Do you think a similarly "disempowered" group today would be able to create such a dramatic transformation using the Internet?
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Marginalized Voices in Cyberspace
According to Mele "It became apparent to the resident organization that new links to assistance and counsel outside the purview and control of the housing authority were required if effective participation on the task force was to be realized. In March 1995 the Jervay residents chose to take their story online, transforming their roles from reactive to proactive participants."
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In answering this question, there are a few things to consider:
ReplyDeleteTowards the end of the piece, Mele says "the technological gap exists along lines of social and economic inequalities of class, race, gender, and location". Following this thinking, it is unlikely that a disempowered group would have access to the resources and knowledge that would transform their situation. It is also important to acknowledge that the Internet is a much bigger place now than it was for the Jervay residents, so any disempowered group would need to broadcast their mission statement to a variety of places in order to even get noticed.
However, I am a true believer in that anything is possible. There are definitely endless ways to reach people using the Internet. If a group posted a truly powerful video on youtube, made a fan page on Facebook, and created a catchy website, (just for example) I have no doubt that emails and interest would start pouring in.
Jervay Place can identify with many marginalized groups' desperation of public recognition. Mele writes "the Housing Authority knows that if they can get away with wiping our homes out of existence, they can do the same thing anywhere else in the city" (295) making this issue even more universal. The point is that not only does transformation online stimulate change with Jervay Place, but it has the potential to create a large scale change that affects other housing facilities. Vanessa brought up a good point in that this group may have a hard time accessing such resources in producing a dramatic transformation via the internet.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Mele highlights this issue as bigger than itself- its not just about the Jervay residents but about subsidized housing as a broader context. Almost 15 years later, I'd be willing to bet that a similarly disempowered group would have no problem stimulating change via the internet. The internet gives a voice in cyberspace to those who may not have one in the political world and I think globally, we as humans are more aware of marginalized groups than we have ever been.
Christopher Mele himself says that "the implications for social change are unclear," so I'm not sure whether the Internet would be able to transform a similarly disempowered group today. Mele pointed out that the Internet brought many benefits that all disempowered groups would find useful- it brought them knowledge about the issues, without which, "the authorities could not seriously consider them as agents or subjects involved." They had ideas of what they wanted, but without the know-how and the knowledge of legal limitations, etc., they could neither "control" nor "implement their agenda." The Internet also was "timely" and "cost-effective." It also brought in outside interest, which included technical support, all of which positively affected the attitude of the resident council.
ReplyDeleteOne problem with these groups bringing about social change through the Internet is, as Mele pointed out, that even though "computer-mediated networks are said to point toward a new kind of civil society" they also bring "new patterns of inequality and forms of division are created." Like all technologies, it has positive and negative sides. It helps these groups to get the knowledge and outside support, but it can also bring in more divisions. Another problem is that even though the amount of information available online is growing exponentially, this growth isn't paralleled by "availability and access to such services for historically disadvantaged social groups." In other words, the information is plentiful, but the groups that need it the most rarely have access to it. Mele adds that Jervay itself had a special set of circumstances that happened to lead to being able to use the Internet to such an advantage - many residents knew how to use computers, the local Internet company gave them support, and the university community reached out as well. It seems to me that this fortuitous set of circumstances is not likely to be repeated very often, so I believe that the internet is capable of bringing about great social change, but since the groups that need its help the most don't have internet except under unlikely circumstances, it isn't likely that this sort of great social change will occur very often. However, I truly hope that other such disempowered groups will be able to take advantage of the Internet and rally together for great social change.
--Julia--
It's hard to say anything that wasn't pointed out before, but I believe that although it is possible for the disempowered groups to bring about social change through the internet, they need a couple of things at hand first. Some of these things would be prior knowledge on how to utilize the internet and its various tools, a clear sense of what is needed in order to be persuasive and legitimate in negotiations, and most importantly, access to the internet. Without these things the internet can be useless--the Internet is only as useful as the users' knowledge, vision, plans, and actions. As Mele said, it is the "vast commitments of time, resources, an unflagging dedication, a clear sense of purpose, and a flexible course of action" that led the Jervay residents to success. The internet is only the tool to access information to help achieve change and provides voice, but it is not the reason or cause of the change itself. It "does not eliminate [social inequalities]."
