Material Moments in Virtual Worlds

Creating Hybrid Spaces for Feminist Consciousness-raising

in Girlhood Studies
Author:
Syafiqah Abdul Rahim Researcher, Malaysian Youth Council, Malaysia dr.syafiqahrahim@gmail.com

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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8036-2479
and
Hannah Walters Kings College London, UK hannah.1.walters@kcl.ac.uk

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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9303-5450
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3167/ghs.2022.150303
Keywords:
activism; craftivism; feminism; Malaysia; online spaces; participation; youth
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Abstract

Covid-19 signalled rapid, near-wholesale shifts to the online world, yet how this affected the establishment of supportive, safe spaces for activism has received scant attention. Based on ongoing work with young women and girls in Malaysia, we discuss the pedagogic processes of feminist consciousness-raising as an informal mode of Girlhood Studies education and how online spaces might be reconfigured to enhance the virtual experience through hybrid workshops. Theorized from a feminist new materialist perspective and guided by the principles that feminism is an everyday practice, and feminism is for everybody, we argue that the hybrid space introduced material and sensory elements, facilitated feelings of connectedness, and helped establish a safe space for participants to engage with feminism and girls’ rights in meaningful ways.

Contributor Notes

Syafiqah Abdul Rahim (ORCID: 0000-0002-8036-2479) is a researcher with the Malaysian Youth Council. Her research focuses on young people's participation in youth movements in Malaysia. Email: dr.syafiqahrahim@gmail.com

Hannah Walters (ORCID: 0000-0002-9303-5450) is a feminist sociologist of youth and education. Her work uses creative and arts-based methods to explore class- and gender-based aspects of contemporary girlhood. Email: hannah.1.walters@kcl.ac.uk

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Girlhood Studies

An Interdisciplinary Journal

Cover Girlhood Studies
Article Category:
Research Article
Page Count:
18
Keywords:
activism; craftivism; feminism; Malaysia; online spaces; participation; youth
Print Publication Date:
01 Dec 2022
Online Publication Date:
01 Dec 2022
Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2022

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