Suchergebnisse

This thesis explores the concept of discursive politics in relation to an online discursive network, using the case study of Australian feminist blogs. The Australian feminist blogging community is a continually evolving community where activists are exploring feminist ideas and intersecting axes of oppression. Feminist bloggers actively intervene in mainstream discourses that are anti-feminist, and create and identify new projects for feminist discursive activism. In sum, the thesis explores the political effects of feminist blogging. The thesis engages critically with social movement research into online activism, and existing social movement literature on discursive politics and collective identity. Empirical data was collected through a triangulated qualitative study combining network analysis and iterative navigation, participant observation, and face-to-face semi-structured interviews. A grounded theory of the online feminist community was developed using the texts of interviews with community members, and the emerging concepts were applied to selected community texts and discussion threads. Intersectional sub-communities have generated new ideas and impetus for political action, and the thesis includes several case studies including the feminists with disability , feminist motherhood , and fat acceptance sub-communities. The findings of this research are, firstly, that Australian feminist bloggers maintain a strong ethical relation to the community, and have developed feminist identities and political subjectivities through their commitment. Secondly, the thesis argues that feminist claims are generated within this community, as well as being derived from a variety of past and international feminist and emancipatory discourses. Thirdly, the thesis contends that affect and affective relations have an important role to play in the development and maintenance of this community. Finally, the thesis argues for discursive activism to be given greater value as part of the political. The thesis argues for ...

There is growing research interest in the sharing of emotions through social media. Usually centred on 'newsworthy' events and collective 'flows' of emotion, this work is often computationally driven. This article presents an interaction-led analysis of small data from Twitter to illustrate how this kind of intensive focus can 'thicken' claims about emotions, and particularly empathy. Drawing on Goffman's work on ritual, we introduce and then apply the idea of 'empathy rituals' to exchanges about emotional distress on Twitter, a platform primarily researched using big data approaches. While the potential of Goffman's work has been explored in some depth in relation to digital performances, its emotional dimension has been less fully examined. Through a focus on Twitter conversations, we show how reading small data can inform computational social science claims about emotions and add to sociological understanding of emotion in (digital) publics.

Background: Technology has changed the landscape in which psychiatry operates. Effective, evidence-based treatments for mental health care are now available at the fingertips of anyone with Internet access. However, technological solutions for mental health are not necessarily sought by consumers nor recommended by clinicians. Objective: The objectives of this study are to identify and discuss the barriers to introducing eHealth technology-supported interventions within mental health. Methods: An interactive polling tool was used to ask "In this brave new world, what are the key issues that need to be addressed to improve mental health (using technology)?" Respondents were the multidisciplinary attendees of the "Humans and Machines: A Quest for Better Mental Health" conference, held in Sydney, Australia, in 2016. Responses were categorized into 10 key issues using team-based qualitative analysis. Results: A total of 155 responses to the question were received from 66 audience members. Responses were categorized into 10 issues and ordered by importance: access to care, integration and collaboration, education and awareness, mental health stigma, data privacy, trust, understanding and assessment of mental health, government and policy, optimal design, and engagement. In this paper, each of the 10 issues are outlined, and potential solutions are discussed. Many of the issues were interrelated, having implications for other key areas identified. Conclusions: As many of the issues identified directly related to barriers to care, priority should be given to addressing these issues that are common across mental health delivery. Despite new challenges raised by technology, technology-supported mental health interventions represent a tremendous opportunity to address in a timely way these major concerns and improve the receipt of effective, evidence-based therapy by those in need.