Beyond the Hashtag: The Intersection of Feminist Ethics and Social Media in Fostering Safe Spaces for Women

Abstract: Social media platforms have become essential in the lives of many, providing a space for individuals to express themselves and connect with others. Particularly for women, including survivors of violence, these platforms can serve as tools for empowerment and a means to obtain social support. This article aims to determine the potential of social media to create safe spaces for women in Indonesia through the lens of feminist ethical principles. Through an analysis of Instagram accounts, specifically Mubadalah.id and Perempuan Berkisah and interviews with the editorial team members, this article aims to investigate the utilization of social media in establishing safe spaces that adhere to feminist ethical principles and cater to the distinctive needs of women. The article also scrutinizes the factors influencing the contextualization of feminist ethics and the structure of safe spaces created on these platforms. It explores how women can access and benefit from these safe spaces while remaining protected from threats posed by social media, unrestricted access, and a digital system that transcends time and place. This study reveals that although the two platforms grasp the notion of a safe space as a secure and inclusive environment for exchanging diverse perspectives on gender justice without confrontation or judgment, the implementation of safe spaces varies to accommodate the unique requirements of women and align with the feminist movement's context on each social media platform. Creating a safe space is fundamentally relational, involving an understanding of how its creators manage and bridge important differences. Notably, religious values appear to play a pivotal role in interpreting feminist ethics in Indonesia, a nation characterized by a Muslim-majority population.