Twitter has become one of my favorite places to learn about feminism. It offers a more egalitarian platform than academia or mainstream media, and the information is neatly organized into hashtags for feminists. These hashtags give social media users the ability to learn from and join conversations that can expand our feminist consciousness.
Twitter is also obviously full of trolls, and unfortunately, it seems like many of them search these hashtags to find people to harass. That's where services like TrollBusters and Heart Mob become useful to find support in the face of anti-feminist backlash and harassment. And, overall, I find it's worth it, since social media can do a lot of good despite the bad. It can help people connect with others they're not able to meet in person, get an education when they can't afford school, get exposed to ideas that the people around them haven't embraced, and even find acceptance when they're being discriminated against in real life.
Here are a few hashtags to search for if you're looking to read and join empowering feminist conversations, find feminist accounts to follow, learn about how you can improve your feminism, and feel less alone when you're dealing with oppression.
#IAmANastyWoman
Donald Trump's "nasty woman" comment about Hillary Clinton sparked a huge response on Twitter because so many women found it relatable. In a world where women get called "nasty" just for speaking their minds, this hashtag offers an alternative narrative about outspoken women. If you've ever been called "nasty" or something similar, it may help you see that maybe receiving this label isn't such a bad thing.
#EverydaySexism
This is another validating hashtag because it lets women and gender minorities know that the things they've experienced that seem sexist, are, in fact, sexist — even when others might accuse them of overreacting. It focuses on everyday occurrences, like being told your biological clock is ticking or assumed to be incapable of technical tasks. It shows that all acts of sexism, no matter how small, contribute to gender inequality, and that just because an action is widely accepted doesn't mean it isn't sexist.
#FatPositive
Fat positivity is a more radical version of body positivity (which is the source of the hashtag #bodypositive), since some activists felt that body positivity wasn't acknowledging fat bodies. #FatPositive and #BodyPositive are both great sources of information about the subtle forms of fatphobia throughout our society and ideas about fashion, fitness, and health that we don't always see in mainstream culture.
#SaturdaySchool
#SaturdaySchool is a social justice teach-in that covers feminism, racial equality, and other important social issues. Professors and other academics usually lead the discussions, which means you basically get an education for free. The difference is that everybody's perspective is valued equally (as long as they're not being hateful), which means you get a broader perspective than you might from academia and marginalized voices have a shot at getting heard.
#HeForShe
He for She is a UN movement led by Emma Watson for men to learn about and advocate for feminism, and it's also a hashtag for the same purpose. The information, quotes, and links people share with this hashtag can teach men how feminism affects them and how to be the best feminist allies they can be.
#Microaggressions
This hashtag is similar to #EverydaySexism but broader. It shows how subtle actions called microaggressions can contribute to racism, ableism, and other "isms" so that we can avoid perpetuating these problems and feel validated if we're victims of them.
#SexPositive
Social media discussions around sex positivity provide an alternative for people, particularly women, who are taught that their sexuality is a shameful thing or a commodity to withhold. The hashtag can help you make sexual decisions that are true to who you are and gain validation if you experience backlash for them.
#Intersectionality
Practicing Intersectional feminism means acknowledging that all different issues, not just gender, contribute to sexism and other injustices, and you can't be against patriarchy without also being against all the other hierarchies society sets up to dictate that some people are better than others. If you're looking to make sure your brand of feminism is inclusive, this hashtag offers a ton of information on how certain groups are excluded from feminism and how they can be included.
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