Empowering Media

Steiner starts her article by discussing the reasons why women have turned to alternative feminist media. According to Steiner women have felt that mainstream media and the radical/alternative media were not able to reflect their concerns, needs, and voices (121). Fighting the patriarchal dominated media is then one of the reasons why women have come together to create their own alternative media. This is a reason that Steiner considers negative as she affirms that "there are other, more affirmative reasons why women establish independent media" (121). To express their interests, to establish their independent identities, and to obtain "intellectual and emotional satisfaction" are three other reasons why women feel the need to construct an alternative media that is "women-controlled" and "women-oriented" (Steiner 121).

Pollock and Sutton add to Steiner's observations, only that they write specifically on the Internet:

The Internet offers the possibility of working in ways feminist have often aspired to, but have sometimes had difficulty achieving: those of inclusion, diversity, and transparency in an open process which can lead to action and change. (33)

 

They attribute these possibilities to the characteristics of speed and far reaching capacity that make the Internet a unique medium. Nevertheless, it is important to be aware that even if technology has become available to many, it is still not the main vehicle of dissemination of information. Developing countries, with great part of their populations living in or below the poverty line, do not enjoy the benefits this technology provides. As for the possibility of making things more transparent I would agree with Pollock and Sutton that the Internet is the most powerful vehicle in achieving this characteristic. There is no other media in today's world that is so difficult to control and so 'easily' accessible to a variety of societies, groups and organisations. At the same time that this is empowering, for allowing 'minorities' to verbalise their position, it also allows for the dissemination of not-so-positive propaganda. An example would be the existence of numerous sites propagating racist ideas and feelings or spreading misogynist concepts.

Weaknesses on Steiner's Piece >>