Digital Activism : Female Political Empowerment Through X (Twitter) Hashtags in Qatar

The empowerment and political participation of women in Qatar have garnered increasing attention in recent years, prompting a need for a critical examination of the role of digital activism in shaping perceptions of Qatari women in political spaces. This thesis addresses the existing gap in the literature by exploring how Qatari’s engage with digital platforms, particularly X (Twitter,) to voice their perceptions and contribute to political discourse. Through utilizing a qualitative thematic analysis of the top 20 tweets in the 5 most interacted-with hashtags relating to women empowerment and political participation in Qatar, this study investigated whether digital activism influences public perception of women empowerment. This thesis contributes to broader discussions on societal transformation in Qatar by delving into the nuanced ways in which digital activism influences perceptions of political participation among Qatari women. The research question guiding this study is: How does digital activism influence the public perception of Qatari women’s empowerment in Qatar? The findings reveal a diverse range of perceptions toward women's empowerment in Qatar, with themes reflecting positive governmental efforts, foreign involvement, and varied public attitudes. While limitations of the qualitative thematic analysis approach are acknowledged, including subjective interpretation and researcher bias, the study offers valuable insights into the intersection of digital platforms, gender, and politics in Qatar. Overall, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of women's political participation and empowerment in Qatar's evolving digital landscape.