is not measured by whether men find me attractive." - Lady Pilot Player[15]
  • "... emotion should be seen as strength.” [16]
  • “…it’s easy to ignore sexism when it’s in your favor.” [16]
  • "...I refuse to let my uterus be a political object."[15]
  • “...I want to be respected as a male nurse practitioner.” Teddy Kahn, Ozone player and team vice president ('16-17)[16]


All the photos from the project were published to the teams Facebook page on 15 November 2016.[15][16][17][20] The album on Facebook included the following description:

"The Boston University Lady and Manly Ozone Pilots have decided to do a feminist photo campaign! We’ve decided to do this to address one of the most important social issues of our time. As we think it is of the utmost importance that people understand the definition of the word and movement of feminism, here it is: the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women EQUAL to those of men. With this definition comes the subsequent condition that discrimination should not be made based on gender, sexual orientation, skin color, ethnicity, religion, culture, or lifestyle. Gender equity is a goal that the national ultimate community is working to achieve, and we here at BU would like to contribute. Therefore, we encourage you to view the following photos with an open mind, an open heart, and the appreciation that though we may look different, think differently, and have lived different lives, we are all equal in our shared humanity."[17]

Initial response and impact

The campaign resonated beyond BU, both nationally and globally in the ultimate community. Within a month, the Lady Pilot's campaign photo album went viral, garnering 4,500 shares and more than 4,000 likes.[15][16] Other ultimate teams emulated the campaign, including teams at Northeastern (women's and men's), Duke University (women's), Elon (women's), University at Albany, SUNY, University of Cape Town, and others.[15][16][17][20] Professional teams and large-scale ultimate organizations were sharing the album and contacting the organizers of the campaign, including the Bay Area Disc Alliance and USA Ultimate, the governing body of the sport in the United States.[15][16]

Their Boston hometown rivals at Northeastern requested that the teams take a joint photograph at a recent scrimmage with a sign that read "We need Feminism because Gender Equality is the Ultimate Goal.”[16]

The Boston Globe, the region's largest newspaper, even covered the campaign in December 2016.[17][20]

On 5 April 2017 the team was invited to speak at a Boston University sponsored panel "Student Leadership and Activism."[21]

Organizers' response

In response to the outpouring of support & similar photo series, Hsu said “We definitely did not expect that much noise to be made about this.” However she indicated, that “we’re a catalyst for conversation. We’re putting this idea out there, and we want people to keep going with it.”[16][20] While the public impact is certainly noteworthy, Lady Pilots found the partnership and cooperation from their fellow BU male players to be particularly gratifying.[16] The campaign did receive some negative comments on the album, which the teams chose to ignore in favor of highlighting the positive impact of the campaign.[15]

The women’s team members are pleased by their campaign’s outside reception, but what they find particularly gratifying is the cooperation from their BU male colleagues. Co-captain Annika Chan said the campaign “...has definitely brought our teams a lot closer together...We’ve been able to open up the conversation and actually talk about the issues that have been going on. We’re the future of America, and it’s brought us closer as a family." [16] Teddy Kahn, vice president of the men's team, says that while he's honored to have been part of the campaign, but he wants to emphasize that the creation and credit for the campaign lands squarely on Lady Ozone.[16] "They deserve all the credit. It’s been amazing to see how far it’s spread.”[16]

In March 2017, the team sold "I need feminism because" discs to celebrate the success of their photo campaign and urged purchasers to post a photo of themselves with the disc.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Allison Beattie; Michelle Burrows; Kate Gadsden; Sarah Kendrick (12 April 2014). "Who needs feminism?". The Duke Chronicle. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  2. ^ Ma, Julia (20 July 2012). "Redefining the F-Bomb: Who Needs Feminism?". Good.is. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  3. ^ a b c Seidman, Rachel (11 April 2013). "Who Needs Feminism? One Year And Going Strong". Women AdvaNCe. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  4. ^ Legendary Women, Inc. (April 20, 2012). "Duke Students Ask "Who Needs Feminism?"". Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  5. ^ a b Petronzio, Matt (13 April 2012). "'Who Needs Feminism?' New Tumblr Promotes Gender Equality". Mashable. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  6. ^ Callaway, Patton (16 April 2012). "Feminism campaign sparks widespread dialogue, backlash". The Duke Chronicle. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  7. ^ Seidman, Rachel (23 August 2012). "After Todd Akin comments: Why women – and men – still need feminism". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  8. ^ Santoro, Corinne. "Who Needs Feminism and Social Media". Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  9. ^ "Who Needs Feminism? Campaign Start-up Guide" (PDF). Projects for English Learners. March 2013.
  10. ^ Pasricha, Japleen (17 April 2014). "India's first ever "I Need Feminism" campaign at IGIT and AUD". Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  11. ^ Team LBN. (20 April 2014). "I Need Feminism – Young Research Scholar Spearheads International Movement In Delhi". Life Beyond Numbers. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  12. ^ "About UK Feminista". UK Feminista. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  13. ^ "Run a Who Needs Feminism campaign in your school or college". UK Feminista. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  14. ^ a b Younis, Jinan (20 June 2013). "What happened when I started a feminist society at school". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "BU ultimate sparks "catalyst for conversation" with feminist photo series – The Daily Free Press". Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac "BU Women's Ultimate Frisbee Team Feminism Campaign Goes Viral | BU Today". Boston University. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  17. ^ a b c d e f Sullivan, Steve (22 December 2016). "Boston University Feminism Photo Campaign Covered By Boston Globe". Ultiworld. Retrieved 19 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ O'Malley, Katie (2016-11-18). "Male And Female Boston University Students Explain Exactly Why We Need Feminism". ELLE. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  19. ^ "Boston University Athletes Spread Messages of Feminism With Frisbees". NBC Boston. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Shanahan, Mark (20 December 2016). "BU Women's Ultimate team goes viral with gender equality campaign". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 19 May 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "I Will Walk With You: Student Leadership & Activism Panel". Boston University. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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