‘Crafting a way forward’: online participation, craftivism and civic engagement in Ravelry’s Pussyhat Project group

ABSTRACT

A powerful visual symbol of social protest and a success story of online organizing, the Pussyhat is a prominent illustration of the revival of craftivism in the current political climate. Analyzing the activity of the Pussyhat Project group within the online craft community Ravelry, this article aims to facilitate a deeper understanding of emerging practices of civic expression and participation, and the ways in which online participation might reflect and support these practices. Our analysis reveals the magnitude and particular characteristics of older women’s civic engagement, the function of craft as a gateway to civic expression and participation, and the significance of the online community as a source of practical and socioemotional support. This research thus sheds important light on evolving notions of activism and civic engagement in the digital age and contributes to a better understanding of the participatory practices of older women in interest-based online spaces.

KEYWORDS:

• Craftivism
• online affinity networks
• civic engagement
• activism
• Ravelry

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Ioana Literat is Assistant Professor in the Communication, Media & Learning Technologies Design program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research examines creative participation in online contexts, with a particular focus on the social, educational and civic aspects of online creativity. Her work has been published in the Journal of Communication, New Media & Society, Communication Theory, the International Journal of Communication, and Information, Communication & Society, among others.

Sandra Markus is a Professor in the School Art and Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she teaches interdisciplinary courses in design and digital culture. She is a doctoral candidate in the Communication, Media & Learning Technologies Design program at Teachers College, Columbia University, where her research focuses on craft, activism and online communities of practice in art and design.