ReplyDeleteBecause society in reality often presents obstacles built in to the infrastructure, such as lack of knowledge on computer usage, lack of internet support, and lack of access to a computer, many social groups that are disempowered will find it very difficult to utilize cyberspace for social change. Yet it is always possible, especially now, to find access to a free public computer with internet access.
I actually think that it would be more difficult today for a disempowered group to make such a dramatic stand on the Internet, simply because the Internet has grown so much during the past few years alone, let alone since the 1990's when the Jervay residents took their stand using the Internet.
ReplyDeleteOf course, as Mele points out, a group would need to have all of the things that the Jervay residents had, i.e. "prior training in computers for a core of residents, the support of a local Internet company..." etc. I think even if a disempowered group had all of those resources, however, it would still be harder to make an effective stand using the Internet because the Internet is so huge now. There are literally millions of web pages, and unless a group has either good publicity or a truly inspiring or interesting message that catches the attention of larger websites or organizations, it is much more difficult for a group to pull together enough support to form a strong resistance to an authority in the same way that the Jervay residents did. The size of the Internet works against these disempowered groups.
Responding to the previous comments, I would have to agree that using the internet can be a great tool to spread awareness, but there are still many obscacles for disempowered groups to overcome. As rebecca pointed out, the size of the internet is now enormous. There are so many distractions, advertisments, animations, offers, and eye-catching features that has encourage internet users to tune-out anything that is not along the lines of what their purpose is. I know that for me, commercials on tv do not catch my attention unless it is something really original or out there. This is comparable to the internet because I automatically close all pop-ups or ignore anything that is not directly sent to me. Emails would probably gain my attention if they were forwarded from a reliable source. As someone pointed out earlier, it is possible with youtube videos that are posted on facebook walls and sites that generate many viewers. With the internet as an aid, a disempowered group can heighten their chances to gain followers or spread the word about an important topic,just as the Jervay residents were "quick to quick to make the most of its use as a collective action tool" (Mele 14).
ReplyDeleteI believe it is possible for a disempowered group to gain power through the use of the Internet. In order to be successful they would have to put in a great effort to yet alone start the website. Once the website is created they would need mass advertisements to get their website noticed and gain the interest of people. Keeping up the website would require constant attention too. The only way for the website to turn the fate of the disempowered group would be to create a very successful website that appeals to all types of people and clearly explains their cause.
ReplyDeleteMele stated that lower income groups of people usually will not be as connected to technology as higher income groups. This means that the disempowered group of people would probably not have enough money or knowledge to create a powerful and successful website to aid in their cause. This will come as a huge obstacle to overcome in their journey of gaining power.
I believe the best way to empower the group would be start out smaller, spreading the message of their cause while gaining money then using the money to expand spreading their message through the internet. This will allow them to put time and effort into the internet medium, which will more likely aid in its success.
Just as Rebecca and Jenn H. said in their comments, I think that the use of the internet by a disempowered group would not have such a huge effect as it did for the resident organization in this piece. I think that there are many people on the internet, and therefore many webpages for them to go on, so such a website would get lost in the online web we call the internet. It is very difficult to get the word out in such a way.
ReplyDeleteNonetheless, it has happened, as we have seen from numerous youtube videos that have spread all over the world, or even the huge number of websites campaigning different propositions, bills, and even bonds. As I believe Danica presented to our class, there are websites for school district budget overrides.
Also, as Jennifer P stated, it would be necessary for people to know how to use the internet to the best of its ability to be the most persuasive. As Mele states "vast commitments of time, resources, an unflagging dedication, a clear sense of purpose, and a flexible course of action" are necessary for such a group to be successful. It would also take a lot of publicizing. As it has been shown though, such groups have made it possible to spread information and ideas, but many times it's a hit-and-miss action.
