Women and the Digital Space Review Essay

The realm of women-related issues has broadened with the onset of digitalization. In a predominantly patriarchal world, women venturing into digital spaces have open up doorways for new opportunities as well as several pushbacks for them as individuals or as a part of community. For this review, the three scholarly articles taken under the microscope take up a feminist study revolving around the participation of women in digital spaces for recreational, educational, professional, entrepreneurial, or activism purposes. A complete reading of the three equips one with foundational knowledge on offshoots of the subject of ‘women’s engagement on digital spaces’- the female experience on social media. One talks about the negligence of women’s side of the story in India’s ambitious digitization mission; the other unravels the much-neglected concern of Online Violence against Women (OVAW) world over; and final one attempts to analyse the potential social media has to bridge gender divide. The findings of these articles may be significant insights for national and international policy formulations, as well as a stepping stone for further study in this arena.

1. Unpacking Digital India: A Feminist Commentary on Policy Agendas in the Digital Moment

Gurumurthy, A., Chami, N., & Thomas, S. (2016). Unpacking Digital India: A Feminist Commentary on Policy Agendas in the Digital Moment. Journal of Information Policy

This article claims that gender related discourse takes up negligible space in the on-going national digitalization process. This scheme is devised to cater to the hyper masculine capitalist forces, almost negating the concerns or even discussions over women’s issues. It basically alludes to the fact that feminist agendas and the digital developments become antithetical to one another. Speaking of India’s Digitalization project, the writers point out it sticks to the neoliberal market oriented thought and makes no reference to women’s rights and empowerment issues. It governance prescribes market as the final solution and the way to secure welfare for all. By doing so it only reinforces the homogenizing idea of a nation, which has been the agenda of the ruling party. By silencing any dissenting voice that threatens the existing patriarchal order, it reflects the intention to adhere to the archaic patriarchy. The article breaks down statements of the current PM Modi on his political ideas of digital development, which ultimately, the article suggests, doesn’t not consider women as significant political and economic agents. It claims that most women welfare campaigns undertaken by the government, does not aim at fundamental transformation of the society, but serves to incorporate woman in the existing highly patriarchal social order. The writers call it as “authoritarian protectionism” which is a commonly occurring phenomenon is populist regimes. Simply put, the government has for the most part been ignorant about woman’s issues expect for the social media campaign #SelfieWithDaughter or the instance of PM expressing concern about India’s skewed gender ratio. The many entrepreneurial initiatives taken up by the government that aim improving the economic potential of India through skill development and digital literacy (such as Start up India, Stand up India, Skill India Mission and National Digital Literacy Mission) also targets the Indian housewife demographic but according to the article, are basically gender agnostic lacking focus on equipping women with the skills that enhance their participation in the digital economy. Additionally, the constant non-inclusion of marginal women is apparent in all of these initiatives. In conclusion, the article summates the idea that digital revolution in India reeks of a desire to reserve a seat in global markets which is inherently masculinist and neoliberal in nature. It is non-inclusive, insincere and ignorant in giving women platform and agency.

1. ONLINE MISOGYNY: A CHALLENGE FOR DIGITAL FEMINISM? 

Barker, K., & Jurasz, O. (2019). ONLINE MISOGYNY: A CHALLENGE FOR DIGITAL FEMINISM? Journal of International Affairs, 72(2), 95-114.

