There is a movement that resonates in every area, from the streets around the world to social media trends: the woke culture. So, what does this culture actually advocate? How does it aim to transform society? Is being “woke” just about keeping up with the agenda, or is it about launching a fight against social inequalities?
What is Woke Culture?
Woke culture was born as a concept expressing sensitivity to issues of social justice and equality, but over time it has evolved into a broader phenomenon at the center of various ideological debates. The term “woke”, derived from the English word “awake”, has been used by black activists, especially since the early 20th century, to emphasize awareness of racial injustice. However, today, woke culture is not limited to awareness of racism, but has evolved into a broad social consciousness framework encompassing many areas such as gender, LGBTQ+ rights, postcolonial memory, feminism and ecological justice.
At the core of this culture lies the idea of recognizing and questioning systemic inequalities. Woke individuals and communities analyze the oppressive effects of history on certain groups, demand structural changes, and see the struggle for social justice as an ethical responsibility. Issues such as capitalism, patriarchy, and the effects of the colonial past on the present are at the core of the woke discourse. At this point, it is important to note that the woke movement is not only a form of awareness, but also a form of cultural and political activism. With the rise of social media, we see that this movement has become widespread on a global scale and has a strong resonance, especially among the younger generations.
However, woke culture is also met with harsh criticism as much as its supporters. Critics claim that the woke movement sometimes feeds self-censorship and cancel culture with excessive sensitivity. Accordingly, some woke activists adopt an attitude that excludes different ideas or socially discredits individuals who have made erroneous statements in the past. Critics argue that this situation contradicts freedom of expression and weakens pluralism of ideas. On the other hand, woke advocates argue that some radical steps are necessary for social transformation and that traditional norms must be shaken so that groups that have been ignored in the past can raise their voices.
In this context, woke culture has become a phenomenon that manifests itself in different ways in different geographies. For example, while the woke movement in the United States is shaped especially around issues of racial justice and gender identity, in Europe it is more related to immigrant rights and the colonial past. In Eastern European countries such as Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia and Romania, the woke concept is generally perceived as a Western-based movement and is met with different reactions at the points where it intersects with local socio-political dynamics.
History of Woke Culture
Although woke culture may seem like a modern internet phenomenon, it actually has a long historical past. The roots of the concept, as mentioned above, began to take shape within African-American communities, especially in the early 20th century. In the 1930s, the concept was included in the texts of black writers and activists in the context of awareness against racism. However, the popularization of the term is directly related to the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
In the 1960s, as leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X called on African-American communities to be conscious of systemic racism, the word woke began to be used as a symbol of this awareness. At that time, in the United States, where Jim Crow laws were still in effect, the struggles of blacks for basic civil rights, such as the right to vote, formed the basis of the woke movement. During these years, woke consciousness was also frequently referenced in African-American music and literature. For example, in 1972, Gil Scott-Heron’s song “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” was a manifesto calling for awareness against oppression.
It would not be right to limit the roots of woke culture to the United States. During the same period, similar consciousness-raising movements were seen in different parts of the world. The anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, the Dalit rights struggle in India, and the left-leaning revolutionary movements in Latin America are examples that form the global historical framework of woke consciousness. With the development of postcolonial theory, anti-racist and anti-colonialist discourses were not limited to the African American experience, but found echoes in the struggles of different social groups on a global scale.
The 1980s and 1990s were a period when woke consciousness gained new theoretical expansions. In these years, theoretical approaches such as postcolonialism, identity politics and the third wave of feminism developed in the academic world, and new conceptual frameworks were created that expanded woke consciousness. The works of thinkers such as Frantz Fanon, Gloria Jean Watkins and Edward Said showed that social inequalities operated not only at the economic level, but also at the cultural and epistemological level. During this period, the concept of woke gradually transformed into a broader form of social consciousness and began to be associated not only with racism, gender and class issues.
With the spread of the internet and the rise of social media in the 2000s, woke culture moved from academic circles to popular culture. The Black Lives Matter movement, which began in 2013, made the concept of woke known globally. The deaths of black citizens such as Michael Brown and Eric Garner as a result of police violence in 2014 caused the woke movement to gain new momentum. The slogan “Stay Woke” has become one of the fundamental expressions of social justice movements on platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Basic Principles
The first fundamental principle of woke culture is the search for social justice and equality. This principle advocated by the woke movement is a call to ensure that individuals are not discriminated against solely based on their race, gender, class or other social identities. This principle requires being sensitive to all forms of discrimination, oppression and exploitation and developing actions to eliminate them. Woke individuals stand against structural inequalities by becoming aware of these problems and fight for social change.
The second principle is to be aware of the past and historical inequalities. In woke culture, social inequalities are recognized as resulting from historical and structural processes. This includes the view that past practices such as slavery, colonialism, racism, and gender discrimination still fuel social inequalities today. Therefore, by understanding history and recognizing the impact of the past, woke individuals aim to take steps toward creating a more just society.
The third principle is to accept differences and be proud of them. Woke culture accepts diversity as an asset and believes that this diversity strengthens societies. They argue that different identities such as race, gender, sexual orientation, cultural background, religious beliefs should be included equally and fairly within society.
