---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is astonishing is that globalised…"
description: "\"What is astonishing is that globalised technology, like Whatsapp and Viber, really gives a lot of leeway to negotiating spaces and to keeping one's ide..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/binyavanga-wainaina-16679_community_what-is-astonishing-is-that-globalised-t_3069890.png"
---

#  What is astonishing is that globalised technology, like…

![“What is astonishing is that globalised technology, like Whatsapp and Viber, really gives a lot of leeway to negotiating spaces and to keeping one's identity. So people are able to be more receptive as a gay community to be part of an environment that is going to challenge the law.” quote by Binyavanga Wainaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/binyavanga-wainaina-16679_community_what-is-astonishing-is-that-globalised-t_3069890.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/binyavanga-wainaina-16679_community_what-is-astonishing-is-that-globalised-t_3069890.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/binyavanga-wainaina-16679_community_what-is-astonishing-is-that-globalised-t_3069890.png)

> “What is astonishing is that globalised technology, like Whatsapp and Viber, really gives a lot of leeway to negotiating spaces and to keeping one's identity. So people are able to be more receptive as a gay community to be part of an environment that is going to challenge the law.”

[Binyavanga Wainaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Digital platforms expand personal freedom, allowing marginalized groups to negotiate identity and challenge restrictive laws.

**In simple terms:** Tech lets minorities express themselves and push legal boundaries.

Key Takeaway

Leverage online tools to amplify marginalized voices.

Themes

identity technology rights community activism

Mood

hopeful defiant inspirational

Type

social political empowering

When to use this quote

- LGBTQ activism
- online community building
- human rights advocacy

Key Concepts

digital media social negotiation law reform

Questions to Reflect On

- How can activists protect privacy online?
- What legal changes are most needed for digital freedom?

A Different Perspective

Digital spaces can be surveilled and censored, limiting impact.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Gay community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-community/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Identity People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity-people-469678/) [Keeping Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeping-identity-1199728/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Receptive Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/receptive-gay-5188147/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Viber Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viber-really-5188146/)

## Related quotes

> [It's very hard to sustain love, that's for sure. But the more you have your own life and your own self, and the less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-delpy/it-s-very-hard-to-sustain-love-that-s-for-sure-but-the-more-you-have/)

[Julie Delpy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-delpy/)

> [The gay community has been so faithful and good to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-holliday/the-gay-community-has-been-so-faithful-and-good-to-me/)

[Jennifer Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-holliday/)

> [In my hometown, there's no gay bar. There's not even a gay night at a bar, as far as I know. But there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-everett/in-my-hometown-there-s-no-gay-bar-there-s-not-even-a-gay-night-at-a/)

[Bridget Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-everett/)

> [I say, 'I'm bi, my love knows no gender,' and the straight community says, 'Oh right, that's just a cover-up - you're gay!' And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/i-say-i-m-bi-my-love-knows-no-gender-and-the-straight-community-says/)

[Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/)

> [You have to take your hat off to the homosexual and gay community cause right now they're as strong as black people USE to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrese-gibson/you-have-to-take-your-hat-off-to-the-homosexual-and-gay-community/)

[Tyrese Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrese-gibson/)

> [The gay community is very fickle. And I know because I'm part of it and I see it every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-bass/the-gay-community-is-very-fickle-and-i-know-because-i-m-part-of-it/)

[Lance Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-bass/)

> [We've been scorned, exposed, I mean, I don't even know what word to use. But we're persona non grata in the gay community in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santos/we-ve-been-scorned-exposed-i-mean-i-don-t-even-know-what-word-to-use/)

[George Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santos/)

> [Gay pride is one of my favorite days in West Hollywood out of the entire year. I love supporting the gay community and being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scheana-shay/gay-pride-is-one-of-my-favorite-days-in-west-hollywood-out-of-the/)

[Scheana Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scheana-shay/)

> [I'm not sure how each one of us sees ourselves in the band, but we're being part of this ritual of identity where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joselo-rangel/i-m-not-sure-how-each-one-of-us-sees-ourselves-in-the-band-but-we-re/)

[Joselo Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joselo-rangel/)

> [Music, especially as an adolescent, helps to build identity because that's when people start developing a sense of self. You can kind of tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aloe-blacc/music-especially-as-an-adolescent-helps-to-build-identity-because/)

[Aloe Blacc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aloe-blacc/)

> [When you find your authentic self, your identity - your true identity - how many people work a job they hate or live a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/when-you-find-your-authentic-self-your-identity-your-true-identity/)

[Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/)

> [I do not want to waste time in proving my identity to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atishi/i-do-not-want-to-waste-time-in-proving-my-identity-to-people/)

[Atishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atishi/)

> [That's definitely something I've experienced my whole life - people thinking one thing and then discovering that I'm not, hopefully. So I relate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/that-s-definitely-something-i-ve-experienced-my-whole-life-people/)

[Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/)

> [So many people go through life, and they never deal with their own issues, no matter what the issues are - ours happen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlyn-jenner/so-many-people-go-through-life-and-they-never-deal-with-their-own/)

[Caitlyn Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlyn-jenner/)

> [Everybody tends to merge his identity with other people at the speed of light. It's called being mass man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/everybody-tends-to-merge-his-identity-with-other-people-at-the-speed/)

[Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/)

## More by Binyavanga Wainaina

> [“Cloud travel is well and good when you have mastered the landings. I never have. I must live, not dream about living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/cloud-travel-is-well-and-good-when-you-have-mastered-the-landings-i/)

[Binyavanga Wainaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/)

> [I'm not even sure I want to use the term 'coming out.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/i-m-not-even-sure-i-want-to-use-the-term-coming-out/)