After a lot of consideration, I really don't think it would be possible for a "disempowered" group to makes such a huge impact through the internet as the Jervay residents did in the 90s. Even though the internet is more easily accessible now than it has ever been, it is more difficult to be noticed in the complexity of the internet. The internet has been a great tool to spread awareness, but this happens after some considerable advertisement, whether it be through other new media or through word of mouth. It would take a significant effort by the "disempowered" group to really bring their website into the mainstream.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the article, the Mele states "The continued rapid expansion of computerized online information-based services has not been matched by a similar growth in the availability and access to such services for historically disadvantaged social groups." I feel like this statement is true today. This great technological growth doesn't translate to other disempowered and disadvantaged groups.
Also responding to previous comments, I believe that it is possible for disempowered groups to gain power via the internet, but it is easier said than done. In the 90's, it was far easier to type something on a website online and have it reach a wider demographic, simply because there were less sites being used. Today, as others already said, the internet is far bigger than most of us can even fathom, making mass outreach near impossible without a massive effort. Unfortunately, this effort correlates with a large budget, which usually isn't within the means of the disempowered group at hand. Perhaps the group could ask for loans, grants, or even hold fundraisers before attempting to go global. Money can aid in the purchase of ads in on sites such as Yahoo! or MSN, and on sidebars of sites such as Myspace and Facebook. Even then, the group's message must be one that is groundbreaking or heart-wrenching, because a mainstream message that has been publicized time and again will go unnoticed by the masses. I believe that Myspace and Facebook will have crucial importance to any group embarking on such an endeavor. They are two sites of this decade that have a humongous following, consisting of increasingly diverse demographics. For this reason, any group's message which found it's way onto a Facebook homepage, would get tons of publicity.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the task would be difficult, the rewards would be immense for such groups. As Mele stated, use of the internet provided "new means of communication, networking, and presence that would transform their efforts to become active participants in the Task Force". The internet has the capacity to cause great change socially and otherwise, and a small group who found a way to get its foot in the door could solve many of their issues using such a medium. I do believe it is possible, but it is one that I believe nearly impossible without extreme devotion to a cause, an outlet for publicity, and a substantial amount of outside funding (via fundraising/loans etc.).
Several others have touched on the idea that the Internet is simply too big to help disempowered or disenfranchised groups, but I feel that this may not be the case. Yes, there is a lot out there, but a single group does not need to appeal to every single Internet user to get a point across to the right individuals. In fact, I feel that with the number of Internet users there are today, it would be much easier to reach the right people.
ReplyDeleteThis is not to say that such an endeavor would be easy. Reaching people on the Internet often requires that you know where to go, who to talk to, and what to say, which is much the same as it is in the physical world. Due to the vastness of the Internet, it may require more time and effort than in the past, but with that effort, a group has the opportunity to reach many more people.
It is true that the internet has served as an important and extremely useful tool in the spread of valuable information. This entire article was a vital example of just how useful the internet can be and how it can definitely be used for beneficial causes. These people of the community of Jervay place needed assistance in spreading the misjudices that they were facing and possible resolutions to their problems with the public housing development. It was amazing how effective the internet was for this disempowered group. As previous people mentioned and as Mele said several times, there are often several obstacles before success, such as this story, can be found. Access to the internet is vital and especially with disempowered groups of people, such as this poverty-striken group of single African American women, can be difficult. As Mele pointed out, "recent surveys of Internet users find the majority to be middle-to-upper class, well-educated white males." This statistic shows that "the technological gap exists along lines of social and economic inequalities of class, race, gender" does exist and therefore can be more of a struggle for others. If and when these obstacles are overcome, and which they were by this group of people, the internet can become powerful.
ReplyDeleteIt is also true to mention the facinating continutation of the growth of the internet. This could make it slightly more difficult than it was in the 90's to spread your wanted information to greater amounts of people. It is also probable that people find some things more enticing than this and could be more interested in other things. However, certain groups of people, whether facing similar problems or situations that relate to you could be interested, or even someone that simply comes across could lend out a helping hand. Anything is possible with the internet.
-Allison R.
Mele says, "Once wired, it is difficult to predict the effects of online communication for collective action conducted by disempowered groups."
