Initiatives combating violence against women are numerous. But this month, a campaign with a difference is encouraging people worldwide to fight back against gendered violence - with a focus on technology and the internet.
Yesterday saw a flurry of activity around new campaigns, reports and initiatives, all launched in time for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the beginning of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.
One of the most intriguing initiatives – and one which is incredibly relevant to many women in activism today, is the Take Back the Tech campaign, which is currently enjoying a great deal of attention thanks to its great website, international focus and use of social networking.
Take Back the Tech has been active since 2006 and has initiated local campaigns in locations as diverse as Bangladesh, Cambodia, Germany and Mexico. This year the campaign is calling on men and women to take part in the 16 days of activism by using technology to express their right to freedom of expression and information, something which most women will tell you is a major issue in the way they participate in online communities.
Research has identified that the majority of abusive behaviour, harassment and censorship online is aimed at women. And to be honest we don’t really need a whole load of research to tell us that because we experience it all the time. The way we’re spoken to via blog comments and on discussion forums; the threats made against us.
You see blogs where women speaking out about issues affecting them are told they deserve to be raped or assaulted. You see comments on pieces written by women where the first thing to be insulted is the way they look. And then there’s the enormous issues surrounding women in gaming and the way they’re treated.
Earlier this year I was at a conference where a journalist admitted she had made two profiles on a website – one using her real name and one using a man’s name. She talked about the way similar comments made by the two profiles would receive entirely different reactions, with the ‘female’ profile always being subject to more aggression, threats and patronising comments (how often have we seen men saying ‘oh do shut up, dear’ to female writers online and completely silencing their arguments?).
And let’s not forget about the part technology plays in domestic violence. An abusive man will often confiscate his partner’s phone, read her emails or obsessively monitor her online activity.
Take Back the Tech wants to raise awareness of all this and more, saying:
“It's critical that we are able to use the internet to share information and opinions and document and tell our own stories including the stories of violence and discrimination that many women and girls face every day.
All too frequently websites that bring to distribute information and call for support on women's rights are closed down.”
In some countries, this is a real worry, with websites providing information on women’s rights being censored or shut down and Facebook groups suspended to stop women mobilising against injustice or abuse.
The campaign’s four main goals are:
- Create safe digital spaces that protect everyone’s right to participate freely, without harassment or threat to safety.
- Realise women’s rights to shape, define, participate, use and share knowledge, information and ICT.
- Address the intersection between communication rights and women’s human rights, especially violence against women.
- Recognise women’s historical and critical participation and contribution to the development of ICT.
Its website is an amazing resource for anyone wanting to know more about the intersection of VAW and technology. It provides specific instances of how this is happening and gives out information on the wider context of the 16 Days campaign, but also gives out tips for protecting privacy online, makes suggestions of ways to get involved and tells you how to organise your own campaign.
The versatility of the internet today means there’s a long list of things you can do to show your support, from blogging to tweeting to making a video or petitioning your government. There’s even a 'Daily Actions' page with step-by-step instructions on taking a different action every day of the 16 Days– today’s is ‘Petition a Minister’. More ideas can be picked up by looking at details of actions from previous years.
It’s great to see such a wide-ranging and relevant initiative creating waves.
Further information can be found at:
Take Back the Tech on Facebook
Take Back the Tech on Twitter
Women Networking Support Programme
GenderIT
Feminist Tech Exchange
Hannah Mudge writes about all things news and feminism-themed for BitchBuzz. You can also read her blog, We Mixed Our Drinks or follow her tweets as @boudledidge.