Interpreting the Internet : Feminist and Queer Counterpublics in Latin America

This book provides the first in-depth exploration of how Latin American feminist and queer activists have interpreted the internet, from its inception in the region through the explosion of social media. They have done so to support their counterpublics: the diverse and dynamic arenas in which they develop their identities, build their communities, and hone their strategies for social change. This region boasts a long history of gender- and sexuality-based counterpublic construction, supported by a range of alternative media. Since the 1990s, aided by a global network of women and men dedicated to establishing an accessible internet, activists have translated the internet into their own vernacular. Through an analysis of original research based on over 125 interviews and online evidence spanning fifteen years, this book advances three interrelated arguments. First, it supports the sociomaterial thesis that, as with all technologies, the internet is influenced by the social contexts in which it is embedded. But this influence changes over time and place. Second, the internet in itself offers no guarantee of social or political transformation. Instead, this book’s third argument is that the internet’s potential depends on the consciousness and creativity with which activists translate it into their own contexts, through adopting, sharing, and wielding it. In Latin America, feminist and queer counterpublic organizations have taken advantage of all three layers of the internet – physical, logical, and content – to extend and enrich their communities. And, led by their “keystone species” of early adopting, technologically savvy members, they have transformed applications from distribution lists to blogs in order to reflect their values. Every User Knows The Importance Of The '@' Symbol In Internet Communication. Though The Symbol Barely Existed In Latin America Before The Emergence Of Email, Spanish-speaking Feminist Activists Immediately Claimed It To Replace The Awkward 'o/a' Used To Indicate Both Genders In Written Text, Discovering An Answer To The Challenge Of Symbolic Inclusion Embedded In The Internet. In Repurposing The Symbol, They Changed Its Meaning. In Interpreting The Internet, Elisabeth Jay Friedman Provides The First In-depth Exploration Of How Latin American Feminist And Queer Activists Have Interpreted The Internet To Support Their Counterpublics. Aided By A Global Network Of Women And Men Dedicated To Establishing An Accessible Internet, Activists Have Developed Identities, Constructed Communities, And Honed Strategies For Social Change. And By Translating The Internet Into Their Own Vernacular, They Have Also Transformed The Technology. This Book Will Be Of Interest To Scholars And Students In Feminist And Gender Studies, Latin American Studies, Media Studies, Political Science, As Well As Anyone Curious About The Ways In Which The Internet Shapes Our Lives--provided By Publisher. Conceiving Latin American Feminist Counterpublic -- The Creation Of A Modern Weaving Machine : Bringing Feminist Counterpublics Online -- Weaving The Invisible Web : Counterpublic Organization Interpret The Internet -- La Red Informativa De Mujeres De Argentina (rima) : Constructing The Counterpublic -- From Privacy To Lesbian Visibility : Latin American Lesbian Feminist Internet Practices -- Conclusion : Making The Internet Make Sense. Elisabeth Jay Friedman. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Every user knows the importance of the “@” symbol in internet communication. Though the symbol barely existed in Latin America before the emergence of email, Spanish-speaking feminist activists immediately claimed it to replace the awkward “o/a” used to indicate both genders in written text, discovering embedded in the internet an answer to the challenge of symbolic inclusion. In repurposing the symbol, they changed its meaning.
 
In Interpreting the Internet, Elisabeth Jay Friedman provides the first in-depth exploration of how Latin American feminist and queer activists have interpreted the internet to support their counterpublics. Aided by a global network of women and men dedicated to establishing an accessible internet, activists have developed identities, constructed communities, and honed strategies for social change. And by translating the internet into their own vernacular, they have transformed the technology itself. This book will be of interest to scholars and students in feminist and gender studies, Latin American studies, media studies, and political science, as well as anyone curious about the ways in which the internet shapes our lives. "Every user knows the importance of the '@' symbol in internet communication. Though the symbol barely existed in Latin America before the emergence of email, Spanish-speaking feminist activists immediately claimed it to replace the awkward 'o/a' used to indicate both genders in written text, discovering an answer to the challenge of symbolic inclusion embedded in the internet. In repurposing the symbol, they changed its meaning. In Interpreting the Internet, Elisabeth Jay Friedman provides the first in-depth exploration of how Latin American feminist and queer activists have interpreted the internet to support their counterpublics. Aided by a global network of women and men dedicated to establishing an accessible internet, activists have developed identities, constructed communities, and honed strategies for social change. And by translating the internet into their own vernacular, they have also transformed the technology. This book will be of interest to scholars and students in feminist and gender studies, Latin American studies, media studies, political science, as well as anyone curious about the ways in which the internet shapes our lives"--Résumé de l'éditeur Every user knows the importance of the “@” symbol in internet communication. Though the symbol barely existed in Latin America before the emergence of email, Spanish-speaking feminist activists immediately claimed it to replace the awkward “o/a” used to indicate both genders in written text, discovering embedded in the internet an answer to the challenge of symbolic inclusion. In repurposing the symbol, they changed its meaning. In Interpreting the Internet , Elisabeth Jay Friedman provides the first in-depth exploration of how Latin American feminist and queer activists have interpreted the internet to support their counterpublics. Aided by a global network of women and men dedicated to establishing an accessible internet, activists have developed identities, constructed communities, and honed strategies for social change. And by translating the internet into their own vernacular, they have transformed the technology itself. This book will be of interest to scholars and students in feminist and gender studies, Latin American studies, media studies, and political science, as well as anyone curious about the ways in which the internet shapes our lives. Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction. Interpreting the Internet: A Feminist Sociomaterial Approach 1. Conceiving Latin American Feminist Counterpublics 2. The Creation of “a Modern Weaving Machine”: Bringing Feminist Counterpublics Online 3. Weaving the “Invisible Web”: Counterpublic Organizations Interpret the Internet 4. La Red Informativa de Mujeres de Argentina: Constructing a Counterpublic 5. From Privacy to Lesbian Visibility: Latin American Lesbian Feminist Internet Practices Conclusion. Making the Internet Make Sense Notes Bibliography Index Cover -- Interpreting the Internet -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- List of Illustrations -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction. Interpreting the Internet: A Feminist Sociomaterial Approach -- 1. Conceiving Latin American Feminist Counterpublics -- 2. The Creation of "a Modern Weaving Machine": Bringing Feminist Counterpublics Online -- 3. Weaving the "Invisible Web": Counterpublic Organizations Interpret the Internet -- 4. La Red Informativa de Mujeres de Argentina:Constructing a Counterpublic