Poking the bear: Feminist online activism disrupting conservative power

Abstract

This is the time for a critical digital pedagogy that simultaneously recognizes the potential inherent in social media to challenge power and build movements alongside the dangers lurking in a fake news era that spreads hate, division and distraction. This paper explores how Canadian digital feminist activists challenged conservative power over three federal elections with innovative creativity using what I have termed, critical pedagogical humour, resulting in a spontaneous online social movement that helped oust the Prime Minister. Using a social-justice qualitative mixed-methods approach, this study informs online political practice and pedagogy drawing three conclusions: 1) Social media makes responsive activism possible, lifting most barriers, and enabling risk-taking; 2) Social justice struggles rely on informal education based on truth-telling, rooted in values and deliberately using humour for its innocuous delivery that disarms and opens doors and; 3) Social media provides unique opportunities to respond to events in real-time while creating a historical record documenting government activity and resistance.