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with this statement, for the most part because of the size that the internet has grown to. It is no longer the static entity that it was back in 1995 when things were still developing and pages were just there and couldn't be changed. Now, it is a huge network where things are constantly changing and most anyone can customize a portion of the internet. Really, anyone can put up whatever they want. This quality of the current internet is what prevents such a disempowered group from reproducing the effect that the internet had on the Jervay people in the mid-90's.
I think that the internet can be used as an excellent tool to bring informed people together and to organize various get-togethers, events, what have you. It makes it easier for people to contact through email, or like the reading mentioned, online discussions, etc. However, there's only so much uninformed people can do to find sites like this now with the vast amount of items online. When there's so much to sift through, not many are going to take the time to find a single disempowered group unless they know what they're looking for. Chances are, I'd think there'd be more than a few groups like this on the internet trying to get out there on the internet and create a presence.
Again, Mele says “Although online communication appears as a useful tool to challenge and even subvert differentials of power expressed as control over the access, transfer, and application of knowledge and information, the implications for social change are unclear.” To me, this also points how the question about how much online communication would actually make a difference to a disempowered group. There’s potential, but more than likely the overall size of the internet now serves as a downfall to these types of groups.
Although not as effective today, the internet still helps disempowered groups immensely. However, the underrepresented groups are not the only ones helped by the internet, anyone who is working for any cause is benefited by the world wide web. The vast amount of information that is available is power itself. In this day and age, this information has become indispensable. Today, in an era where almost everyone has access to the internet, it would be a huge disadvantage for any group to not utilize it. The resources that the internet provides is now a necessity in order to keep up in the fast-paced life of modern times. As we have all seen, not only is new media useful in the knowledge it makes available but also in the ways it allows networking among large numbers of individuals. In this aspect, the unity that the internet provides is equally indispensable. Communication by any other means, even with technology such as the telephone, pales in comparison to the capabilities of the internet.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the problem is that unlike in the 1950's, the internet no longer functions as well in its other areas that brought the Jervays their success. Because of the enormous growth that the internet has undergone in recent years, it is no longer as easy to get one's voice heard, especially a modestly-seized community in a relatively unknown city of the country. Groups today will have a much harder time trying to find lawyers and architects to help in their causes while the Jervay's had many flocking to their aid. In fact, today, good luck to any underrepresented searching for anyone who is willing to listen to what they have to say much less find "twenty-three persons and organizations within two weeks, including ten architects, two low-income housing lawyers, individuals with various experiences in low income housing development, and several well-wishers who offered support and advice." The residents of Jervay happened to rise up in the right place and the right time.
Opposite to what the readings give evidence of, today, activism in person would actually be far more effective than activism online. It is much harder to ignore and disregard people with names and faces that speak to you in person than text and still images over the web. Unless in the case that any of the members happen to be experienced hackers, then hactivism could still be a force to be reckoned with. Otherwise, the roles of online activism and in-person protesting have reversed themselves in regards to effectiveness.
I believe that any group has the potential to use the internet for their cause to great effect, but I don't necessarily think it's likely. The internet is so vast that it would be nearly impossible for your group to get noticed without some serious backing.
ReplyDeleteThat said, some organizations use the internet to achieve magnificent success. Using a simple application on facebook, Invisible Children has raised almost $50,000. However, I would say that this has to do with it's social pertinence. While many people have an urge to help with the fight against cancer or the crisis in Darfur, there are very few who would find problems with a development contract very high up in their social worldview.
So, I would have to say that nowadays, you will rarely find a disempowered group creating such a drastic change for their situation. After all, the internet is a massive, convoluted place now. The only way you're going to get a lot of attention is if you're a ridiculously cute kitten with a snarky caption.
Yes, I do believe such a transformation can still be made, probably easier than before given the insane amount of information of people on the internet today. However, would such a story stick out as much as this one? Probably not. The article states that Jervay was the first public owned housing project to have a website, which makes it a landmark example. Today, not having a website is a mark of antiquity and looked upon negatively. I believe these "transformations" are more common today than ever, however because there are so many of them, they fail to stand out as they did in this example.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above comments, as I’m sure everyone else does.
