The Feminist Face of the Anti-War Movement : An analysis of Feminist Anti War Resistance’s activism on Instagram

Sammanfattning

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the feminist movement has taken a leading role in anti-war protest within Russia and beyond. However, due to the state repression of feminism and anti-war protest, many activists have been forced to leave the country or to move a proportion of their activities online. This thesis examines the online activities of prominent group FAR, the most significant feminist anti-war group and one of the most prominent anti-war organisers in Russia in general. Using Qualitative Content Analysis, the thesis investigates the social media use of FAR, specifically focusing on the how their Instagram profile is used in as part of their activism. The group’s Instagram page is categorised and analyses alongside theoretical perspectives on activism and the group’s own stated aims. The results show that FAR use their Instagram platform in a number of ways, notably as an alternative media source, reporting on news related to anti-war activism and to other issues concerning Russia and Ukraine, and to a lesser extent to discuss feminist issues and to encourage their audience to become involved in actions, both in-person and online. These results show some of the potential of social media use in activism within repressive contexts.