Blogging while Black, British and female: a critical study on discursive activism

ABSTRACT

This study explores Black British women's motivations for divulging racial and ethnic identity in the blogosphere (sometimes referred to as blogging while Black) and their use of blogs for discursive activism. It builds on previous research that gives voice to Black womens marginalized experiences through powerful counter narratives. The blogosphere is often perceived as a racially neutral space where shared interests across geographical and temporal boundaries limit the significance of racial and ethnic identity. However, the constructed narratives of Black British women in this study highlight their experiences of subtle forms of prejudice and discrimination perpetuated through dominant discourses in the mainstream media. The findings demonstrate how they use blogs as a medium for discursive activism to challenge stereotypical raced and gendered representation in the mainstream media. Much of the research on the blogosphere in Britain reflects its use by the White majority population. This study therefore extends understanding of the blogosphere and highlights alternative modes of political communication.

KEYWORDS:

• Blogs
• race and ethnicity
• Black feminism
• discursive activism
• political communication

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Dr Deborah Gabriel is a lecturer in the Faculty of Media and Communication at Bournemouth University. Her principle research interests are centred on constructions and representations of race and gender in media and popular culture and how race, ethnicity and culture shape engagement with and use of media platforms, especially digital technologies. In addition to her academic role, she is also the Founder and Chief Executive of Black British Academics, an independent organization working to enhance race equality in the higher education sector in the UK. [email: [email protected]]

ORCID

Deborah Gabriel http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9278-1673