VOF Week 1:(Women Empowerment and the Web 2.0 Revolution)

Women Empowerment and the Web 2.0 Revolution

Web 2.0 has brought a revolution into many people’s life, including mine. Just the fact that I can share ideas and experiences with people in Asia, South America, North America, Europe and my next door neighbors here in Africa excites me.

There is a saying that a problem shared is a problem solved. Interactive sites have helped many share and find solutions to their problems, learn from each other, see how the others in different parts of the world live and champion for people’s rights by highlighting their plights.

I get excited by the fact that I can read, watch, see, comment on and debate on the lives of others across the globe as I share with them my thoughts and opinion too and also find out there opinions on the same.

Global women empowerment movement has come from far and now there are several plaforms used to champion for women’s rights and empowerment. Web 2.0 has seen to the birth of online interactive sites where women share ideas and opinions, Worldpulse being an example. These sites are accessible to women from all walks of life and they share their opinions, ideas, insecurities, problems, triumphs and feelings.

For a long time the traditional media has excluded women and very little coverage has been given to them. Through Citizen Journalisms, women forums have been developed through blogs, websites, social networking sites, wikis and information exchange forums like Listservs. These are all contributions of Web 2.0 to the women’s empowerment.

Women’s contributions to different developments and happening for instance peace and reconciliation (for example during the Sudan Peace Process) have not be recognized. Very few people realize the role women play in our communities to ensure there peace, justice for all. But with Web 2.0, women’s contributions and opinions can now be heard and included.

As a woman I have fully realized the importance of Web 2.0. Not only do I have 2 blogs where I discuss women issues but I recently joined WorldPulse and using my journal title Ushaidi, I have posted my thoughts and experiences on women and women issues and I have received useful comments and discussions around some of these issues.

As a journalist and a communication person for a humanitarian organization that works across the world, mainly with women, I have met women who have been abused in all kinds of way and have received no justice and are sometimes voiceless. I have tried to share their stories through various online interactive services eliciting reaction and discussion on some of these issues, and I believe in my own small way I have made some contribution.

Web 2.0 is also empowering for me because I present my stories, information the way I want to without censure. I determine the content of my publication or work, select the pictures and at the end of the day the outcome is my own product.