Destination Travel in the Age of Social Media

When it comes to being inspired by social media, Instagram travel feeds are there ready to lure us in. Each feed presents itself like a journey all on their own — with enviously gorgeous images beckoning a traveler onward. It’s a shame to learn then they’re ruining it for the rest of us.

In fact, according to the National Park Service, between 2008 and 2017 places like Yellowstone National Park gained a 40% increase of visitors. And since the onset of COVID-19, those numbers have only got worse. In an interview with The Guardian, the former superintendent of the park, Dan Wenk says, “Our own species is having the greatest impact on the park and the quality of the experience is becoming a casualty.” And national parks aren’t alone, it’s even affecting farmers like those at Bogle Seeds.

Hundreds of people showed up to take photos in front of the sunflowers that grow at Bogle Farms; you’ve all seen those IG worthy shots, like this:

@protectour_publiclands. Instagram.com

After his farm went viral on Instagram, owner, Mr. Bogle was quoted saying, “I’ve described it as a zombie apocalypse. There were so many cars. People were walking in and around them. No one would move.” People crowded the farm to take selfies and were then accused of doing a lot of damage to flowers.

CBC news in Canada described the sight as “chaos”; and shortly after opening to the public the owners closed it to them for good.

Mr. Bogle is not alone. Just a few miles out from The Grand Canyon, resident of Page, AZ, Bill Diako says that the natural attraction Horseshoe Bend saw a massive spike of visitors when Instagram launched in 2010. He says the numbers grew from a few thousand annual visitors to 100,000 that year. And the phenomenon doesn’t just affect the United States, getting that perfect shot for social media is an international phenomenon.

Tourists posing “holding up” Leaning Tower of Pisa. Pinterest

It’s not just the crowds that are ruining the experience for sustainable travelers. Just like the damage done to the sunflowers at Bogle Seeds, the Great Wall of China has been affected by mistreatment and even theft. Today, if you don’t want to navigate a sea of tourists there, you’ll have to go off-season and in the snow.

Great Wall of China packed with visitors over holiday.

On July 26th Associated Press announced that the Yankee Jims pristine swimming hole in Northern California was closed to motor vehicles due to over crowding. There were about 300 cars spotted parked along the freeway due to the fact that the swimming hole only has 12 spots, which used to suffice. And the local authorities claim that social media is to blame for the surge.

Getting that perfect shot no matter the cost has been a catalyst for movements of change and education. There are even petitions on Change.org to encourage social media users to be more aware of their behaviors when traveling. It would seem that the age of COVID-19 and our need for fresh-air and social distancing has backfired, as the problem only seems to be getting worse. Many would agree there needs to be a sustainable and long term way to travel in the age of social media to prevent the lasting effects on the cultural and historic sites, monuments and lives of people all over the world.

Raeann Mason

Raeann is an avid traveler, digital storyteller and guide writer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Comm & Media Studies from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication. Passionate about a/effective journalism and cultural exchange, she is an advocate of international solidarity and people's liberation. As the founder of ROAM + WRITE and EIC of Monarch Magazine, Raeann hopes to reshape the culture of travel and hospitality to be both ethically sound and sustainable.

Hong Kong Activist Group Forced to Delete Social Media

In order to comply with China’s recent national security law, a well-known pro-democracy group was ordered to scrub its online presence. 

A  2015 vigil for the 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests. VeryBusyPeople. CC BY-SA 2.0

In early September 2021, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, a well-known activist group in Hong Kong, received notices from officials to delete all online content to comply with the recent national security law. As a result, the group has closed its website as well as all social media pages, including their Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. The Hong Kong Alliance is most well known for hosting vigils for the 1989 Tiananmen Square student protests that resulted in hundreds of deaths. The protests in 1989 called for political and economic reform, and Chinese police responded violently and arrested tens of thousands of protesters. In addition, the group is known for advocating for democratic movements and does not hesitate to criticize the government online. Officials also used the national security law to arrest several leaders of the group who refused to provide information to police regarding the group’s funding and membership.

