Online Perceptions of Feminism in Qatar: A Content Analysis of Hashtag Feminism

This study examines hashtag feminism in Qatar and social media's role in women's political participation in the region. The thesis aims to identify the perception of feminism in the region, the type of responses under the hashtags, what influences the hashtag initiation and participation, and whether hashtag activism is an effective form of political participation in an authoritarian/conservative country. The study conducts a qualitative content analysis of different feminist and women's rights hashtag, focusing on Qatari Woman’s Rights hashtag for content and thematic analysis. By analyzing the content of the Twitter hashtag #حقوق-المرأة-القطرية (#qatari_woman_rights), the study found that tweets under the hashtag tend to reflect common comprehension of feminism in the region, express different perceptions of feminists, reply or contribute to misogyny, and convey perceived importance of feminism as a social/political movement in the region. This study further discusses Twitter's role as the primary platform for political participation, pushing and examining feminism as a controversial evolving topic in the region. The findings suggest a unique cultural and political role in the perception of feminism in Qatar and on women's online political participation.