Name: Tara Lloyd
Grade: Year 10
Age: 16 Years
School: Deloraine High School
Hometown and State: Deloraine, Tasmania
LIFTING US UP – How can women and girls empower each other and their communities in times of uncertainty and change?
The unity of women has been of celebrated importance for numerous years, with events such as International Women’s Day being held in Australia since 1928. The physicality of such gatherings has been limited in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the power of girls and women has not reduced. Throughout our time of isolation women have been maintaining connections via the internet. Online communities and expressing self-confidence, while encouraging such from counterparts has been a successful compromise for our circumstances.
There has been research conducted regarding online communities and the value of them since its establishment, the results have differed as the internet has developed. The internet provides opportunities for social bonding and social bridging, (Claridge, 2/01/2018). Social bonding regards relations within a particular group, while social bridging is in association with connections between several groups. This allows for diversity in socialisation across the internet, further creating increased acceptance between different groups, (Muller, Ehrlinch, Matthews et al, 2012).
It is important that women bind together to use our COVID-19 risk free option of contact with honesty. The internet has supplied incredible opportunities for our society; however, it has the potential to cause an equal amount of harm. Much of what is displayed online is designed to accentuate a particular point or message; therefore, not being entirely true. A major study researching variety of content released on Twitter has concluded that, ‘It seems to be pretty clear [from our study] that false information outperforms true information’ said Soroush Vosoughi, the leader of the study, (Meyer, 28/03/2018). For impressionable teens, anxious adults or simply misinformed people this can be a large issue. Social media has been filled with women being open and honest about their experiences throughout our period of isolation. Honesty is beneficial for individuals, by promoting self-acceptance. Likewise, is positive for those honesty is displayed to as it increases social bonds, (Bakhtiari, 30/10/2016).
Throughout times of uncertainty, it is natural to have anxious thoughts. With our established honesty, women may feel comfortable sharing their concerns to receive support in return. An alternative option for increasing the moods of others is to simply express the desired emotion yourself. As neuroscience has proven that self-confidence is contagious, as a result of mirror neuron-brain cells that activate when an animal acts or witnesses the same action from another, (James, 2019).
While making online platforms a supportive and comfortable environment is important, encouraging people to take a break from screens and connect with themselves is just as valuable. People are likely to spend an increased amount of time online while staying inside, as expressed by New York Times writers, Popper and Koeze, displaying an increased 27% time on Facebook, (2020). Research shows that an increased screen time can have various negative impacts on an individual, including neck strain, eyestrain, obesity, anxiety and depression, (Andrews, 2020).
2020 may not have presented the ideal circumstances for most people, though the strong women of our society have managed admirably. COVID-19 has restricted our abilities to attain things that typically provide joy or comfort, so supporting each other has been major in surpassing this time. From this, we have learned a variety of key ideas and methods to support each other through uncertain times. Creating accepting online communities, remaining honest, expressing our individual positive emotions to others and encouraging and engaging in self development activities has been helpful to us during the time. Women can use our power to not only empower each other, but our brothers, fathers and friends throughout any struggle they are experiencing.
Referencing
Claridge. T, (2/01/2018) What is the difference between bonding and bridging social capital? https://www.socialcapitalresearch.com/difference-bonding-bridging-social-capital/
Accessed: [9/09/2020]
Koeze. E, Popper. N, (7/04/2020). The Virus Changed the Way We Internet https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/07/technology/coronavirus-internet-use.html
Accessed: [9/09/2020]
Andrews. T, (25/03/2020). Our iPhone weekly screen time reports are through the roof, and people are äóÖhorrifiedäó»
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/03/24/screen-time-iphone-coronavirus-quarantine-covid/ Accessed: [9/09/2020]
Ruiz. S, (8/12/2019). Is Virtual Community Real Community?
https://vcvoices.org/2016/12/is-virtual-community-real-community/#:~:text=1).,and%20face%20to%20face%20communities.&text=When%20we%20consider%20the%20dynamics,%2C%20a%20%E2%80%9Creal%E2%80%9D%20community.
Accessed: [9/09/2020]
Meyer. R, (8/03/2020). The Grimm Conclusions of the Largest-Ever Study of Fake News
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/03/largest-study-ever-fake-news-mit-twitter/555104/
Accessed: [9/09/2020]
Muller, Ehrlinch, Matthews et al, (5/052012). Diversity among Enterprise Online Communities: Collaborating, Teaming, and Innovating through Social Media
https://researchweb.watson.ibm.com/haifa/dept/imt/papers/MullerCHI12.pdf
Accessed: [9/09/2020]
Bakhtiari. M, (30/10/2016). Honesty: the key to a healthy society.
Accessed: [9/09/2020]