Revenge of the Feminerd: Feminism? There's an App for That

I was a little hesitant to write about iPhone apps because it's definitely an issue with a really class-specific impact. Smartphones are expensive, but even though smartphones are still out of reach for many low income people, they’re becoming more and more widely used worldwide. In the US, almost 30% of mobile subscribers use smartphones, with about 1/3 opting for the iPhone. And Neilsen surveys show that women looking for smart phones are more likely to want an iPhone as their next device.

Part of the reason the iPhone has been getting more buzz than other smartphones seems to be due to the plethora of apps available on the system (over 350,000 compared to just over 25,000 for Blackberry). And given some of the options we’ve seen, including hate-filled, sexist and homophobic propaganda, I thought it would be a good idea to profile some of the more positive options for feminists.

Here are some of the best ones I’ve heard of, in no particular order:

1. YWCA Safety Siren
   YWCA Canada has come out with this great app, available in both English and French, to promote dating safety. It’s geared towards young women and offers answers to questions like “Can I make my own medical decisions?” and “How can I make sure my date is safe?” It also gives locations for YWCAs and crisis centers across Canada. But maybe the most unique thing is that the app also functions as a personal safety siren, that can be activated by pressing the safety button or shaking the unit.
2. Hollaback!
   Brought to you as part of the Hollaback movement to end street harassment using mobile technology. The Hollaback app lets you call out street harassers by taking a picture of them and uploading it to the Hollaback network along with location data and your story of the incident.
3. The Adventures of the 7 Wonderlicious Girls
   The Wonderlicious Girls app is designed to empower young women. It features stories about seven racially diverse girls who are smart, strong, and daring. A cool way to use technology to break from traditional princess story narratives.
4. The Gay History Project
   Although it’s not the flashiest app out there, the Gay History Project app is a neat resource, featuring information on influential events and people in LGBT history. The coolest thing is that there’s also a forum where people can add new stories, and the app can also link to Facebook so people can spread the word about gay history more easily.

Also honorable mentions to the many apps that help women track birth control pills and menstrual cycles. A friend recommended Period Tracker specifically, and while I’m not a huge fan of its über girliness with all the flowers, hearts, and butterflies, its functionality is definitely cool. As a bit of an Apple noob, I’d love to hear about the apps you can’t live without. Any good anti-racist apps you know of? Please comment below!