Digital feminist movements from a social work ethics perspective: The example of #MeToo movement

In this research, digital feminist movements and #MeToo movement were evaluated within the framework of social work ethics. In this context, it is aimed to determine the positive and negative effects of the #MeToo movement and to reveal its impact on social life and prevention of violence based on gender inequality. In the research, in-depth interview technique, one of the qualitative research techniques, was preferred. In this context, semi-structured interview form and personal information form were used. The sample of the research consisted of 20 participants who carried out theoretical or practical studies in the field of gender and closely followed the #MeToo movement. In this context, research findings including the views of the participants on (1) digital social movements, (2) digital feminist movements, (3) #MeToo movement, (4) the disclosure mechanism within the #MeToo movement, and (5) ethical debates regarding the #MeToo movement MAXQDA 2022 analyzed using the program. The analyzed data set was interpreted and analyzed with the content analysis study. As a result of the research, it has been concluded that digital social movements and digital feminist movements are very effective methods of action in terms of providing easy, fast and inexpensive access to information and communication, organization and awareness-raising, but they are insufficient in providing social, political and structural changes. The #MeToo movement, which emerged due to the prevalence of sexual violence and harassment based on gender inequality as a social problem and the inability to prevent this problem with legal methods, has created an important social awareness by enabling the discussion of sexual violence, which has proven the prevalence of sexual violence and harassment and has been tabooed in social life, in the public sphere. Although it creates a preventive mechanism for sexual violence and harassment with its disclosure mechanism, the irregular, discontinuous and uninstitutional structure of the movement prevents the movement from having sufficient preventive power. The denial of legal methods by using the disclosure mechanism as the only method in feminist activism is another obstacle to the power of the movement to bring about social, political and structural change. In this context, it is suggested that the movement should evolve into an institutional structure in which the ethical disclosure mechanism and legal processes are articulated by bringing together digital activism and traditional organizational forms for the prevention of sexual violence and harassment.