Digital activism as a strategy to tackle sexual violence: considerations in the light of decolonial studies and mediation theories

ABSTRACT

Objective:

to discuss, in the light of decolonial studies and mediation theories, the social protagonism of women in confronting different forms of sexual violence through the popularization of the #primeiroassedio (#firstharassment) movement on Facebook.

Methods:

to organize the collected data, the categories photos, videos, news and reports were established. The sample consisted of 1,035 posts, gathered over a three-month interval (November 2018 to January 2019) through the use of specific filters of geographic determination (Brazil), publication mode (public) and period (2015 and 2019). An analysis of the use of the hashtag #primeiroassedio on Facebook social media was carried out in the light of decolonial studies and mediation theories.

Results:

to organize the collected data, the categories photos, videos, news and reports were established. The sample consisted of 1,035 posts, gathered over a three-month interval (November 2018 to January 2019) through the use of specific filters of geographic determination (Brazil), publication mode (public) and period (2015 and 2019). An analysis of the use of the hashtag #primeiroassedio on Facebook social media was carried out in the light of decolonial studies and mediation theories.

Conclusions:

the mediation is present in interactions labeled with the hashtag as it promotes a space for dialogue, highlighting the social protagonism of women in the struggle against historical and markedly colonial structures of oppression, enhancing, from this, the creation of support networks and demand for public policies to combat sexual violence in society.

KEYWORDS:
Decolonial studies; Mediation Theories; Sexual violence; Violence against women; Social networks; Digital activism