The security law went into effect on June 30, 2020, causing concerns that Hong Kong was losing its judiciary independence and other democratic freedoms such as freedom of speech and assembly. Under the initial 1997 agreement, when China gained control of Hong Kong from Britain, there was always supposed to be a national security law in Hong Kong. However, Hong Kong would retain a separate judiciary system. Hong Kong has previously had protests starting in 2019 in response to a law that allowed extradition to the mainland. The protests turned increasingly violent, and eventually, the extradition bill was withdrawn. The controversial security law criminalized succession, subversion of state power, terrorism and collusion with foreign entities. The law takes precedence over a local Hong Kong law, and a National Security Committee will be put in place with no local oversight. In addition, crimes considered to be serious national security threats will be tried on the mainland in Chinese courts, essentially a version of the extradition bill that was thrown out as a result of the 2019 protests. 

The Hong Kong Alliance was not the first group that faced the consequences of the recent security law. Shortly after the law was enacted in 2020, many people deleted their social media, and pro-democracy media outlets deleted old posts and entire archives. The Hong Kong alliance has restarted a Facebook page. Still, it is unclear how the group will be using social media in the future.

Dana Flynn

Dana is a recent graduate from Tufts University and holds a degree in English. While at Tufts she enjoyed working on a campus literary magazine and reading as much as possible. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she loves to explore and learn new things.

Sexual Assault Prevention: How to Help Yourself and Others

Sexual assault prevention campaigns have been circulating on social media, giving tools to  women and men around the world to remove themselves from threatening situations and ward off sexual predators. 

Sexual assault is a major issue across the world. From childhood bedrooms and college parties to first dates and marital beds, both women and men alike experience unwanted sexual attention and violence. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 3 women experience physical or sexual violence from a partner or non-partner in their lifetime. Similarly, at least 1 in 6 men have experienced sexual abuse or assault. 

In the past, survivors and allies frequently shied away from speaking about sexual assault; however, in recent years, the topic that was considered taboo is beginning to be  spoken about more frequently and openly. Today, workplaces require sexual assault education courses, educational institutions encourage victims to utilize the resources available to them, and social media keeps the conversation alive with its various sexual assault resources, prevention and discussion accounts. People are now more aware of the severity of sexual assault and the long lasting psychological implications it can have on victims, as well as how to report a sexual attack, cope with an unwanted sexual experience or escape situations in which sexual abuse feels imminent. 

In recent years, many sexual assault prevention campaigns have been created, often utilizing social media to share these life-saving tactics. One campaign that gained global traction online is “Ask For Angela,” which was launched in Lincolnshire, England by Hayley Child in 2016. The campaign is named in memory of Angela Crompton, a woman who was abused and killed by her husband in 2012 when an argument about redecorating spiraled out of control. Ask For Angela was created to help people escape uncomfortable and potentially threatening situations. By asking a bartender, waiter or employee of an establishment, “is Angela working tonight?” the employee will be alerted that the patron is uncomfortable and would like to be safely and discreetly escorted home. However, Ask For Angela is only effective if the establishment is aware of the phrase and has trained its staff to respond appropriately. 

Not only did this campaign gain a lot of traction, but it even encouraged another code word system based on Ask For Angela. The spin-off exists in the United States where, rather than asking if Angela is working, a customer will ask for an “angel shot” when they feel unsafe. Additional setting-appropriate phrases exist to secretly and specifically identify what type of help the person needs. If the person wants the shot “neat,” they want to be escorted to their car; if they want the shot “on the rocks,” they want the establishment to call a taxi for them; and if they want the shot “with a lime,” they are requesting police assistance. 

While #AskforAngela recently resurfaced on social media, it is just one of many sexual assault prevention tactics that exist. TikTok is more than an app to share Gen Z’s trendy short dances, comedy skits and shopping hauls—many people have posted videos that mimic real-time phone calls as a way to ward off threatening Uber drivers or escorts when played aloud. According to Uber’s safety report, out of 1.3 billion trips in 2018, over 3,000 sexual assaults and nine murders occured. These TikTok videos typically include a fictitious friend subtly stating that they have your live location, are tracking your ride and are awaiting your arrival, alerting the driver that whatever potential predatory plans they had in mind will not go uncaught. These videos are especially helpful and reassuring because they can be used at times when friends and family members cannot be reached. 

