Kealeboga Aiseng – författare

The images of men, women, and individuals across the gender spectrum on African social media platforms are socially, culturally, and politically embedded with ideologies that continue to shape our understandings of gender. Social Media and Gender in Africa: Discourses on Power and Politics of Everyday Life explores gender debates expressed through social media and the political, social, and cultural discourses surrounding them. The book addresses issues of gender-based violence, gender in political and economic spaces, gender activism, challenges faced in the LGBTQIA+ community, and gender harassment. It looks at how gender issues such as misogyny, gender-based violence, and sexism on African social media are products of African political, social, and cultural conundrums. It is through these platforms that sexual and gender identities are being freely expressed, political expressions are made without fear or favor, and political participation is achieved. Organized into four thematic parts, Shepherd Mpofu, Kealeboga Aiseng, and the contributors use case studies from countries such as Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe to engage in further discussions on gender on African social media.

Through African case studies, this book explores how gender and sexuality are articulated on social media. While the representation of gender in mainstream media has been studied for many decades, this book fills a gap by focusing on social media platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, and Tik Tok, and examining representation, commodification, and sexuality on these platforms. The contributors hold a mirror to society and reflect on the issues in our current world of empowerment, where sexuality and gender preferences are respected, and sexual rights are protected by constitutions in progressive democracies. Through their research, Shepherd Mpofu, Kealeboga Aiseng, and the contributors strive to alter the male gaze, commercial benefits of commodification, and African culture as benefited and influenced by patriarchal societies.

Drawing on examples from across the continent, this volume examines socially significant aspects of contemporary African popular culture—including music cultures, fandoms, and community, mass, and digital media—to demonstrate how neoliberal politics and market forces shape the cultural landscape and vice versa. Contributors investigate the role that the media, politicians, and corporate interests play in shaping that landscape, highlight the crucial role of the African people in the production and circulation of popular culture more broadly, and, furthermore, demonstrate how popular culture can be used as a tool to resist oppressive regimes and challenge power structures in the African context. Scholars of political communication, cultural studies, and African studies will find this book particularly useful.

This book explores the interwoven relationship between language, media, and society in post-Apartheid South Africa. The author examines selected case studies from the sociolinguistic landscape of South African television, analysing dominant language ideologies and illuminating the challenges, opportunities, and potential for transformation. He argues for the power of television in shaping language ideologies, fostering cultural understanding, and advocating for more inclusive and equitable language usage in the media. This book contributes to the field of sociolinguistics by emphasizing the complexity of multilingualism in South Africa and inviting ongoing exploration and dialogue in this landscape. It will be of interest to students and scholars of Sociolinguistics, Media Studies, African Culture and History, and Language Policy and Planning.

This book explores the interwoven relationship between language, media, and society in post-Apartheid South Africa. He argues for the power of television in shaping language ideologies, fostering cultural understanding, and advocating for more inclusive and equitable language usage in the media.

This edited volume explores the phenomenon of secondary trauma among sub-Saharan African journalists tasked with covering violent events, conflicts, and crises, shedding light on the profound psychological and emotional impacts of witnessing violence indirectly through their professional reporting. By combining empirical studies, theoretical discussions, and case-specific analyses, the book offers a crucial examination of how journalists experience, process, and navigate the psychological burdens associated with reporting traumatic events. The book seeks to contribute to ongoing development of trauma-informed journalistic practices, and a cultural shift towards prioritizing mental health in media organizations.

This second volume focuses on primary trauma experienced by journalists, with a particular focus on the gendered dimensions, as shared by female journalists and researchers. By focusing on female journalists’ firsthand encounters, the book explores the complex psychological, emotional, and professional challenges they face both inside and outside the newsroom. The chapters deal with specific issues relating to sexual harassment, online threats, risks and vulnerabilities, and physical and psychological violence experienced by journalists in various sub-Saharan African countries. In addition, the book explores the coping mechanisms employed by journalists in the field; thereby contributing to ongoing discussion on how to support media professionals navigating challenging newsrooms and journalistic roles in Africa and beyond.