ReplyDeleteI do think “disempowered” groups can make such a dramatic impact via the internet today, in fact that is one of the greatest pulls of the media; it’s power to create such a large and wide-reaching impact. As it says in the article, “Issues of empowerment, such as Jervay, are subjected to a type of political and social time warp, where, as one resident put it, ‘you have to fight the past all over again.’” With the internet it makes it possible to not have to fight the same old foes continuously as through the mighty powers of the internet you can easily cite the occurrences that have come before the specific instance. The article speaks of this in the form of blogs and discussion groups. The internet is the ultimate way to create a unified group effort through as minimal work as possible and the easiest way to bring together like minded souls.
Although expansive and overwhelming, the internet is, in my opinion, today's most effective medium in transmitting a message and rallying support for a cause. Email, the infinite world of social networking, surveys, polls, and a plethora of other internet features all promote communication - the most important ingredient in establishing a functional cause. While communication is possible in person, it is simply not as expansive in reality as it is in the virtual world.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, the internet is probably the most impersonal method of communication out there. This fact would definitely pose as an obstacle to the "disempowered" group of the cause, and the group would have to take creative measures to surpass it. However, if such a personal subject as dating (dating services, chat rooms, etc.) is able to flourish on the internet, I don't see why a "disempowered" group would be unable to somehow connect with the personal side of its target audience.
While I do not think that it would be as easy for a current disempowered group to make similar strides towards a common goal over the internet today as they were able to with Jervay, I do think that the internet opens many more opportunities to work towards a goal for collective action than any other medium. Mele notes in his article that, "within a time span of a few weeks, Internet access provided the resident organization with a new means of communication, networking, and presence that would transform their efforts to become active participants in the Task Force." Taking off of this statement, regardless of the end result, the Internet allows for much more communication between a much wider group of people, as the group was able to make leaps and bounds towards getting what they needed. For these reasons I think that disempowered groups have the ability to create dramatic transformations with the help of the Internet.
ReplyDeleteI think it is also notable that at the time this article was written, "the questions about Jervay's redevelopment remain unanswered." This is interesting because, while they made enormous progress towards a goal (making the first website for a housing corporation, gaining lots of support from lawyers, architects, non-profits, etc.), they haven't actually achieved the final goal yet. So I think this might say something about whether or not the Internet has the full power to make changes happen. In this case, it has the power to create awareness, and mobility between members working toward the same cause, however the final result of whether or not social change can be made depends on the people who make decisions at the higher level.
I do agree with my classmates in terms of the web becoming so intense that there are often too many distractions to use it in the most efficient way, but I still think that working towards a common goal can be simplified by using the Internet as the medium.
The internet would help the similarly “disempowered” group today; However, I don’t think they would be able to create such a dramatic transformation using the internet. Since there are many distractions on the internet today, the transformations may not have the same impact to us as it had before. People focus on much more things today then ever, because there are too many things on the internet that could attract their attention. People may influenced by the transformation, but the impact won’t last long.
ReplyDelete-Duoduo D
I certainly think that, if provided access to the internet and the tools to use it effectively, a similarly "disempowered" group could most certainly achieve the power to bring about drastic change. Some of my classmates have pointed out that the enormous size of the internet would pose an obstacle; however, this only means that there is even more information available to the public, more networking sites, more discussion groups, and more ways of getting one's voice heard. As Mele points out, "The information culled from interaction on the Internet was timely [and] cost-effective" (305). Using the internet then, can save disempowered groups money and provide them access to valuable materials that can aid them in bringing about the desired change. The Jervay residential organization found professionals who were willing to counsel and guide them, and this extremely beneficial service was granted to them for free! Additionally, Mele points out that the "computer-mediated communication was well suited to residents' lifestyles, allowing for variable schedules and multiple layers of commitments and responsibilities to employment and child care" (305). Thus, not only can disempowered groups save money by taking advantage of the resources available on the internet, but they can also communicate in a way that fits all of their schedules. No meetings have to be planned because individuals can respond to messages and emails whenever they find time in their busy lives to do so.
