The Africa Institute commenced its Fall 2024 Faculty Seminar Series in September with a session led by Maha Bashri, Associate Professor of Communication at United Arab Emirates University. The seminar, titled “Gendered Digital Citizenship: Redefining Civic Engagement in African Feminist Movements,” took place on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at The Africa Institute’s Auditorium.
Bashri’s presentation centered on how digital platforms are reshaping traditional concepts of citizenship and civic participation for women in politically unstable and patriarchal contexts, with a specific focus on Sudan. Her research examined the strategies employed by three Sudanese women’s rights organizations, highlighting their use of digital spaces to address issues of gender, class, and ethnicity and advocate for a more inclusive model of citizenship.
“Gendered citizenship critically examines the traditional separation of public and private spheres and their impact on access to rights and resources,” Bashri noted. “In Sudan, addressing how gender dynamics intersect with class and ethnic affiliations is essential to creating a more inclusive and flexible concept of citizenship.”
Bashri highlighted that digital platforms provide new opportunities for women to challenge conventional definitions of citizenship and create alternative spaces for civic engagement. She discussed the limitations of traditional democratic theories, which often fail to account for the gendered experiences of citizenship and the different ways men and women engage with political institutions. Bashri also addressed ongoing challenges such as the digital divide and the reinforcement of existing power structures, which complicate the development of inclusive gendered digital citizenship.
Bashri, who holds a Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of South Carolina, focuses her research on the impact of media on social change, particularly in African and Middle Eastern contexts. Her work includes investigations into digital media and civic engagement, the representation of marginalized groups, and grassroots mobilization. She is the co-editor of Minority Women and Western Media: Challenging Representation and Articulating New Voices and continues to contribute to global communication research and initiatives.
The seminar was moderated by Elizabeth W. Giorgis, Professor of Art History, Theory, and Criticism at The Africa Institute, Global Studies University (GSU), Sharjah. Through these lectures and workshops, The Africa Institute (GSU) reaffirms its mission as a center for the study and research of Africa and its diaspora, demonstrating its commitment to training a new generation of critical thinkers in African and African Diaspora studies.
The Africa Institute commenced its Fall 2024 Faculty Seminar Series in September with a session led by Maha Bashri, Associate Professor of Communication at United Arab Emirates University. The seminar, titled “Gendered Digital Citizenship: Redefining Civic Engagement in African Feminist Movements,” took place on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at The Africa Institute’s Auditorium.
The Africa Institute commenced its Fall 2024 Faculty Seminar Series in September with a session led by Maha Bashri, Associate Professor of Communication at United Arab Emirates University. The seminar, titled “Gendered Digital Citizenship: Redefining Civic Engagement in African Feminist Movements,” took place on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at The Africa Institute’s Auditorium.
Bashri’s presentation centered on how digital platforms are reshaping traditional concepts of citizenship and civic participation for women in politically unstable and patriarchal contexts, with a specific focus on Sudan. Her research examined the strategies employed by three Sudanese women’s rights organizations, highlighting their use of digital spaces to address issues of gender, class, and ethnicity and advocate for a more inclusive model of citizenship.
“Gendered citizenship critically examines the traditional separation of public and private spheres and their impact on access to rights and resources,” Bashri noted. “In Sudan, addressing how gender dynamics intersect with class and ethnic affiliations is essential to creating a more inclusive and flexible concept of citizenship.”
Bashri highlighted that digital platforms provide new opportunities for women to challenge conventional definitions of citizenship and create alternative spaces for civic engagement. She discussed the limitations of traditional democratic theories, which often fail to account for the gendered experiences of citizenship and the different ways men and women engage with political institutions. Bashri also addressed ongoing challenges such as the digital divide and the reinforcement of existing power structures, which complicate the development of inclusive gendered digital citizenship.
Bashri, who holds a Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of South Carolina, focuses her research on the impact of media on social change, particularly in African and Middle Eastern contexts. Her work includes investigations into digital media and civic engagement, the representation of marginalized groups, and grassroots mobilization. She is the co-editor of Minority Women and Western Media: Challenging Representation and Articulating New Voices and continues to contribute to global communication research and initiatives.
The seminar was moderated by Elizabeth W. Giorgis, Professor of Art History, Theory, and Criticism at The Africa Institute, Global Studies University (GSU), Sharjah. Through these lectures and workshops, The Africa Institute (GSU) reaffirms its mission as a center for the study and research of Africa and its diaspora, demonstrating its commitment to training a new generation of critical thinkers in African and African Diaspora studies.
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