Beyond campaigns like these, there are many social media accounts dedicated to sexual assault awareness and discussion. While there is no evidence to suggest that these social media campaigns are effective in deterring sexual violence, at the very least, these initiatives reassure men and women that they are not powerless in those situations. It is important that these posts continue to circulate on social media and inform people how to help others in danger, as well as how to get help when necessary. 

TO GET INVOLVED 

While it may seem hard to combat sexual assault as an ally, there are many ways to get involved. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network—an American non-profit that aims to raise awareness about sexual assault and provide resources and support for sexual assault survivors—is always looking for volunteers to help with it’s 24/7 live chat and hotline, as well as to lead fundraising efforts for research and support programs. 

Similarly to RAINN, NO MORE works toward ending sexual violence by spreading awareness, selling products, accepting donations and spearheading various sexual assault prevenetion campaigns. To support NO MORE in their efforts to prevent sexual violence, take the pledge, buy their products and wear their merchandise to show allyship and raise awareness of their organization and cause. 

Ending Rape on Campus is an organization that works to prevent sexual assault by providing educational resources in school environments. Help EROC by signing up for its “Action Alerts,” and stay informed about what petitions to sign, events to attend and protests to support.

Mia Khatib 

Mia is a rising senior at Boston University majoring in journalism and minoring in international relations. As a Palestinian-American, Mia is passionate about amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and is interested in investigative and data-driven journalism. She hopes to start out as a breaking news reporter and one day earn a position as editor of a major publication.

The Perils in Preparing for Cross-Country Van Travel

While idyllic van life has become increasingly popular on social media, there are many challenges when it comes to the preparation for a cross-country van trip which are not commonly discussed.  

Jacob Raillon building the van. Maddie Durso.

Van life seems appealing and idyllic on TikTok, but there are many challenging aspects people don’t think about when it comes to cross-country van travel. Here’s how two people are preparing for their trip in a tiny home and planning for each day on the road.

Maddie Durso and Jacob Raillon, based in Boston and collectively @maddieandjacobontour on Instagram, are eager to begin their cross-country journey. Maddie, an art advisor from New Jersey, and Jacob, a recent college graduate from Germany, will be heading west from New Jersey. Along their route, they will be hitting major stops like Cleveland, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Albuquerque, Sedona and the Grand Canyon. They then plan to head up the West Coast from Los Angeles to Seattle, from there visiting major national parks such as Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park. A map of their trip is included below.

Maddie and Jacob’s route. Google Maps.

Purchasing and renovating a van is difficult and expensive in and of itself. While some move into a vehicle they already own, others pay up to $45,000 for a new van, with an additional cost of up to $15,000 for conversions. However, Maddie and Jacob were able to buy a used van for $4,000. 

After purchasing and renovating their van (which cost in total about $5,000), they had to focus on the necessary amenities for van travel, such as showering, going to the bathroom, sleeping, working, getting Internet or signal, fueling up on gas, etc.

These tasks are much easier said than done, and Maddie and Jacob worked on these issues up until their departure. They purchased a weBoost to boost their signal on the road, an extra battery in case of any problems, a water tank for showering and drinking water, and much more.

Another thing they had to think about is gas prices. It costs about $70 to fill up the tank of their van, and their trip will be a maximum of 10,000 miles. Constantly stopping and starting their van wastes gas, so they plan to be careful about how many times they pull over to use a bathroom, take a shower, or see a beautiful site.

They also must plan for how much food will cost, how much food they can initially pack and how they will cook on the road. Many van travelers find that they stop at fast food restaurants more often than expected, which is neither nutritious nor cost-effective.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, food costs in the U.S. are 5.76% higher in 2020 than in 2015, so Maddie and Jacob will have to budget for any extra or unexpected food costs.

Maddie and Jacob’s van. Maddie Durso.

