The Problem with Cyberfeminism: How Its Definition Stunted the Movement

With the VNS Matrix's "A Cyberfeminist Manifesto" (1991), cyberfeminism burst into public consciousness, captivating early Internet users with its assertive irony and utopian visions of a matriarchal digital future. But as much as it promised, the movement declined significantly in the early 2000s (Bassett, Hartmann & O'Riordan, 2011) and never regained its momentum. Examining its core reveals a fundamental challenge that could've been a catalyst: definition. VNS Matrix member Julianne Pierce advocated for cyberfeminism as a non-specific, open movement (Pierce, 2023). However, as Cindy G. Flores notes, "as one of many 'feminisms', cyberfeminism is itself not well-defined" (Flores, 2002). Over time, cyberfeminism has splintered into subcategories such as glitch feminism, technofeminism, and xenofeminism, further complicating its identity. So, did this openness foster diversity or lead to fragmentation? This talk examines the cyberfeminist definition, researchers' perspectives, its subcategorical splintering, and connections to its decline, with the goal of revisiting the movement's core ideals and advocating for its continued relevance.