Abstract for roundtable – Co-opting feminism in politics

The increased participation of women in politics not only in government but as active voters, has contributed by tipping the balance in favor of those representing their interests at best. The last two democratic presidential winners, for example, saw a higher turnout of female voters than male voters, contributing to their success. This trend however, has been captured by those creating narratives around the political campaigns and used dishonestly by co-opting the language of feminist movements to further agendas that may indirectly or directly, promote gender inequality. A phenomenon referred to as “Purple Washing”. The argument surrounding this problem lies in the need to implement language recognition models able to identify the co-opting of feminine language in the political discourse, allowing for the dissemination of a more transparent ideology. As well as ensuring factors as diversity in the data sets, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods, and examining intersectionality across gender, race, class and sexuality are included, in order to reducing bias and securing that data is understood within a contextual framework. While the risks of perpetuating biases with the use of computerized tools needs to be acknowledged, there are also opportunities that may prove crucial at cutting ties with traditional politics and at challenging male dominated-structures.