Résumé:
The present study aimed at approaching Algerian women's Facebook groups, in order to gauge to which extent these groups constitute a feminine subaltern public sphere within the cyberspace, especially in view of the difficulties that Algerian women encounter systematically in accessing the physical and mediatic public spheres. From an epistemological perspective, the study was inspired by the feminine subaltern public sphere approach as a fundamental theoretical pattern. Methodologically speaking, we have adopted a descriptive method of research, by relying on online survey and employing online questionnaire and online interview in collecting data from our respondents. In a similar vein, we have used a non-probability type of sampling, and based on that, we have selected six Facebook groups with direct and intentional intervention and according to specifically well-suited and designed criteria.
After targeting the members and deploying the online questionnaire within the space of the selected Facebook groups, and providing sufficient time to them, to complete the questionnaire, we have obtained 386 valid and correctly answered questionnaires. In parallel, we have conducted an online structured interview with the admins and mediators of the selected groups; accordingly, we have interviewed 38 respondents.
Based on that, we have obtained multiple and varied results. Most importantly we found that the studied Facebook groups constitute an open and easily accessible space that welcome new members without barriers. On top of that, the respondents are using the offered communicative dynamics, such as anonymity, interactive mechanism and generating and sharing content tools strategically, in raising issues and topics of interest to them and approaching it from their own perspective and according to their visions.
The studied Facebook groups are vital and open spaces that provide visibility for female users. Furthermore, these groups also secured an efficient mechanism for criticism that enabled the users to publish, comment, and re-share dissident and counter-discourse to mainstream culture in a dynamic way. Finally, we have found that the discussions within the space of these groups meet the requirements of rational discourse, to an acceptable extent.
