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Formative research cite nearly 20% of women and 6% of men will experience attempted or completed sexual assault while enrolled in college (Ali, 2011; Koss, 1988/1989; Krebs, Lindquist, Warner, Fisher, & Martin, 2007). Largely, narratives of college sexual violence are hidden, as reports to college administrators and law enforcement agencies are low and stigma surrounding such crimes often place fault upon survivors (Carrington Wooten & Mitchell, 2016; Fisher, Diagle, & Cullen, 2010). However, stories of college sexual violence have become trending topics via social media outlets (Gringberg, 2014; Kingkade, 2013; Rennison & Addington, 2014). This research study investigates the use of social media by sexual violence survivors. Through rhetorical analysis, public tweets associated with #CarryThatWeight, #IStandWithJackie, and #SurvivingCostMe are analyzed. Data reveal that Millennial college students, referred to as digital natives, use social media to raise awareness and promote hashtivism, shorthand for “online activism” (Blay, 2016; Burkhalter, n.d.; Dookhoo, 2015). However, while seeking to challenge rape culture, these narratives are also open to public speculation and criticism, by lay persons, media outlets, and internet trolls (Phillips, 2015). Hashtivism through computer-mediated communication (CMC) allows survivors to forge communities, provide support, and share strategies as to how to file federal formal complaints while also navigating public shaming, online harassment, and doxxing (Blay, 2016; Boux & Daum, 2015; Boyd, 2008; Dookhoo, 2015; Java, Song, Finin, Tseng, 2009; Parkin, 2016; Ziering & Dick, 2015; Walther, 2011).
Advisor: | Voorhees, Courte C. W. |
Commitee: | Caputo, Emily J., Morris, Jill A. |
School: | Frostburg State University |
Department: | Educational Professions |
School Location: | United States -- Maryland |
Source: | DAI-A 79/04(E), Dissertation Abstracts International |
Source Type: | DISSERTATION |
Subjects: | Higher Education Administration, Womens studies, Communication, Web Studies |
Keywords: | College rape, Hashtag, Hashtivism, Sexual violence, Social media |
Publication Number: | 10686048 |
ISBN: | 978-0-355-54734-4 |