This thesis examines harassment that takes place online, specifically on websites that focus on issues of social justice from a feminist perspective. The content I examine is a form of activism in which writers and readers work together to form communities online. I also examine online protests as a form of activism. As a result of these Internet publications and protests, many writers face harassment and degradation as they attempt to express themselves in virtual spaces. This thesis grapples with the extent of the harassment and offers explanations as to why it takes place. I explore these topics from a philosophical perspective and use logic as my methodology. The first explanation I provide for this harassment relates to access, publicity, and privacy. The Internet is contested space and some people do not think others should be allowed to express themselves within it. The second explanation relates to a lack of understanding between people, which can cause one to doubt another’s experience.
","abstract_html":"<p>This thesis examines harassment that takes place online, specifically on websites that focus on issues of social justice from a feminist perspective. The content I examine is a form of activism in which writers and readers work together to form communities online. I also examine online protests as a form of activism. As a result of these Internet publications and protests, many writers face harassment and degradation as they attempt to express themselves in virtual spaces. This thesis grapples with the extent of the harassment and offers explanations as to why it takes place. I explore these topics from a philosophical perspective and use logic as my methodology. The first explanation I provide for this harassment relates to access, publicity, and privacy. The Internet is contested space and some people do not think others should be allowed to express themselves within it. The second explanation relates to a lack of understanding between people, which can cause one to doubt another’s experience.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Kozlowski, MaryAnn"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Arts (MA)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Women's and Gender Studies","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Margaret Crouch, PhD, Chair","Elizabeth Currans, PhD","Peter Higgins, PhD"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2012,"date_issued":"2012-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2012-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:51Z","subjects":["feminism","blogs","activisim","harassment","internet","Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication","Science and Technology Studies"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/423","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Margaret Crouch, PhD, Chair","Elizabeth Currans, PhD","Peter Higgins, PhD"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Kozlowski, MaryAnn"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2012-09-17T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Women's and Gender Studies"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts (MA)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["feminism","blogs","activisim","harassment","internet","Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication","Science and Technology Studies"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/423"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This thesis examines harassment that takes place online, specifically on websites that focus on issues of social justice from a feminist perspective. The content I examine is a form of activism in which writers and readers work together to form communities online. I also examine online protests as a form of activism. As a result of these Internet publications and protests, many writers face harassment and degradation as they attempt to express themselves in virtual spaces. This thesis grapples with the extent of the harassment and offers explanations as to why it takes place. I explore these topics from a philosophical perspective and use logic as my methodology. The first explanation I provide for this harassment relates to access, publicity, and privacy. The Internet is contested space and some people do not think others should be allowed to express themselves within it. The second explanation relates to a lack of understanding between people, which can cause one to doubt another’s experience.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Beyond \"real life\": Activism and harassment in the social justice blogosphere"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Margaret Crouch, PhD, Chair","Elizabeth Currans, PhD","Peter Higgins, PhD"],"dc:creator":["Kozlowski, MaryAnn"],"dc:date.available":["2012-09-17T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This thesis examines harassment that takes place online, specifically on websites that focus on issues of social justice from a feminist perspective. The content I examine is a form of activism in which writers and readers work together to form communities online. I also examine online protests as a form of activism. As a result of these Internet publications and protests, many writers face harassment and degradation as they attempt to express themselves in virtual spaces. This thesis grapples with the extent of the harassment and offers explanations as to why it takes place. I explore these topics from a philosophical perspective and use logic as my methodology. The first explanation I provide for this harassment relates to access, publicity, and privacy. The Internet is contested space and some people do not think others should be allowed to express themselves within it. The second explanation relates to a lack of understanding between people, which can cause one to doubt another’s experience.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/423"],"dc:subject":["feminism","blogs","activisim","harassment","internet","Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication","Science and Technology Studies"],"dc:title":["Beyond \"real life\": Activism and harassment in the social justice blogosphere"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Women's and Gender Studies"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts (MA)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:51Z"}