Page 90 - Šolsko polje, XXXI, 2020, 5-6: Teaching Feminism, ed. Valerija Vendramin
P. 90
šolsko polje, letnik xxxi, številka 5–6
activities are reported on; how is feminist activity connotated (positive,
negative, neutral); in what time is feminist activity taking place (pres-
ent, past, future); what kind of hierarchal power relationship is present; is
there any mention of the social consequences of those feminist activities
and does the text explicitly use the word “feminism” or are the feminist
activities described without a direct feminist attribute.
Results and Discussion
The topic of feminism is generally underrepresented in tags. Namely, on
the five most visited web portals in 2019, there were only 17 cases when
content was tagged as feminist. Even more, two of the articles described
a single event, while the other articles were about different content. Even
a sample this small revealed that some of the web portals are more dedi-
cated to feminist topics and others less. Definitely standing out is the por-
tal Dnevnik.hr (namely its subsidiary portal “zadovoljna.hr”), which pri-
marily addresses a female audience. The underrepresentation of feminist
themes is consistent with findings on the poor representation of gender
and gender policies in the media and their stronger focus on ethnic, re-
gional and religious equality, as well as complete tabloidisation which
is present in individual former Yugoslav countries (Croatia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Serbia) (Isanović, 2006). Also, content featuring women as
principal actors is mostly presented as fun and funny content while seri-
ous content is generally connected with male actors (Milivojević, 2004,
according to Isanović, 2006).
The answer to our first research question “What kind of content is
tagged as “feminism” on the most visited web portals?” shows that despite
the small number of “feminist” articles there are, at the same time, sever-
al different themes through which feminism is covered. Initially, the data
suggested a very wide spectrum of topics: from body perspectives and fe-
male physical appearance to sex appeal, activism (in connection with re-
ligion, public space and LGBT issues), discrimination of women, patri-
archy, racism, marking of significant dates, and the “successful women”
phenomena. A more in-depth analysis showed that we can recognise five
frameworks for presenting feminist content.
Feminist Pioneers
This is a historical and, in some ways, educational perspective in approach-
ing feminism because the readers are educated on the significance of in-
dividual actors and activities. Actors are persons who stand out in history
by some activity which promoted feminist-related values or by fighting for
the rights of women; for example, Billie Jean King (the tennis player) or
88
activities are reported on; how is feminist activity connotated (positive,
negative, neutral); in what time is feminist activity taking place (pres-
ent, past, future); what kind of hierarchal power relationship is present; is
there any mention of the social consequences of those feminist activities
and does the text explicitly use the word “feminism” or are the feminist
activities described without a direct feminist attribute.
Results and Discussion
The topic of feminism is generally underrepresented in tags. Namely, on
the five most visited web portals in 2019, there were only 17 cases when
content was tagged as feminist. Even more, two of the articles described
a single event, while the other articles were about different content. Even
a sample this small revealed that some of the web portals are more dedi-
cated to feminist topics and others less. Definitely standing out is the por-
tal Dnevnik.hr (namely its subsidiary portal “zadovoljna.hr”), which pri-
marily addresses a female audience. The underrepresentation of feminist
themes is consistent with findings on the poor representation of gender
and gender policies in the media and their stronger focus on ethnic, re-
gional and religious equality, as well as complete tabloidisation which
is present in individual former Yugoslav countries (Croatia, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Serbia) (Isanović, 2006). Also, content featuring women as
principal actors is mostly presented as fun and funny content while seri-
ous content is generally connected with male actors (Milivojević, 2004,
according to Isanović, 2006).
The answer to our first research question “What kind of content is
tagged as “feminism” on the most visited web portals?” shows that despite
the small number of “feminist” articles there are, at the same time, sever-
al different themes through which feminism is covered. Initially, the data
suggested a very wide spectrum of topics: from body perspectives and fe-
male physical appearance to sex appeal, activism (in connection with re-
ligion, public space and LGBT issues), discrimination of women, patri-
archy, racism, marking of significant dates, and the “successful women”
phenomena. A more in-depth analysis showed that we can recognise five
frameworks for presenting feminist content.
Feminist Pioneers
This is a historical and, in some ways, educational perspective in approach-
ing feminism because the readers are educated on the significance of in-
dividual actors and activities. Actors are persons who stand out in history
by some activity which promoted feminist-related values or by fighting for
the rights of women; for example, Billie Jean King (the tennis player) or
88
