Women’s activism online in Italy: Claiming spaces, navigating misogyny, reimagining feminisms

Abstract

This paper draws on a research study investigating technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) targeting feminist influencers – referred to as ‘influactivists’ – on Instagram in Italy. Using a feminist ethnographic approach, semi-structured interviews with four prominent influactivists reveal how digital platforms serve as both tools for empowerment and arenas for misogynistic abuse. These women face diverse forms of TFGBV, including harassment, verbal abuse, mass-reporting, hyper-sexualised attacks, and coordinated assaults by manosphere communities, media figures, and mainstream influencers, all aimed at silencing feminist voices and reinforcing resistance to gender equality. The study underscores the serious toll this violence takes on activists’ mental health, digital presence, and self-expression, often resulting in self-censorship. In response, influactivists deploy resilience strategies – such as digital self-defence, community support, and content moderation – although institutional backing from social media platforms remains minimal. The research also uncovers internal frictions within feminist digital activism, where neoliberal pressures and perfectionist standards complicate visibility and expose activists to increased scrutiny. Ultimately, the paper exposes the paradox of digital feminism: while online spaces enable feminist expression, they simultaneously magnify gendered vulnerabilities. Addressing these contradictions demands stronger networks of solidarity and systemic action to counteract online misogyny and sustain feminist political engagement.