Forbidden Talk: Digital Feminism to End Gender-Based Violence in Kuwait

Abstract

This article elucidates the complexity of the feminist digital dialogue in Kuwait, focusing on the debate surrounding the effectiveness of the Abolish153 campaign, which targets the honour killing crimes and ending violence against women. I primarily focus on its narration and strategies to address: 1) The ability to mobilise action; 2) The ability to raise awareness; 3) Visibility & virality. The analysis presents multiple socio-political and theoretical implications and strategies of the campaign through a holistic, intersectional examination. Based on online ethnography and observation, the paper points to successful mobilisation, solidarity, and the ability to raise awareness of this campaign. However, the coexistence of different feminist realities and the conspicuous absence of minority voices from the local and national feminist landscape raise critical questions about the efficacy of persistent dominance patterns within elite feminism, especially concerning its representation, alliances, and narratives. The argument presented herein sparks a broader debate within feminist analysis, highlighting the need to include an intersectional approach in contemporary feminist movement analysis. It contends that, beyond the complexity of feminist situation and the diversity of feminist realities, the inclusion of other women’s voices—such as those of tribal and stateless women—is essential to the goal of ending violence against women in Kuwait.