Feminist Not Fearless Podcast
This is Feminist Not Fearless, a podcast about contemporary feminist culture and social media.
In four episodes, we explore themes including the intersection of feminist pop culture and consumerism, the pressure of living up to feminist ideals, the pleasure and exhaustion of raging in the comments, grappling with rapid news cycles and slippery terminology, and much more.
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EPISODE 1
Feminist, but not fearless
What’s behind the stereotype that feminists are ‘fearless’, confident, go-getters, and how does this connect to how they present themselves online and IRL? This episode features Khadija, 18, starting out on her feminist journey of understanding herself as a mixed-race, secular Muslim; Bree, 26, struggling to reconcile being a ‘feminist’ with the reality of her romantic relationships; Kelly, 24, who presents as a ‘top girl’ but whose strength belies past trauma. We also discuss the huge influence of what researchers Shani Orgad and Rosalind Gill call ‘confidence culture’.
Links mentioned: Shani Orgad and Rosalind Gill on Confidence Culture and Sarah Banet-Weiser, Empowered
EPISODE 2
To lead or not to lead?
Young people are under impossible pressure to model specific kinds of feminism, be leaders, and ‘be the change’ the world needs. Adding to this, social media subjects young feminists, particularly women-identifying feminists, to an endless cycle of ‘types’ that they should or should not be. The message: lead but don’t take up space. We hear from Daisy, Tia, Margot, Hayley, Leyla, and Pippa. Researcher Natasha Zeng also discusses how ‘girlboss’ culture makes it impossible to do leadership right.
Links mentioned: Shirley Xue Chen and Natasha Zeng on girlboss memes
EPISODE 3
The politics of ‘calling out’
Is (social media) feminism bad for our mental health? This episode features Tanya, Ollie, Margot, Melissa, Natalia, and Jillian who share about the exhaustion and emotional burnout that comes from social media saturation and when the news cycle hits too close to home. They also discuss call-outs and the politics of raging in the comments. Digital peacebuilder Emma Baumhofer talks with Akane about how to reduce conflict in digital spaces.
Links mentioned: Akane Kanai and Natasha Zeng on the competitive nature of expertise online
BONUS EPISODE 5
What was it like to be a participant?
In this bonus episode, Dr Akane Kanai is joined by project participants Gbonmi Olubodun and Aisha Wilson, and moderator Niamh White, at the launch event for Feminist Not Fearless, recorded live at Monash University. Gbonmi and Aisha reflect on how their lives have changed throughout this multi-year project. They discuss their evolving perspectives on feminism and social media and the unique storytelling power of podcasts.
EPISODE 4
When inclusion feels bad
What could be wrong with intersectionality and inclusion? This episode features an extended conversation between Akane and her project participant, Gbonmi Olubodun. They discuss how the term intersectionality has become diluted from overuse, what it’s like for people on the receiving end of buzzwords, and what it’s like to be a ‘diversity unicorn’. Esther Alloun discusses her research on the tricky politics of alliances.
Note: Esther’s research speaks to fieldwork conducted from 2017-2018 in Israel-Palestine.
Links mentioned: Esther Alloun’s poetry and article on activism under settler colonialism
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