‘Silencing Half of the South’: Online Gender-Based Violence and its Impact on the Gender Digital Divide

Image by the Association for Progressive Communications

Advances in technologies have brought about significant changes in the way individuals, organizations, corporations, and governments function globally. However, despite the widespread use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), there is still a long way to go in achieving full equality in access and usage, especially for women and girls. The systemic gender biases in ICT policies and their applications perpetuate the existence of the gender digital divide, which continues to impact women's access to information and communication.

The use and application of ICTs have also contributed to the perpetuation of violence against women (VAW) and online harassment, a growing concern in the digital age. Gendered online violence, which manifests as stalking, harassment, bullying, voyeurism, and image-based sexual violence, has become a global phenomenon. The risk of being harassed online is a significant barrier to women's and girls' participation in online spaces, further isolating them and limiting their freedoms. Often, legal frameworks and institutions are not equipped to handle and respond to online gender-based violence, making it difficult for most victims to seek justice.

The gender digital divide, coupled with the risk of online gender-based violence, raises concerns about the possibility of women and girls abandoning online spaces. This is especially true for online feminist activists, who experience heightened levels of vitriol on social media platforms. With women in Africa having the widest gender gap in internet connectivity, could the gender digital divide widen further as we see increased incidents of online gender-based violence? As we celebrate International Women's Day, it is essential to acknowledge the barriers women face in accessing and using ICTs and work towards bridging the gender digital divide and making online spaces safe for all.

The Gender Digital Divide

In the 1990s, the term "digital divide" was coined to describe the disparities surrounding access to information and communication technologies (ICTs). While there is still debate over its precise definition, the digital divide has become a prominent topic in academia and policymaking. Initially focused on access, the concept has evolved to include factors such as gender, race, age, and socioeconomic status. Although most studies have centered on the "Global North," their insights can be applied globally.

Gender and ICTs only began to be linked in the late 1990s, with the creation of the Gender Task Force by the International Telecommunications Union. As gender is not neutral, policies and programs impact men and women differently and are shaped by existing power dynamics.

A 2015 report by the World Wide Web Foundation and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency examined the gender digital divide in nine developing countries. The report found stark inequalities in ICT usage between men and women and highlights the challenges in closing the gap. Access, use, and social consequences such as online gender-based violence are key factors of the gender digital divide. However, further research is needed to fully understand the social construction and perpetuation of this divide. 

Beyond Access, Addressing Use

The digital divide has long been framed as a matter of access to technology, but this simplistic view fails to account for the complex social implications of the divide. Researchers and policymakers have often assumed that advancements in infrastructure and reduced costs would close the gap, but this has not been the case. In fact, in 2019 the International Telecommunications Union reported that more than 50% of the world’s women are offline, and this number is even more pronounced in the ‘Global South’ where the internet penetration rate for adult women is 41%, compared to 53% for men (See Mutsvairo and Ragnedda, 2019). Disparities also exist within social structures, with women in developing countries more likely to be excluded from the digital realm, reinforcing existing inequalities. To truly understand and address the gender digital divide, it must be re-conceptualized beyond access and include considerations of digital literacy and meaningful use. Women use the internet differently than men, and girls often lack the digital literacy skills necessary to navigate online spaces safely. This is particularly concerning given the lack of policies addressing cyberviolence and online harassment, which can easily and quickly spread through the use of ICTs. Addressing the gender digital divide requires a nuanced understanding of the issue and a commitment to meaningful change.

Violence Against Women and Its Online Footprint

The definition of violence against women (VAW) has evolved over time, with the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women being the first internationally agreed-upon definition. However, this definition does not explicitly mention online cyberviolence, which, as evidenced above, has become increasingly prevalent in recent years.

Women's rights advocates are calling for a gender rights-based approach to internet policy development, as well as the re-drawing of boundaries around various forms of abuse online. However, many women in the 'Global South' have trouble recognizing online attacks as violent, and even when they do, social norms and lack of knowledge often result in restricting their online activity instead of reporting the perpetrators.

Even when women and girls do report online harassment, the response from social media platforms and governments is often inadequate, with a lack of appropriate mechanisms and capacity to enforce measures against online violence. It is crucial to provide resources and digital literacy education, adapted to local languages and mainstreamed in academic curricula, to bridge the gender digital divide and create safer digital spaces for women and girls.

Gendered E-bile and Feminist Digilantism

In the digital age, the phenomenon of gendered ‘e-bile’ has become a pervasive issue for women, inhibiting their full participation in online life. Feminist activist Emma A. Jane has coined the term to describe the sexualized vitriol and online attacks directed towards women, highlighting their self-censorship and withdrawal from online spaces. Despite its prevalence, social media companies and institutions have been slow to respond, prompting contemporary feminist activists to take matters into their own hands through digilantism. Through 'naming and shaming' approaches, feminist digilantism aims to expose the e-bile and bring about justice. However, as Jane contends, it must be accompanied by political organization and collectivist approaches. The consequences of inaction are dire, as the UN Office of the High Commissioner warns that online spaces may actually widen sex and gender-based discrimination and violence, creating unsafe environments for women and girls.

Bridging the Gender Digital Divide: Making Online Spaces Safe for All Women and Girls

Advancements in technologies have led to significant changes in the way people, organizations, corporations, and governments function globally. However, the gender digital divide remains a significant obstacle, hindering women's and girls' access to and use of ICTs. The systemic gender biases in ICT policies and their applications perpetuate the existence of the gender digital divide, which continues to impact women's access to information and communication. Moreover, gendered online violence has become a global phenomenon. This risk of being harassed online is a significant barrier to women's and girls' participation in online spaces, further isolating them and limiting their freedoms. To bridge the gender digital divide, it is crucial to provide resources and digital literacy education, adapted to local languages and mainstreamed in academic curricula, to create safer digital spaces for women and girls. Additionally, feminist digilantism aims to expose e-bile and bring about justice for women and girls, but it must be accompanied by political organization and collectivist approaches. As we celebrate International Women's Day, it is essential embrace equity and to acknowledge the barriers women face in accessing and using ICTs, and to work towards bridging the gender digital divide and making online spaces safe for all.

This blog was adapted from my Master’s dissertation for the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), submitted on 08 September 2022.