ReplyDeleteThe only obstacle that I think disempowered groups face is that, as Mele notes, a "technological gap exists along lines of social and economic inequalities of class, race, gender (Harasim 1993: 33), and location" (306). Many individuals that would belong to a disempowered group may not have been educated well enough to be able to fully understand and use the internet. Additionally, these individuals may not have convenient access to computers and internet service, as both of these are costly. However, as the internet boom continues and as more technological advancements are made, hopefully these services will become cheaper and a wider variety of people will have access to them.
A "disempowered" group using the Internet would definitely produce a transformation to their cause. If the transformation would be a dramatic transformation is something that I don't think you could really predict without knowing the details of the group and those in it. Like Mele said in our reading, in the Jervay case moving to the internet produced collective action and made their role proactive. Any move to new media causes a transformation. The main focus after moving to the Internet is now to get their cause and word out through that medium. The dramatic transformation is possible if the group effectively utilizes the vast opportunities that the Internet provides. Though so many people can utilize the Internet, it makes it easier for more people to join the cause and more people to hear about it. It can also help unite groups against their adversaries and show their adversaries how much support they do hold. Internet has greatly advanced since the Jervay case, meaning it may be harder to get people to jump on a group's cause due to the plethora of information online, but it also means that there are millions more people that can access the information if advertised correctly and advertised in the most appropriate arena for their cause.
ReplyDeleteMele states that, “Collective action…seeks to contest and, in various degrees, overcome inequalities of power that have been reproduced historically and systematically.” If this statement is true than the answer to the question of whether or not another “disempowered” group could have similar success through by using the internet is most definitely yes. Any group that is willing to speak up and challenge higher authorities in a collective and positive manner will bring about change. I think it is only strengthened further will the use of the internet. The internet allows people to speak freely, to reach more people, and it is a way to come together online to prepare for collective action offline.
ReplyDeleteThe group was desperate for information, which is why I think an online source helped this community so much. Because of the internet, the group members could communicate and network to form together for action and most importantly, “broaden awareness of the dispute beyond the local community.” I don’t see why another group, desperate for change, wouldn’t have the ability to do the same with the help of the internet. Not only did the internet spread the concern of the residents, but it also helped bring about solutions to the housing problems. With the help of the internet, the residents were able to reach out to lawyers and architects that otherwise would have never been informed of their needs. The residents of Jervay are only one example of the power of the internet. They are only one example of how the voice of the voiceless can be heard through online activity.
Initially, I was going to take a stance that a disempowered social group could easily have a dramatic transformation by using the internet. However, Mele struck a cord when he said, "The fragility of the set of circumstances that led to the residents' access and use of the Internet for collective action -- prior training in computers for a core of residents, the support of a local Internet company, and university community outreach -- speaks to a misisng infrastructure for the inclusion of disempowered social groups in cyberspace" (306).
ReplyDeleteTruly, while there is a plethora of information available on the internet, I believe that a group can have a trasnformation using the internet. Originally, I thought that the two main ingredients were passion and a strong will to do so. However, Mele points out that without training in computers, access to computers and internet, etc., such a thing is not possible. I think collective action is absolutely possible via the internet, but if a group is socially "disempowered," members might not have access to the internet. Without access, I think collective action falters.
That having been said, as long as there is access and the group wants to have a transformation, I do not see anything stopping them from doing so via the internet.
Yes, I highly believe that a similarly disempowered group today would be able to create such a dramatic transformation using the internet. As we know, the internet connects people on a global scale, it also creates awareness by spreading knowledge to almost everyone with internet access. I believe that another disempowered group would be able to gain a following by using the world wide web simply because they are a group with a purpose. Just like Christopher Mele said, because of self determination they are able to put themselves out there and work towards creating awareness. The website, “Jervay Online” not only created a place where it educated others on what was going on, it helped the group become more of a tight knit community. Despite what Terry Williams had said about the disadvantages like “hard to reach”, Jervay still worked towards it’s goal with collective action. Although Mele also said that online does eliminate face to face negative interaction, it does not eliminate social inequalities; a small group still has the ability for collective action through the World Wide Web.