But possibly the biggest obstacle they have faced in planning their trip was finding campsites to stay in overnight. Many campsites cost between $25 and $80 per night depending on the state. Furthermore, many are hard to access, so locating a campsite is extremely tricky and requires considerable research and preparation. Luckily, there are many websites and apps that are helpful in finding overnight campsites.

Roadtrippers is a company that helps travelers plan road trips and find destinations “off the beaten path,” connecting users with some of the country and world’s most interesting locations. Roadtrippers helps users plan, book and navigate throughout their trip.

Much like Roadtrippers, The Dyrt is committed to helping users have the best camping experience possible. Once the user decides on a  route, The Dyrt will find campgrounds to help build the ultimate camping trip experience. With these websites, Maddie and Jacob have been able to plan for the first half of their trip.

It generally costs approximately $2,200 per month for two people to live and travel in a van. However, as Jacob said, “if time and effort aren’t constraints and you don’t need more than a bed, gas, stove and some storage, you can spend less than $400 on everything.” Jacob even said that he was able to manage the whole conversion in less than 20 hours since he had everything in one place. 

While Maddie and Jacob were able to save money through careful research, there is still the issue of finding free campsites. iOverlander is a mapping app that shows users free campsites—whether they are random places off the road or in parking lots. “I’ve been cross-referencing places on the iOverlander app with the Roadtrippers website, which has more legitimate camping places and attractions in specific areas,” Maddie said.

However, they have found that even with all of these resources, it is still difficult to find campsites. “It’s still hard to find campsites that are free and at the same time have really beautiful sites and nature, which is basically what this trip is all about,” Maddie said. “The places listed on apps tend to just be in parking lots, which isn’t really what we want.”

Maddie Durso and Jacob Raillon in their van. Maddie Durso.

As aesthetic and enticing as van life appears on social media, there are so many factors not commonly talked about online that can become annoyances when planning a trip.

When asked if all of the preparation, worrying and research was worth it, Maddie said, “Yes. The research is all super worth it because the last thing you want to do is spend the whole trip finding places to sleep. And with all the research, I have discovered places that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise.”

Isabelle Durso

Isabelle is an undergraduate student at Boston University currently on campus in Boston. She is double majoring in Journalism and Film & Television, and she is interested in being a travel writer and writing human-interest stories around the world. Isabelle loves to explore and experience new cultures, and she hopes to share other people's stories through her writing. In the future, she intends to keep writing journalistic articles as well as creative screenplays.

Gen Z’s Online Activism Helps and Harms Social Movements

Gen Z, those currently ages 11-25, have been using the Internet and social media all their lives. More informed about social issues through Instagram and TikTok, they are also more vulnerable to misinformation as much content on such platforms is not fact-checked or verified.

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Egyptian Activist Brings About a #MeToo Moment

Nadeen Ashraf, creator of the Instagram page “Assault Police,” warned fellow women about men accused of sexual assault. Now, she is working to change the society that produces the perpetrators.

Nadeen Ashraf has received more death threats than she can count. Her infamy began with an Instagram page named “Assault Police” and culminated in a nationwide movement. It broaches a taboo subject in Egyptian society: sexual violence. The Instagram page provides women an outlet to express their stories of sexual assault and harassment while giving guidance on how to navigate Egyptian society as a survivor. The threats received by Ashraf demonstrate the opposition that activist women face. It also shows how necessary Egypt’s #MeToo moment is.

Ashraf joins a worldwide cadre of young activists who use social media to promote inclusivity. At 22 years old, she belongs to the first generation that was born and raised with social media. “I’ve been active on social media since I was 9 years old,” Ashraf said in an interview with Egyptian Streets, “and I’ve been an avid follower of internet trends and social media for as long as I can remember.” This gives her an edge in crafting social media campaigns that reach women, old and young, across Egypt. So far, Assault Police has over 200,000 followers. 

Ashraf started the account in a rage late one night. A fellow student at the American University in Cairo accused Ahmed Bassam Zaki of sexually harassing and blackmailing women on social media, but within days, the post disappeared. This was one of many instances. “I witnessed women first coming forward about being harassed by him on our university’s unofficial Facebook group around 2018, only to be silenced by having their posts deleted later,” Ashraf says. She soon created Assault Police to warn other women about Zaki. From there, the growth was explosive. 

