Tumblr Feminism:

How Young Feminists

on Tumblr are

Interrupting the Non-

Profit Industrial

Complex and Creating

Better Health

Outcomes Presentation By: Erin McKelle @ErinMcKelle

Erinmckelle.com

#YTHLIVE

My Tumblr Background

Blogger on site for ~4 years

Creator of Fearless Feminism, Facts About Feminism, and Period Positive/Moderator of Blogs Like Feminist BitStrips

Used the platform in my work as an activist

Helped other organizations and people utilize Tumblr for their change making

Learning Objectives

To understand how and why young feminists are utilizing Tumblr for activism.

To recognize why this type of organizing is effective, useful (possibly for their own work), and undermining oppressive structural barriers many young people face.

To learn about how Tumblr feminism is eradicating specific negative health outcomes that disproportionately affect young people (sexual violence, eating disorders, etc.).

Tumblr Feminism

Those who use Tumblr blogging to spread awareness to social and cultural issues, create social media campaigns, and intervene in VAW, eating disorder recovery, and other gender-based oppressions.

Popular formats include feminist blogs, body positive blogs, queer and gender non-conforming blogs, and intersectional activist blogs.

Usually cultivated as community

Why Tumblr?

Offers unique ways for activists to connect, share work, and spread messages

Tumblr isn’t as commercialized as other social media platforms

Allows for fast sharing and in-depth learning

Allows for anonymity

The audience in mostly women!

Case Study: Who Needs Feminism?

Case Study: Facts About Feminism

Case Study: Saved By The bell hooks

Why Is This Working?

Accessibility

Reach

Interrupting organizational structures

Provides an in for those with knowledge, but who are not professionals (peer-to-peer)

Structural barriers are eradicated- education level, privilege, access to resources

Meets young people where they are at

Tumblr is Changing Young Public Health

To learn about how Tumblr feminism is eradicating specific negative health outcomes that disproportionately affect young people (sexual violence, eating disorders, etc.).

Youth Health is at the center of Tumblr blogging

Self-care, ED recovery, suicide prevention, mental health, sexual and reproductive health

Eating Disorder Recovery

“The new eating disorder battleground.”

• Resources and Support

• Validation

• Recovery

• Emphasizes self-love

Sexual and Reproductive Health

Intersectionality!

Focus on LGBTQ health and rights

Not shame based- output of truthful

Conclusions

Thank You!

# YTHLIVE