When Symbols Strike : The role of symbols and visual media for online activism, networks, and connection in the Women’s Strike in Poland

Abstract: The case study in focus for this research is the Women’s Strike in Poland movement during its articulation in late 2020. This movement was organized to campaign for reproductive rights and women’s rights in Poland after a restrictive abortion law was proposed in 2016, put into motion in 2020, and passed in 2021. This is an example of a contemporary movement supporting body autonomy and gender equality, where historically substantial mobilizations were facilitated through online activism. The use of specific symbols like a lightning bolt within the visual media of the movement marks this case as distinctive in the study of activism. This qualitative multi-method research uses visual analysis and interview methods to gather empirical data that contributes new research to the media and communication studies field by connecting the visual media and social movement disciplines. To support the research questions of the thesis, a semiotic visual analysis examined 5 symbols of the Women’s Strike movement and 11 semi-structured interviews were conducted. The role of symbols and visual media in social movements were analyzed as being for: communicating the meaning of the movement and working to identify it; increasing visibility and spreading awareness of the movement through the circulation of symbols, mainly online; establishing networks of individuals within and outside of the movement; and building connections between participants of the movement because of shared values. The findings also addressed that participation through sharing symbols and visual media allowed for greater possibilities of communication about the movement between individuals. This research uses the Women’s Strike in Poland as a case to explore how symbols and visual media work through online activism to build networks and connections between individuals, and ultimately to further the opportunity for societal transformation.