SlutWalk

SlutWalk explores representations of the global anti-rape movement of the same name, in mainstream news and feminist blogs around the world. It reveals strategies and practices used to adapt the movement to suit local cultures and contexts and explores how social media organized, theorized and publicized this contemporary feminist campaign.

“SlutWalk … is an important contribution to feminist (social) media activism. I recommend the book for scholars interested in researching media representations of feminism and political activism mobilizing via social media platforms. It can also be of interest for educators who would like to introduce their graduate students to the particular steps of research design in feminist media studies. … it is a valuable contribution to the recording of women’s place in the twenty-first century history of social activism.” (Barát Erzsébet, Hungarian Journal of English and American Studies, Vol. 22 (2), Fall, 2016)“The author has written an accessible, well-organized, and meticulously researched book that will introduce readers to the SlutWalk movement, as well as provide a broader critique of rape culture, and much needed empirical data on the dynamics of contemporary global social movement mobilization–feminist or otherwise. … an important contribution to future scholarship for feminism and social movements.” (Victoria O’Meara, Feminist Media Studies, 2016)“Kaitlynn Mendes’ book SlutWalk: Feminism, Activism and Media examines the global antirape movement ‘SlutWalk’ and its coverage in the feminist blogosphere and mainstream media. … Mendes’ monograph has the potential to serve feminist activist groups and antirape activists around the globe by providing contextual and applicable information on a type of march that so many were probably involved in themselves. … As for its use by academics, the book would be ideal for undergraduate or graduate classes … .” (Giuliana Sorce, International Journal of Communication, Vol. 10 (4), 2016)“The target audience is most likely those already familiar with feminism, or the SlutWalk movement, but anyone interested in these concepts would find the book appealing. The book works well in the classroom covering topics related to media, communication, feminism, activism and women’s rights and it displays one way in which a small grass movement initiated through social media can become a global phenomenon reaching millions of people and inspiring activism.” (Hennie Weiss, metapsychology, Vol. 19 (51), December, 2015)

Kaitlynn Mendes is Lecturer in Media and Communication at the University of Leicester, UK. Her research examines representations of feminism and feminist activism in news, feminist blogs and social media. She is author of Feminism in the News (2011) and Feminist Erasures (edited with Kumarini Silva, 2015).