Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Women

• In Event: Understanding Experiences of Cyber-stalking, Technology-supported Violence and Cyber-bullying

Abstract

As digital technology mediates more and more of our daily lives, it also facilitates new forms of violence against women. Technology-facilitated violence against women is any violence that is committed by means of technology. It targets disproportionately women with multiple intersecting identities. It takes many forms including sextortion, sharing intimate photos without consent, doxxing (publishing private personal information), online gender and sexual harassment, cyberbullying; online gender and sexual harassment; cyberstalking, and online grooming for sexual assault. It reflects, reinforces, and exacerbates systemic and structural gender inequality. It has negative and serious psychological, physical, sexual, psychological, social, political, or economic harm to women. Current laws which address technology-facilitated violence against women have not kept pace with technological developments and different forms of technology facilitate this form of violence. This presentation examines the types of gendered violence facilitated by technologies, intersectional forms of technological-facilitated violence against women and measures and strategies used to address the serious problem.

Author

• Janice Joseph, Stockton University