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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Rapid development in terms of digital technology and social media has brought about revolutionary changes in politics and social activism in the world. The recent development in online feminism is the emergence of online feminist activism which has been found to be one of the major types of digital activism as it enables the feminists to use various digital platforms to oppose oppressive policies, advocate for equality and compel the government to adopt some policies. The social networking sites like Twitter (X), Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have facilitated feminist activism...

Online feminist movements attracted worldwide attention, including #Me Too, #Times Up, #BringBackOur Girls, and #SayHer Name, among others, which brought to light occurrences of sexual harassment, gender discrimination, violence and political inequality. They proved how digital spaces could be public spheres that resonate with those whose voices otherwise may not reach spaces of political representation or public debates. As stateed by Caldeira, Jorge and Kubrusly (2025), digital participation has become a relevant part of contemporary feminist identity and activism, through social media movements which have the power to bring consciousness and uphold political activities.

Emergence of online feminisms is linked to the emergence of what can be termed fourth wave feminism that focuses on aspects such as digital feminism, intersectionalities, and network activism. Digital feminism is different from conventional forms of activism in that it largely depends on Internet technologies for organizing its campaigns and involving citizens in political dialogues. According to Madadli (2025), the advent of online feminisms has brought about a transformation of collective forms of political action into connective and network forms of activism..

There has also been a considerable influence of the online feminist movement on public policies. Feminist activists used various forms of online activism such as social media and online protests to force the authorities and governments to enact legislation and policies in areas ranging from gender equality and equal rights at work to reproductive health, domestic abuse, and even online security. In many nations, the online feminist movement has influenced public policies in the areas of sexual harassment and violence against women. The study by Nageri (2025) found that online activism boosts public participation and policy reforms when the government responds to public concerns.

In addition, the growth of feminist activism through technology has made room for greater political engagement by women, particularly those in the developing world, where the nature of the political process usually keeps women out of political participation. Women can engage in politics through the Internet without necessarily having to depend on the traditional methods. In Nigeria, feminist activism through the Internet became common during the #EndSARS campaigns and campaigns against rape.

While much progress has been made by online feminism activism, there still exist many problems that need solving. Feminist activists are prone to suffering from cyberbullying, online abuse, online disinformation, and surveillance. Chang (2025) noted that feminists in China tend to practice self-censorship so as not to fall victim to misogynistic attacks online or to governmental interference. Banet-Weiser and Kay (2025) argued that online feminism activism is often met with opposition from reactionaries and anti-feminists.

Moreover, the increase in use of AI and digital manipulation technologies has led to an increase in harassment against women who speak out in politics through the internet. Research shows that women who actively participate in political activism are often exposed to gender-based harassment, which acts as a barrier to political participation. The issue is of great concern in the digital feminist activism in regard to its ability to influence public policies.

The current study aims at assessing the rise of digital feminist activism and its impact on public policy making..

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Online feminism has made political activism and engagement a different thing altogether. It is possible to use the power of social media and other websites to spread awareness about issues such as sexual harassment, gender discrimination, violence against women, and women’s involvement in politics. In spite of the success of the campaigns through the Internet, it remains true that discrimination on the basis of gender persists in many societies...

Another important issue here is the impact that the online feminism has on real policy changes rather than just raising attention through social media platforms. While many feminist movements can go viral on such sites as Twitter, Facebook and the like, there is still no guarantee that they will lead to any real policy changes or even adoption of new gender-related policies by governments..

Furthermore, there is a rising resistance against feminists in cyberspace. Feminists have to face a lot of hostility, including harassment, bullying, misogynist attack, censorship, and misinformation when engaging in digital activism, reducing their willingness to take part in such activities. As noted by Chang (2025), "Online misogyny and censorship by the governments have compelled many feminist activists to self-censor themselves". In addition, some political groups and organizations that are anti-feminist use cyberspace to counter the ideas of feminism.

In Nigeria and developing nations, cyberfeminism has helped to open up discourse on women's rights issues and social justice. Nonetheless, there has been a failure of implementation of policies regarding gender issues because most of the gender issues are left unattended by the government. Therefore, there is a need to study how far online feminism has been able to affect policies and create social and political change.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

Objective of the study:

The major objective of this research study is to study the emergence of online feminist movement and its impact on public policies.

Specific Objectives of the Study are as follows:

1.         The emergence of online feminist movement and factors behind it.

2.         How social media play an important part in feminist activism?

3.         The impact of online feminist movement on public policy making process.

4.         Challenges faced by feminists working online

5.         Evaluation of the effectiveness of online feminist movement in promoting gender equality..

1.4 Research Questions

1. What are the factors that have led to the formation of online feminist groups?

2. In what way is social media important for feminist activism?

3. How do online feminist groups impact public policy formulation?

4. What are the problems facing online feminist activists?

5. How successful are online feminist groups in promoting gender equality?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This research is significant since it adds to the existing body of knowledge regarding digital activism, feminism, and public policy. This research will help policymakers learn about the impact that online activism has on governance and citizen involvement in the same. Moreover, this research will help researchers, students, and civil society organizations interested in gender politics and communication.

Moreover, this research will give insights into the prospects and challenges facing online feminist activism..

1.6 Scope of the Study

The paper is concerned with online feminist movements and their effect on public policies. The paper considers feminist activism through digital channels and studies its effects on governance, gender equality, and political involvement.