The racial economy of Instagram

Sinéad O'Connor

doi:10.1111/tran.12642

The racial economy of Instagram

Sinéad O'Connor^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Geography and Earth Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

70 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper explores the mechanisms of white supremacy within digital spaces in relation to the body/embodiment, social justice movements, and the nature and expression of contemporary feminism. New digital political economies work through social media such as Instagram to colonise, disempower and obscure the work of Black feminists in the sphere of fat liberation (re-framed as ‘body positivity’), and in terms of imperatives for self-care, which have been co-opted by an emerging online wellness industry. I call to account the pervasiveness of neoliberal logics which are re-shaping (post)feminism and re-inscribing white supremacy onto bodies online and offline through ‘disciplined whiteness’.

Short Abstract
This paper explores the mechanisms of white supremacy within digital spaces in relation to the body/embodiment, social justice movements, and the nature and expression of contemporary feminism. New digital political economies work through social media such as Instagram to colonise, disempower, and obscure the work of Black feminists in the sphere of fat liberation (re-framed as ‘body positivity’), and in terms of imperatives for self-care, which have been co-opted by an emerging online wellness industry.

Original language	English
Article number	e12642
Number of pages	14
Journal	Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers
Volume	49
Issue number	3
Early online date	28 Sept 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/tran.12642
Publication status	Published - 02 Aug 2024

Keywords

post-feminism
white supremacy
wellness
whiteness
embodiment
racialisation
digital technology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1111/tran.12642Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

ArticleFinal published version, 831 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

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title = "The racial economy of Instagram",

abstract = "This paper explores the mechanisms of white supremacy within digital spaces in relation to the body/embodiment, social justice movements, and the nature and expression of contemporary feminism. New digital political economies work through social media such as Instagram to colonise, disempower and obscure the work of Black feminists in the sphere of fat liberation (re-framed as {\textquoteleft}body positivity{\textquoteright}), and in terms of imperatives for self-care, which have been co-opted by an emerging online wellness industry. I call to account the pervasiveness of neoliberal logics which are re-shaping (post)feminism and re-inscribing white supremacy onto bodies online and offline through {\textquoteleft}disciplined whiteness{\textquoteright}.Short AbstractThis paper explores the mechanisms of white supremacy within digital spaces in relation to the body/embodiment, social justice movements, and the nature and expression of contemporary feminism. New digital political economies work through social media such as Instagram to colonise, disempower, and obscure the work of Black feminists in the sphere of fat liberation (re-framed as {\textquoteleft}body positivity{\textquoteright}), and in terms of imperatives for self-care, which have been co-opted by an emerging online wellness industry.",

keywords = "post-feminism, white supremacy, wellness, whiteness, embodiment, racialisation, digital technology",

author = "Sin{\'e}ad O'Connor",

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N2 - This paper explores the mechanisms of white supremacy within digital spaces in relation to the body/embodiment, social justice movements, and the nature and expression of contemporary feminism. New digital political economies work through social media such as Instagram to colonise, disempower and obscure the work of Black feminists in the sphere of fat liberation (re-framed as ‘body positivity’), and in terms of imperatives for self-care, which have been co-opted by an emerging online wellness industry. I call to account the pervasiveness of neoliberal logics which are re-shaping (post)feminism and re-inscribing white supremacy onto bodies online and offline through ‘disciplined whiteness’.Short AbstractThis paper explores the mechanisms of white supremacy within digital spaces in relation to the body/embodiment, social justice movements, and the nature and expression of contemporary feminism. New digital political economies work through social media such as Instagram to colonise, disempower, and obscure the work of Black feminists in the sphere of fat liberation (re-framed as ‘body positivity’), and in terms of imperatives for self-care, which have been co-opted by an emerging online wellness industry.

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The racial economy of Instagram

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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New Economics Findings Reported from Aberystwyth University (The Racial Economy of Instagram)

Cite this

The racial economy of Instagram

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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Other files and links

Fingerprint

Press/Media

New Economics Findings Reported from Aberystwyth University (The Racial Economy of Instagram)

Cite this