In my case-study of feminist blogs, I keep coming across the term “safe space”, referring to this notion that certain online environments allow the voices of otherwise oppressed minorities groups to be heard with the full-weight they deserve. While I do agree that these spaces exist online and have a right to exist, they foster this notion of what I consider a “closed community”.
A specific instance of this phenomenon occurs on Feministing. Through a rigid definition of what voices are encouraged to participate and receive attention on the blog, there is an attempt to selectively exclude all dissenting and “other” voices. Though this can be productive in the development of a community/cohesive identity, this behavior becomes prohibitive to the development and growth of established communities, such as the cyber-feminist online community/culture. This attitude often fosters self-affirming discussion that do not challenge ideas or manifest in significant growth.
This is certainly not a long post, but the reoccurrence of these phenomena made me feel inclined to note it. More information or articulated discussion may occur later in this project.