Breaking Barriers: Arab Women and Social Media Activism

Abstract

This paper explores how social media facilitates activism, specifically among Arab women in Egypt, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia. This research builds off previous examinations of social media usage during the Arab Spring uprisings, as well as findings pertaining to female activity on these platforms. This research takes a complete qualitative approach by analyzing different case studies and academic journals. The collective evidence of the findings is assessed by identifying common trends and themes that point towards how Arab women are utilizing social media to engage in activism. Findings showcase how specific social media facets reduce cultural and social barriers to activism participation. A primary finding is that the online option of anonymity allows women to participate in activism safely without using their real names or facing real-world backlash. Further identifiable trends are that social media helps Arab women escape government censorship, spread information, educate themselves and others, and organize protests. Arab women tend to use social media platforms less than Arab men but show higher levels of organizing and community-building. The findings—based on a comprehensive literature review—demonstrate that Arab women in all three focus countries were beneficiaries of social media during the Arab Spring. This research can serve as the basis for encouraging other regions of the world to expand their access to this technology in order to further development on a global scale.