Social Media Shenanigans:I Lost My Indoor Voice

The historic march in 1956 where approximately 20 000 women gathered with one mission and one voice is celebrated and honoured on 09 August every year. Oh how those women would have wished to have what we have at our fingertips today. The onset of social media has forever changed how women make their voices heard on crucial and life-changing matters. It has revolutionized how we tell our stories.

I often have to stop people when they complain to me about social media and its negative effects on relationships and family life and just life in general. And whilst I do take into account that there are adverse consequences to the hybrid lives we live, we have the opportunity to make social media work for us. I do recall telling a friend of mine to not blame social media for being distracting. Did the device jump into your hand uninvited? Were your fingers possessed by an unwanted force that unlocked your device and logged in to your accounts? Of course not. It’s you. It’s me. We can use the power that social media puts into our hands to build a narrative that will spread the word on issues that really matter to us.

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic that had us scurrying to keep up with lock-down and life in isolation, social media was already a chariot charging across pages and posts bringing women’s rights issues to the attention and scrutiny of the wider public. Legislators, policy writers, politicians and individuals were provoked and invigorated to take action, even though it may no longer be on the streets of the cities they inhabit.

Suddenly women realized that they had a sisterhood far more powerful than anyone ever thought possible. Think #challengeaccepted which exposed the painful and heartbreaking issue of the femicide in Turkey. Think #MeToo, the movement which unveiled heinous sexual harassment and crimes against women, committed by men in power. Stories flooded social media pages until we were left with no choice but to take notice of how prevalent a crime this was. Think #LikeAGirl campaign that aimed to take that negative phrase and turn it around for the positive-to tear down the barriers erected in front of girls and empower them to do whatever they set their minds to, without any limitations.

Social media has given women the space to share their experiences with other victims. It has helped countless women find their voices. Topics that were taboo are suddenly trending on a global scale. I used to (and still do hate) when people told me to use my indoor voice. The only reason I raise my voice is because I feel unheard. Social media lets my voice be heard on things that matter to me. My story. Told my way. There is no ‘indoor voice’. Shout as loud and as long as you can until the world takes notice. Correctly used, the power of social media can fight your cause with just one well-positioned post. Don’t waste the opportunity that we have been entrusted with. Your voice matters.

My final thoughts on this would be:

• DO NOT be dissuaded from your cause and purpose

• DO tell your most authentic stories

• DO support other women to let their voices be heard