Nobody predicted such widespread success, least of all Ashraf herself. “I initially expected it to get reported and shut down by Instagram within days of its creation,” she says. Such was the fate of most social media posts calling out sexual harassment. Assault Police comes, though, at a time when a new generation of young activists are using social media to advocate for societal change. Being tech savvy is necessary when authorities arrest activists on social media for “indecency” and “debauchery” while sexual predators roam free.

A protest at the University of Cairo. Hossam el-Hamalawy. CC BY-SA 2.0.

Ashraf faces an uphill battle in shifting widely held cultural norms. Though sexual harassment was criminalized in 2014, pervasive misogyny means victims of sexual abuse are rarely taken seriously. Moreover, a climate of stigma and shame deters many victims from accusing their aggressor publicly. Roughly 75% of men—and 84% of women—believe a woman who dresses provocatively deserves to be harassed. 

“My generation often takes credit for jump-starting change all over the world,” Ashraf said, “but I kept seeing this gap within my community of young women trying to speak out against sexual harassment, and never being taken seriously.” Assault Police provided one of the only venues where victims could tell their stories and seek help without bringing Egyptian society’s scorn upon them. The groundswell of support converted the fledgling account into a nationwide movement, one that is changing the conversation about sexual violence. Nevertheless, there is much work to be done. 

The case of Aya Khamees demonstrates the challenges the movement faces. When Khamess first told the police she had been gang raped, they did nothing. Only after weeks of online campaigning did the authorities arrest five suspects, but the delay allowed at least two suspects to flee the country. In a Kafkaesque turn, authorities charged Khamees herself in the trial on charges of prostitution, drug use and “violating family values.” The trial is yet to be decided, but many women understood the message. Their lives would be easier if they stayed quiet.

Still, the moment represents a #MeToo moment for the country. For the first time, women sharing stories of sexual assault are being taken seriously, and men are beginning to face consequences. After Ashraf repeated accusations against Ahmed Bassam Zaki on the Assault Police page, he was arrested by authorities. 

A protest against systemic sexism. Hossam el-Hamalawy. CC BY 2.0.

For the time being, Ashraf continues passionately against this misogynistic system. So far, Assault Police has been run by her alone, but facing down such a mammoth social issue requires more than one committed activist. “I want to expand from an online platform to a full-time organization,” Ashraf said, “that can support survivors in real time by connecting them to professionals, legal aid and therapy.” Assembling such a team is no easy task, but then again, nothing about Assault Police was ever easy. And look at its success so far. 

Michael McCarthy

Michael is an undergraduate student at Haverford College, dodging the pandemic by taking a gap year. He writes in a variety of genres, and his time in high school debate renders political writing an inevitable fascination. Writing at Catalyst and the Bi-Co News, a student-run newspaper, provides an outlet for this passion. In the future, he intends to keep writing in mediums both informative and creative.

How the BLM Movement Blossomed in the UK

As voices of the Black Lives Matter movement flooded American streets, British proponents alike rushed to rally. The seeds of the movement germinated in the U.K., but problems soon sprung up alongside them. 

Black Lives Matter protest in Bristol, England. KSAG Photography. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. 

In late May, the death of George Floyd ignited outrage in nations across the world, including in the United Kingdom. In the early summer months, the pages of social media and eager British ralliers mirrored the zeal of the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States. However, over the course of a few short months, the unmatched vigor of the movement in Britain quickly dropped off; neither the media channels nor the once fiery minds of residents continued active coverage and support. 

What had started as weekly protests in Britain’s largest cities had dissolved into a deferred dream for a few young activists. As more racial inequalities surfaced, less and less government engagement was found. 

Regardless of this obstacle, the young remaining supporters continue their fight with the unbattered zeal of seasoned activists. A few such activists are the founders of All Black Lives U.K., which is a movement started this past May by a group of students. The group organized protests for 10 weeks this summer and has since made substantial headway; its outreach, primarily made through social media and hosted panels, has garnered enough engagement to establish posts in other urban areas such as Bristol and Manchester. 

