Reading and Writing Workshop

Women and Social Media: Changing Narratives. 

Workshop Overview:
This workshop explores how women have used media—historically and in the digital age—to challenge narratives, advocate for rights, and influence social movements. Each session includes reading a public domain work, discussing its relevance today, and engaging in creative writing exercises.

Session 1: The Impact of Social Media on Feminist Activism and Organizing
Discussion Focus:
  • How has social media amplified feminist activism?
  • What can we learn from historical feminist organizing efforts?
  • How do women use digital platforms to mobilize for change?
Public Domain Readings:
  1. "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" (1792) – Mary Wollstonecraft
  2. "The Subjection of Women" (1869) – John Stuart Mill
Writing Activity:
  • Write a modern manifesto for digital feminist activism, inspired by Wollstonecraft’s style.
  • Compose a short fictional dialogue between a suffragist and a present-day social media activist.

Session 2: Digital Feminism – Online Platforms and Advocacy
Discussion Focus:
  • How have digital spaces transformed feminist activism?
  • What are the pros and cons of online organizing?
  • How do movements like #MeToo reflect past struggles for women’s voices?
Public Domain Readings:
  1. "Women and Economics" (1898) – Charlotte Perkins Gilman
  2. "Why We Are Militant" (1913) – Emmeline Pankhurst
Writing Activity:
  • Write a Twitter thread (in long-form) as if you were a suffragist in the digital age.
  • Create a fictional blog post advocating for a feminist cause using early 20th-century rhetoric.

Session 3: Women’s Voices in Pop Culture, Media, and Entertainment
Discussion Focus:
  • How have women historically used media to shape their narratives?
  • What challenges do women in entertainment still face?
  • How do pop culture figures today compare to historical women in the arts?
Public Domain Readings:
  1. "A Room of One’s Own" (1929) – Virginia Woolf
  2. "The Yellow Wallpaper" (1892) – Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Writing Activity:
  • Write a review of a modern film, show, or book through the lens of Woolf’s essay.
  • Create a script for a short TikTok monologue about a historical female figure who influenced pop culture.

Session 4: The Role of Women in Movements Like Black Lives Matter & Reproductive Justice
​Discussion Focus:
  • How have women of color led and shaped social justice movements?
  • What historical parallels exist between suffrage, civil rights, and today’s activism?
  • What role does digital media play in sustaining these movements?
Public Domain Readings:
  1. "Souls of Black Folk" (1903) – W.E.B. Du Bois (Select passages on women’s roles in racial justice movements)
  2. "Address to the First Annual Meeting of the American Equal Rights Association" (1867) – Sojourner Truth
Writing Activity:
  • Write a fictional speech for a woman leader in the Black Lives Matter movement, inspired by Sojourner Truth.
  • Create a social media campaign plan for a modern reproductive justice issue using historical activist strategies.

Final Reflection & Creative Writing Showcase:
  • Participants present their writings inspired by historical texts.
  • Discussion on how past feminist writings influence digital activism today.
  • Open mic session for sharing poetry, essays, or multimedia projects based on the workshop themes.

This structured workshop offers a blend of historical feminist writings, modern social media perspectives, and creative writing exercises to engage participants in exploring women’s evolving role in media and activism. 
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