[PRESS RELEASE] The Development of Digital Activism and Feminism | Digitalk #15

Yogyakarta, April 23rd, 2018 – Digital media’s develompement can be seen as the opportunities for activism. Recently, advocacy on women’s issues is not only done through direct or offline activities, but also through online media which give wider reach of people. Hence, with the momentum of Kartini’s Day, CfDS held Digitalk #15 with the theme of empowering women through digital activism. Kate Walton, the founder of Jakarta Feminist Group (JFG) became the speaker for this event.

Quoted fron Kate as the founder of JFG, started with the restlessness about the social situation at the society. For example, there are still many violences agaisnt women, gender inequality, and discrimination over marginal groups such as difable or LGBT. “The aim of JFG is to provide confortable and save space to share story for the victims, and knowledge  or information” Kate explained.  

Kate admitted, even though the digital activisme is in the cyberspace, it gives real impact for the direct or offline activism. The example was Women’s March in Indonesia with the big number of participants. Initiated at Jakarta in 2017, Women’s March in 2018 also held at 14 other cities such as  Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Kupang, Pontianak, Malang, Bandung, and Sumba. The unique thing is that the coordinators for each city who had not known each others yet and only interacted through social media.

The advantages of online activism is the wide reach of audiences so it can form solidarity at the global level in any kind of issue including feminism. Kate hoped that the ease if coordinating can result bigger and real movement (activism) so it can give significant impact