The movement pushes for a list of demands to be met by the government, which includes the removal of the highly scrutinized “gangs matrix.” 

The gangs matrix is a database that has been run by the Metropolitan Police since 2012 following the 2011 London riots. The database contains the names of “gang nominals,” or people whose online activity has been flagged for suspected gang affiliation. The Metropolitan Police advertised the database as a tool to combat violence in London, but many studies found that its standards have resulted in the disproportionate representation of young Black males. Thus, All Black Lives U.K. believes that the abolition of this database will remove a racist stronghold in the government. 

Aside from more obvious racial discrimination, many protesters think that the U.K. suffers from a profound lack of diversity. The movement continues to fight for increased inclusion of Black voices in local councils, as well as diversity in the national school curriculum. Campaigns have been launched to modify what is included in the national curriculum, specifically in order to make learning Black history compulsory. Proponents intend for this modification to fairly represent the Black population while creating a more well-rounded picture of the nation’s history for all students. The education campaigns were met with immediate backlash, with claims by educators that this change is too closely tied to political extremism. 

With several months of tumult having reshaped the face of racial discussions in the U.K., there is little that the British government has changed to address the issue. However, the few brave faces trailblazing the movement keep pressing on, calling others to educate themselves in the meantime. 

To Get Involved

To sign up to volunteer for the Black Lives Matter movement in the UK, click here.

To find out more about the Black Lives Matter movement in the UK, click here.

To become a partner or sponsor for the movement in the UK, click here.

Ella Nguyen

Ella is an undergraduate student at Vassar College pursuing a degree in Hispanic Studies. She wants to assist in the field of immigration law and hopes to utilize Spanish in her future projects. In her free time she enjoys cooking, writing poetry, and learning about cosmetics.

OPINION: Technology Brings Light to Social Issues—But Can It Implement Lasting Change?

The Black Lives Matter movement in the United States sparked global protests and conversations about the treatment of typically “othered” groups. Despite pressure on social media, education and effective policy reform are still needed to achieve justice for all.

A Black Lives Matter protest sign in London. Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona. Unsplash.

Following the deaths of Black Americans like George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, Black Lives Matter surged into the spotlight with renewed vigor. Nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism revived conversations about the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in public spaces. To avoid the consequences of “cancel culture”—the boycott of businesses that fail to embrace social change—many organizations reaffirmed their commitment to racial justice.  

On its Twitter account, Netflix emphasized “speaking up” and standing with Black Lives Matter. The ice cream chain Ben and Jerry’s posted “We Must Dismantle White Supremacy” on its website. Some brands even reinvented themselves. Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben’s came under fire for reinforcing backwards racial stereotypes of Black individuals. Their respective parent companies, Quaker Oats and Mars Inc., acknowledged the problematic history of these marketing depictions and committed to changing them.

While many have lauded these actions, others remain skeptical. “Woke washing,” as defined by diversity and inclusion expert Marlette Jackson, is when companies make “public commitments to equality” but fail to create the infrastructure that actually supports Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) staff. For example, Bon Appetit, a monthly American magazine dedicated to global cuisines and recipes, was outed for its empty promises of change. Priya Krishna, a former Test Kitchen star, revealed on Twitter that she was not fairly compensated for her work. She added that staff of color were “tokenized” and framed as “monolithic experts for their communities.” Krishna has since left Bon Appetit. 

A billboard for the skin whitening company Fair & Lovely in Bangladesh. Adam Jones. CC BY-SA 2.0

Despite instances of smoke screen marketing, Black Lives Matter has sparked questions of colorism and colonial legacies in countries like India.

In India, lighter skin is considered more desirable. This age-old belief has created a lucrative market for skin whitening products. Not only does the existence of this industry foster a culture of body insecurities, but the products themselves also contain dangerously high levels of mercury and hydroquinone. Since the rise of Black Lives Matter protests in June, many Indian celebrities like Priyanka Chopra have condemned racial injustice in the United States. However, Chopra herself filmed an ad with Fair & Lovely, one such skin lightening product.