ReplyDeleteI believe in certain cases this would be the perfect solution for certain groups due to the unlimited access to resources and unlimited networking for the people to fight for. It helps that there are so many people on the internet and as stated in the reading that it allows for a more flexible schedule because meetings are not set up but emails are sent. It gives them a larger audience than a protest or passing out pamphlets would. Just like in this case, if experts were needed in the field, it is much easier to find them via the internet because there are more opportunities for communication instead of using a local one. Also the reading mentioned that they were able to delegate tasks to other people so all the work was not done by one person. This allows for more development of the project. This would be beneficial to other disenfranchised groups because then one person does not have to do it all. If one person does not have enough time, it can be delegated to other people.
ReplyDeleteTheir point about certain groups not having access to the internet may have changed a little from this point in time. Just because a family does not have a computer does not mean they necessarily don't have access at all. Now libraries have computers with internet access. Although some people may not know how to make the computer work, there are free classes given so if someone really wanted to find a computer and learn to operate it, there are ways of going about this. They may not have time but I think that it is still possible to raise awareness about issues via the internet. It may be more difficult due to the unbelievable amount of websites but it makes the problem more accessible to more people. It is still possible.
I do believe that it is possible for a disadvantaged group to rally together and achieve a goal, similar to the Jervay case. I agree with everyone that it would be significantly harder due to the size of the internet, but the fact that the possiblities it holds to connect people is limitless can also be a good thing. The women of Jervay were lucky to find all the help that they did, but the article made sure to point out that there was a lot of hard work involved in their search to connect themselves to others that could help them. I strongly believe that if a group really wants to get out there and share their message, they will find a way, be it Facebook, myspace or something.
ReplyDeleteAnother part of the article that struck me as very moving, was the quote "Jervay Place is only the beginning, the Housing Authority knows that if they can get away with wiping our homes out of existence, they can do the same thing anywhere else in the city." I wanted to point this out because some of the resident's motivation came from making an example of themselves, and showing that if you push back, you can get results. Even with the overwhelming amount of information on the internet, disadvantaged groups should try strive for their goals and possibly set an example for other groups that may go through similar hardships.
The answer to that is a sort of yes and no. The Internet remains a very powerful place, and a tool that can influence the outcomes of many different events. However, as stated in the article, “Immediate issues, like those of housing and residential displacement, rather than abstract notions, such as power and inequality, are often the impetus for collective action (Tilly 1978: 143).” For this reason, the various issues only garner so much transformation. Take the rights of LGBTQ. Certain issues, such as their right to marry or their right to adopt children, may come up in a bill, and support may come to the rescue. But after that bill is dissolved or passed it is up to the people who learned of the issue to continue supporting it. Quite often, I feel that once certain landmark events pass, people push the issues to the backs of their minds until the next big issue, and that only a small change has been made.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the simple issue of ‘advertising’ came up today in class. As long as the group can get their cause out there and keep people up-to-date on events, impacts, and requests for support, the issue can go very far.
The Internet IS perhaps the most powerful way for information to spread in that it is instantaneous and world-wide. It provides many different senses for the viewer to experience and perhaps interact with.
So I say yes, but there is a great degree of participation and dedication required that may be difficult to find in much of today’s (more privileged) society.
Just as Becky seemed to be both optimistic as well as doubtful over whether or not similar change and activism could be recreated online as it had in the Jervay case, I see both good and bad elements in her answer. I feel as though she tries too hard to qualify her answer rather than picking a position. I also feel as though she should have spent more effort elaborating on the power of the internet and how it could influence one's answer to the discussion question.
ReplyDeleteThere are several positive qualities to her entry as well though. I liked her use of an in text citation relevant to the subject taken directly from the article being discussed. She also did a good job using real world examples pertaining to the point she was trying to make by mentioning LGBTQ and their own campaign. Overall I found it to be a quality response to a well written question that allowed plenty of expansion and personal opinion