Why only women? : An interview study of individual members’ experiences and perceptions of the women-only online community Heja Livet!

Abstract: Why are women attracted to join women-only online communities and what are the affordances of these communities? This study is focusing on the signifier of the fourth-wave feminism – feminist activity online and the cultivation of online safe spaces. Sweden is often considered to be a gender-equal country but this study sheds light on the fact that women in Sweden still experience gender inequalities. Through interviews with members of the online community Heja Livet, this study aims to investigate why women choose to join women-only online communities, how they reflect on separatism and safe spaces, and the group’s possible contributions to women and society at large. The study is based on a feminist perspective and has a constructionist approach in the sense that it understands the individual members’ perceptions as constructions. The study found that the administrative work, a constant renegotiation of the binaries safe/unsafe and inclusion/exclusion together with the separation from men, creates a climate where women feel comfortable to interact with other women online. Issues of whether Heja Livet is inclusive of all women remain under discussion, and even though the members consider separatist groups to be important for both individual women and the feminist movement, it is also important to raise men’s consciousness of patriarchal structures. Heja Livet provides a space where women can come together with other women to discuss, share, support, find inspiration, empower each other and raise consciousness. It is difficult to determine whether the group can be defined as a safe space or not, both due to the incomplete and dynamic nature of safe spaces and also because of the interviewees’ low level of active participation exposing themselves and their personal life in the group. The perceptions of the interviewees were, however, that the group provides women with a safe space online.