Cyberfeminism in Egypt: A computer-mediated discourse analysis

Abstract

Cyberfeminism refers to integrating technology and feminism. Unlike face-to-face encounters where men usually dominate the communication, the absence of physical and auditory aspects in computer-mediated discourse provides more space for women participation as it blurs gender visibility. As such, cyberspace is considered a welcoming space for women to “challenge male authority” and achieve gender equality. The power of cyberfeminism lies in the fact that it disseminates the message across geographical boundaries. In cyberfeminism, the content is created and disseminated by women to reach segments of society that used to be unapproachable. The present study investigates cyberfeminism in Egypt by conducting a computer-mediated discourse analysis (CMDA) of “Women of Egypt” Facebook page. CMDA investigates four levels of language, namely, structure, meaning, interaction as well as social behavior. The study seeks to highlight the characteristics of cyberfeminist discourse in Egypt and how it empowers women and helps them in highlighting their achievements and countering “patriarchal authority”.