The fourth principle is empathy and solidarity. Woke culture values empathy as a way of understanding and being sensitive to the suffering of others. This principle aims to develop a sense of solidarity towards marginalized and oppressed groups in society. Woke individuals empathize with these groups and try to understand their hardships and systemic oppression. Solidarity refers to a collective struggle and support against this suffering.
The fifth principle is to be active and vocal on social media. Social media has played a major role in the rapid spread of the woke culture. Today, social media is an important tool for drawing attention to social problems, raising awareness and organizing active protests. Woke individuals help marginalized groups make their voices heard through social media platforms, express their reactions to social inequalities and make calls to solve these inequalities.
The sixth principle is the demand for structural change. This principle emphasizes that structural changes are necessary to eliminate inequalities in systems such as education, health, law, and economy. Woke advocates believe that current systems continue to oppress individuals. They argue that these systems must be restructured in a fair and equitable manner.
The Effects of Woke Culture on Generation Z
Generation Z is generally defined as the young generation born between 1997 and 2012. It stands out as a generation shaped by technology, especially social media. The effects of woke culture on this generation have created significant changes in terms of both individual identity formation and the development of social consciousness. The first reflection of these effects can be seen in Generation Z’s sensitivity to social justice, equality and diversity.
Generation Z is often more sensitive to racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination than other generations. With the influence of social media platforms, this generation has had the opportunity to more clearly observe the systematic inequalities that different groups face and has developed a desire to combat them.
It can be said that woke culture is influential in the importance that Generation Z places on identity politics and diversity. This generation has learned to address concepts such as gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation in an intersectional way. They have developed a more open-minded approach, especially on issues such as LGBT+ rights, trans rights, and gender identity.
The Role of Social Media
Generation Z is adept at using social media platforms as a tool for social change. Hashtag activism and online protests have been the most common ways for young people to draw attention to social issues, raise awareness, and make their voices heard. Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok have become effective challenge platforms for young people who want to speak out against social injustice. This digital activism has both increased Generation Z’s level of social awareness and connected them to each other through social media.
Critique and Future of Woke Culture
Although woke culture is identified with social change and social justice movements, it has faced a wide range of criticism. These criticisms generally cover a wide range from the movement’s impact on freedoms to cultural norms. Criticism of woke culture is sometimes seen as an effort to defend the rights of individuals, but sometimes it is argued that these efforts have gone too far and weakened the social structure. Its future is emerging as an issue that will be shaped by these criticisms and opposing views.
The first point of criticism is the restrictions on freedom of expression. Although woke culture is seen as an important step towards social equality and justice, some critics argue that this movement sometimes limits individual freedoms. In particular, concerns about the phenomenon known as “cancel culture” form the basis of these criticisms. The social exclusion of people because of past statements or mistakes is considered a threat to freedom of expression. Critics argue that such a culture can prevent people from expressing their opinions freely, which can be detrimental to public debate. Many scholars emphasize that woke culture can sometimes turn into an extremely conservative attitude, which can restrict freedom of expression.
Another criticism is over-politicization. Woke culture is often seen as a movement that politicizes social issues too much and even interferes with the private lives of individuals. Critics argue that woke culture turns every social problem into a political issue, sometimes leading to excessive dramatization of these issues. This can lead to polarization and social division rather than a healthier dialogue aimed at solving social problems. It is sometimes claimed that woke culture is content with symbolic or temporary reactions rather than practical solutions aimed at creating real social equality. This can fuel conflict between different groups rather than reaching a broader social consensus.
Another dimension of criticism is the existence of a culture that progresses through symbolic behaviors rather than real social change. For example, companies and big brands may conduct advertising campaigns to show that they are sensitive to woke culture, but it is debatable whether these companies take concrete steps to eliminate social inequalities. Although this type of behavior, called “performative activism”, aims to draw attention to social problems, it sometimes remains a temporary display of sensitivity rather than creating real change.
In addition to these, insensitivity to economic systems is another point of criticism. Woke culture can sometimes address social inequalities only at a cultural and social level, while ignoring economic inequalities. Issues such as the gap between the rich and the poor, the power of large corporations, and the structural inequalities created by capitalism are not always sufficiently the focus of the woke movement. Critics argue that the fight against economic inequalities should be placed in a broader perspective, and that woke culture can remain a mere cultural phenomenon with this deficiency.
The future of woke culture will undoubtedly be shaped by these criticisms. In the future, this culture is likely to evolve into a structure based on more social dialogue and consensus. This can enable the movement to reach its goals of social equality by taking into account the needs of individuals from all walks of life, in a way that covers more people. In addition, the transformation of woke culture into more concrete social changes will require companies and individuals to take concrete steps to ensure real equality and justice, rather than just making displays of sensitivity. In this way, woke culture can be made more effective as a social tool.
In addition, innovative economic and cultural solutions can also be part of woke culture in the future. However, for this to happen, woke culture needs to evolve from discussions based solely on cultural identities to a broader framework of social responsibility. Because not only cultural equality but also economic and structural equality should be on the agenda.
