LAC Main Seminar Series: From #Metoo to the feminist funa in Chile. Online public shaming as a feminist practice for social change: a critical analysis of current feminist movements in LA

Friday 19 January, 5:00pm
Latin American Centre (1 Church Walk)

Convener: David Doyle, University of Oxford

Speaker: Blanca Larrain, University of Cambridge

 

Abstract

This paper critically explores the political practices of online public shaming with regard to gender violence in Chile and their ability to trigger feminist social change. The central argument is that ‘funa’ (online public shaming), as a feminist practice, offers a problematic pathway to social change, which, despite contributing to de-naturalising violence against women, does not address the structural causes of gender violence. Online public shaming, as a feminist practice and strategy for change, triggers critical moral and social dilemmas, generating a questionable feminist transformation. The talk examines those dilemmas, presenting the advances and setbacks of current feminist movements, with a special focus on LA and Chile. It contributes to the reflection on feminist movements in terms of their ability to trigger social change.

 

Keywords: feminist movements; gender violence; online public shaming; social change; LA; Chile

 

blanca larrain

Dr Blanca Larrain is a social scientist and has a PhD in Social Development Planning at University College of London, UK. She studied psychology at Pontifical Catholic University of Chile followed by a Master in Sociology at Alberto Hurtado University and then completed an MSc in Social Development Practice at UCL. She has worked as a researcher, consultant, and practitioner, exploring social development, public policies analysis, citizen-state relationships (governance and participation) as well as gender and inclusion, mainly in Latin America and the UK.  

Central to her research ethos is the critical evaluation of public policies. Larrain adopts a holistic lens, encompassing the policy's lifecycle from its genesis. Beyond policy analysis, a significant tenet of her research is the exploration of citizen-state dynamics, unravelling the threads of governance and participation. By bridging academic insights with practical applications, Larrain’s collaborations span a spectrum of organizations, from international entities to grassroots NGOs, symbolizing her commitment to driving change at multiple levels.

She is currently working as a Research Associate at the Mental Health | Policy | Economics Group at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge. She is investigating the social policy and practice related to harmful effects of digitalization on mental health, particularly for young people in Europe.