Egypt: Thanks to Facebook, young women take to political activism
15 May 09 - In recent years, Egypt has witnessed increasing participation by women in grassroots political activism. Local civil rights advocates attribute the phenomenon to novel means of communication and organisation, especially the social networking website Facebook.
The phenomenon has become particularly notable since the advent of the ‘April 6 Youth’, a grassroots movement seeking peaceful political change. The movement takes its name from a general strike held on Apr. 6, 2008, when a planned labour action at a public-sector textiles company turned into a nationwide protest against skyrocketing food prices and political stasis.
The young were mobilised through mobile-phone text messages and Facebook - where one of its online groups currently boasts more than 75,000 members.
In this case women of Egypt have found the means to reflect on their political views and have met new people with similar interest. Women wanted to prove that political activity should not be dependent on gender. During a peaceful strike some women were still arrested.
And also do not forget to read the theory: An Introduction to Activism on the Internet
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