According to activist Kavitha Emmanuel, many Indians are “blind to colorism, caste discrimination and violence against religious minorities at home.” Muslims have been lynched in increasing numbers since the ascension of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party’s Hindu nationalist government. However, many feel that Indians have been more critical of American injustices than the ones happening in their own country.  Ultimately, the question remains: are conversations alone enough to achieve lasting peace? 

Despite posthumously gracing the cover of Vanity Fair, despite hashtag trends, and despite over 11 million petition signatures as of Oct. 2, Breonna Taylor did not find justice. While the instant and global nature of the internet cultivated efforts to educate and reform, these gestures will not be enough. Unless individuals reexamine the internalized racism and national narratives that so often rule their reactions, ostracized populations will find no reprieve. Until governments step in with effective laws and limitations—ones free of loopholes—Black and marginalized individuals across the globe will continually be devalued and delegitimized.

Rhiannon Koh

earned her B.A. in Urban Studies & Planning from UC San Diego. Her honors thesis was a speculative fiction piece exploring the aspects of surveillance technology, climate change, and the future of urbanized humanity. She is committed to expanding the stories we tell.

Women Take the Mic on Nsawya FM

Saudi feminists are giving voice to obstacles against women’s rights in their new radio show.

Illustration depicting the impact of restricted women’s rights because of male guardianship.

(Source: Human Rights Watch. Saudi Arabia: ‘Unofficial Guardianship Rules Banned. © 2016 by Human Rights Watch

On July 27th, eleven women gave life to Nsawya FM, or Feminism FM, with a simple tweet stating their aim to be the “voice of the silent majority.” Since then, their radio broadcasts have detailed stories of women’s rights abuse with just a laptop, editing software (to disguise the voices of the women sharing the stories), and a microphone. According to Ashtar, a pseudonym for one of the women involved, “the voice of women is revolution.”

And women have been raising their voices. Of the 6.3 million Saudis on Twitter in 2016, 40% were women as found in a study by the Rutgers’s Center for Women’s Global Leadership Report. The same study supported the importance of Twitter in Saudi society by stating that it was the “most effective and influential social network.” This is in part because political leaders monitor Twitter, making political activity more likely to be seen on the social media platform.

Still the potential to be blocked by the government on Twitter—which Nsawya FM states happened temporarily—is why they have chosen the radio: they do not want to risk losing the “archive of [their] thoughts.”

Nsawya FM’s archive consists of submissions by Saudi women of their stories, opinions, and criticisms on women’s rights, such as domestic abuse. The first stories told were of Hanan Shahri and Sara. Both stories highlight the effects of male guardianship: a system where a women’s crucial decisions—including travel, marriage, and studying abroad—are made by a male figure. These guardians can be fathers, husbands, brothers, or sons.

Shahri’s story was widely reported in 2013 after she killed herself following a beating by her brother and uncle and their refusal to allow her to marry her fiancé. Then there is Sara, a university student whose dream to marry her fiancé from Yemen, following approval from her parents, was ended when her brother shot her.

So it is no surprise that women began turning to Twitter to push back against guardianship. In 2016 they coined #AbolishGuardianship to highlight abuse and rally support against it. Within two months, 14,000 signatures had been collected for an online petition against guardianship. Although gradual changes have occurred for women, most notably the ability to drive, male guardianship is grounded in religion and cuts across all socio-economic classes.

But to these 11 women producers and their 2500 audience members there is hope that civilian law might one day replace the Islamic law. They are bringing the stories traditionally protected under male guardianship to light and public criticism.

“Of course [they] are scared,” as Ashtar has also been quoted saying. But their fear is driven by a determination for equal rights. For them it begins with placing the women’s narrative before the public’s eyes: Nsawya FM is making a statement on behalf of Saudi women to the world that they exist.

 

 

TERESA NOWALK is a student at the University of Virginia studying anthropology and history. In her free time she loves traveling, volunteering in the Charlottesville community, and listening to other people’s stories. She does not know where her studies will take her, but is certain writing will be a part of whatever the future has in store.