Our Digital Society Needs One Thing

We live in a society dominated and powered by digital communication. Indeed, we are part of a Digital Society, one composed of powerful voices, each proselyting diametric views. There are many ignored voices that deserve and need to be heard.

These voices can only be heard if change happens. Our Digital Society has the potential to spur change or inhibit change, based on the way each of us decides to act. We need to be aware of the way we use digital media so that we can understand where we might better society through our use of technology.

Here are three ignored voices that you need to hear: 

1. Change in the integration of technology in the learning process;
2. Change in the toleration of radicalism online; and 
3. Change in the media's perception of women.

Can 21st Century media be used to combat sexism?

I was raised primarily by women - my mom and two sisters. My dad constantly worked outside of our home, so most of the instruction I received in my formative years came from these three women. Now that I'm married, my wife is incredibly influential and important to me. Needless to say, the women I love in my life have helped me become the man I am today. They deserve respect, equality, and love, just as everyone does.

My mother and two sisters with my wife and I on our wedding day.

But I'm concerned that this respect is getting lost and deformed through the 21st digital society we live in. Facebook, Twitter, television, movies, video games, and the internet as a whole have made pornography and illicit sexual themes more accessible than ever before. Although some might think these forms of media will clean themselves up over time, I'm not so optimistic. 

What we need is a change. 

A change in the way we consume media.

A change to begin to fill the world with good and uplifting forms of media.

A change to create a powerful and respectful image of women across the globe. 

Respecting Women in the 21st Century

My mother and two sisters with my wife and I on our wedding day. Women are incredible and deserve respect.

I was raised primarily by women - my mom and two sisters. My dad was constantly working outside of the home, so most of the instruction I received in my formative years came from these three women. Now that I'm married, my wife is incredibly influential and important to me. Needless to say, the women I love in my life have helped me become the man I am today. They deserve respect, equality, and love, just as anyone should. 

I'm concerned that this respect is getting lost and deformed through the 21st digital society we live in. Facebook, Twitter, television, movies, video games, and the internet as a whole have made pornography and illicit sexual themes more accessible than ever before. Although some might think these forms of media could become cleaned up, I'm not so optimistic. 

What we need is a change. 

A change in the way we use media.

A change to begin to fill the world with good and uplifting forms of media.

A change to create a powerful and respectful image of women across the globe. 

Digital Society E/Affects: Womanhood, Education, and Tolerance

Our digital society is made up of many parts, similar to a pie. Technology doesn’t just include social networking and funny YouTube videos, that is just the cherry on top. The real meat of it includes politics, education, co-collaboration, and overall social progress. We have chosen three parts of this pie that we feel passionate about and want to share with you in our short group video.

A 21st Century Perception of Women

If men and women work together, our current digital society can be a force to empower women.

My wife has always planned on becoming a speech pathologist. Her older sister had speech impediments as a young girl, and my wife saw the benefits of the therapy her sister received. When she came to Brigham Young University, other girls thought her desire to graduate quickly and pursue her masters degree was odd and unconventional. "Don't you want to get married and have kids?" Obviously she did, but why do women feel the need to choose one or the other? The answer is not so simple.

International Women's Day Every Day

My wife Maya and I on our wedding day. The media dictates women should fit a particular mold. If we work together, the media instead can be a force to strengthen female identity.

My wife has always planned on becoming a speech pathologist. Her older sister had speech impediments as a young girl, and my wife saw the benefits of the therapy her sister received. When she came to Brigham Young University, other girls thought her desire to graduate quickly and pursue her masters degree was odd and unconventional. "Don't you want to get married and have kids?" Obviously she does, but why do women need to choose one or the other? The answer is simple - they don't.

Women Will Win

My name is Michael Stevens, and I'm a Mormon. I'm also a feminist. Now before you decide not to listen to me, just hear me out. Women have been mistreated for centuries, and even today women still are being mistreated and misrepresented. There is a way we can change this, but I need your help to do it.