Global Uprising: The Case of #MahsaAmini

Abstract

This case study examines the global feminist digital movement sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman killed by Iran’s morality police. Mobilized under the slogan Woman, Life, Freedom, the protests quickly became a transnational outcry against gender-based violence, authoritarianism, and digital repression. The study explores how activists used social media—especially the viral #HairForFreedom campaign—to create networked counterpublics, challenge systemic oppression, and inspire solidarity across borders. At the same time, it highlights the risks of surveillance, censorship, and facial recognition technologies used by authoritarian regimes to suppress dissent. This case offers critical insights into the power and peril of digital technologies in feminist resistance movements today.