[Binyavanga Wainaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/)

> [I, Binyavanga Wainaina, quite honestly swear I have known I am a homosexual since I was five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/i-binyavanga-wainaina-quite-honestly-swear-i-have-known-i-am-a/)

[Binyavanga Wainaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/)

> [I’m extremely optimistic about rapid transformation and change of things in Africa in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/i-m-extremely-optimistic-about-rapid-transformation-and-change-of/)

[Binyavanga Wainaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/)

> [I want to be fighting for a society accountable towards its citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/i-want-to-be-fighting-for-a-society-accountable-towards-its-citizens/)

[Binyavanga Wainaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/)

> [I'm an African. I was brought up here; my home is here. Being an Afropolitan, I am here to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/i-m-an-african-i-was-brought-up-here-my-home-is-here-being-an/)

[Binyavanga Wainaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/)

> [Always end your book with Nelson Mandela saying something about rainbows or renaissances. Because you care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/always-end-your-book-with-nelson-mandela-saying-something-about/)

[Binyavanga Wainaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/)

> [I knew I didn't want to come out in the 'New Yorker'; it just felt wrong. It needed an African conversation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/i-knew-i-didn-t-want-to-come-out-in-the-new-yorker-it-just-felt-wrong/)

[Binyavanga Wainaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/)

> [Africa is to be pitied, worshipped or dominated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/africa-is-to-be-pitied-worshipped-or-dominated/)

[Binyavanga Wainaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/)

> [“Science is smaller than music, than the patterns of the body; the large confident world of sound and body gathers. If my mind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/science-is-smaller-than-music-than-the-patterns-of-the-body-the-large/)

[Binyavanga Wainaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/)

> [I have learned that I, we, are a dollar-a-day people (which is terrible, they say, because a cow in Japan is worth $9 a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/i-have-learned-that-i-we-are-a-dollar-a-day-people-which-is-terrible/)

[Binyavanga Wainaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/)

> [People reach an age... where somebody else's platform is no longer yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/people-reach-an-age-where-somebody-else-s-platform-is-no-longer-yours/)

[Binyavanga Wainaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/)

> [I love playing with words and texture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/i-love-playing-with-words-and-texture/)

[Binyavanga Wainaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/)

> [“He has money. She will wear the mask he needs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/he-has-money-she-will-wear-the-mask-he-needs/)

[Binyavanga Wainaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/)

> [I am quite excited that Moi is leaving. Kenyans have changed. We have a free press, and it is no longer a situation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/i-am-quite-excited-that-moi-is-leaving-kenyans-have-changed-we-have-a/)

[Binyavanga Wainaina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/)

[Explore all 39 Binyavanga Wainaina quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/)

## More Community quotes

> [Race is the idea that a human being is more superior than another human being, race in society grants illusional rights to mistreat each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/race-is-the-idea-that-a-human-being-is-more-superior-than-another/)

[Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/)

> [But we are convinced that if we are to play a meaningful role nationally, and in the community of nations, we must be second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-sarabhai/but-we-are-convinced-that-if-we-are-to-play-a-meaningful-role/)

[Vikram Sarabhai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-sarabhai/)

> [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/)

[Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/)

> [The strains and stresses suffered by the individual in society are grounded in the normal functioning of that society (and of the individual!) rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/the-strains-and-stresses-suffered-by-the-individual-in-society-are/)

[Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/)

> [Hackney gets a bit of a bad rap, but it's the only place I've ever lived that felt like a community. I know my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-horgan/hackney-gets-a-bit-of-a-bad-rap-but-it-s-the-only-place-i-ve-ever/)

[Sharon Horgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-horgan/)

> [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/)

[Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/)

> [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/)

[Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/)

> [I have to feel the audience. I enjoy that feeling of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-gahan/i-have-to-feel-the-audience-i-enjoy-that-feeling-of-community/)

[Dave Gahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-gahan/)

> [It rolls off my back. Ridicule doesn't mean anything - even from people you're supposed to wear knee pads around, like the scientific community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-schultz/it-rolls-off-my-back-ridicule-doesn-t-mean-anything-even-from-people/)

[Dwight Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-schultz/)

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/)

[Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/)

> [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/)

[Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/)

> [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/)

[Sheila Kamerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-kamerman/)

> [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [Perhaps the greatest and least visible form of impoverishment caused by the Corporate State is the destruction of community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/perhaps-the-greatest-and-least-visible-form-of-impoverishment-caused/)

[Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/)

[Browse all 13,840 Community quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What is astonishing is that globalised technology, like Whatsapp and Viber, really gives a lot of leeway to negotiating spaces and to keeping one's identity. So people are able to be more receptive as a gay community to be part of an environment that is going to challenge the law.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Binyavanga Wainaina"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/what-is-astonishing-is-that-globalised-technology-like-whatsapp-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Community"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/what-is-astonishing-is-that-globalised-technology-like-whatsapp-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/binyavanga-wainaina-16679_community_what-is-astonishing-is-that-globalised-t_3069890.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/binyavanga-wainaina-16679_community_what-is-astonishing-is-that-globalised-t_3069890.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/985/binyavanga-wainaina-16679_community_what-is-astonishing-is-that-globalised-t_3069890.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What is astonishing is that globalised technology, like Whatsapp and Viber, really gives a lot of leeway to…” — Binyavanga Wainaina",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Binyavanga Wainaina",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binyavanga-wainaina/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "What is astonishing is that globalised...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/what-is-astonishing-is-that-globalised-technology-like-whatsapp-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binyavanga-wainaina/what-is-astonishing-is-that-globalised-technology-like-whatsapp-and/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