This article expresses apprehension stemming from the alarming levels of gender-based hate and backlash that women from all walks of life receive on the internet. With a resolve to seek immediate attention to Online Violence against Women (OVAW), the article is an educative piece and a cogent call-for-action. The writers make it clear that misogyny is not because of the internet rather, the social reality of deep-rooted misogyny has penetrated the digital spaces. Social media has been a portal of activism, political campaigns, debates and exchange of ideas. Most feminist movements (#TimesUp, #MeToo) are driven primarily by and on the internet, so much so, that the 4^th wave of feminism is essentially ‘digital feminism’. Subsequently, it attracts a sea of anti-feminist hate messages, threats and backlash as an attempt to shut down the voices of women. This highlights the great paradox of the internet- which aims at equality but has become means to re-enforce control over opinions, thoughts, and actions of women, being congruous to the patriarchal nature of the global society. This article presents an account of occurrences of Online Violence Against Women in Politics (OVAWP) that imply that women leaders are more likely to receive online backlash owing to their gender. This backlash amplifies if the woman comes from a minority or underprivileged community. They also point out how hollow is the argument of ‘freedom of speech’ which is usually used to excuse cases of OVAW. This implies the precedence of one democratic value over the other. The writers speak of incidents that prove that what might seem like a harmless barrage of abuse and threats through a screen might even turn into offline harm.  Moreover, much like reports of violence against women, OVAW is often disbelieved and discredited. It is also pointed out that the cases of online misogyny are downplayed by categorizing them as trivial banter, and not what it truly is- “the price women pay for online participation”. It also mentions the various courses of action that ought to be taken against Online Violence against Women (OVAW), the stepping stone of which is recognition that there is a pressing problem. This should be followed by the formulation of laws, policies and platform responsibilities that directly curb this issue, by state, regional as well as international actors.  If legal provisions already exist, they should be acted upon by alacrity. This article also calls out the mighty internet companies for being aloof and unbothered about the ordeals women face on their platforms, given their lazy and lenient regulations. The writers urge the international community to take steps to reduce their global hegemony of these “Internet giants”. The article also criticizes NGOs for their frivolous campaigns and general lack of action in this regard. It recommends that co-ordinated engagement between empirical researchers, NGOs, policymakers, giant internet companies and the masses take place to successfully reduce gender-based online abuse. The article opens a gateway to more discussions and awareness on the multifaceted nature of tribulations women go through, and in a digitalized world, online misogyny seems to add another facet to it.

2. Social Media and Women: A Critical Evaluation of the Behavioural Disconnect

Ravi, B. K. (2014). Social Media and Women: A Critical Evaluation of the Behavioural Disconnect. Academic Research International, 5(2), 358.

Through this study, the writer intends to critically evaluate the potential of social media to cause social developments with a specific focus on gender. He inquires if the development in technology (in this case social media) implies the development of women in society as well. He begins by providing the reader with a hint about the gender dynamics in Indian society which throughout its origin has situated men at a higher position. A diverse multilingual nation is stratified by caste, creed and religion, however, with the commonality of women’s oppression apparent in almost every stratum. He calls for a multidisciplinary approach to studying gender equity and women’s issues in India. He writes a section on the repressive practice of devadasi accompanied by a case study from Karnataka regarding the plight of a tribal clan as a consequence of globalisation and erroneous laws.   Further, he discusses at length the other dimension of the study- media. Since forms of media keep adding up due to advancing technology and people’s need, the newest form is social media. Addressing the question of what media type is better, the author says that newer forms of mass media emerge to make up for the shortcoming of the pre-existing ones. Hence, all mass media are appropriate contextually, and one should rather focus on promoting technological pluralism. He makes a crucial observation about the difference between New Media and Old Media in a manner in which the former has become an inseparable part of people’s, especially the younger generation’s daily life and the latter was strictly for information transfer purposes. To understand Social media, the writer prescribes two approaches. First, the bottom-Up viewpoint looks at social media as an interface between the media and the complex and diverse Indian society. Second, the top-bottom approach defines social media as interactive media with people’s direct, unmediated participation. He claims that SNS- Social networking services- can at the peak of its ability, form opinions. It may aid social change but cannot single-handedly drive it. The writer provides an account of the several instances of injustice a women faces, in a traditional Indian household as a wife or girl child, in the workplace, in education. He also briefly discusses the limited and often objectified representation in mainstream cinema and media. He makes certain observations, for example- how the husband’s voting preferences shape the wife’s, or how the feminine characteristic of affection and empathy is usually used against her. It attempts to make sense of the current surge of social media, the eventual blurring of boundaries between real and virtual,  the shifting  centres of public discourse from the offline to the online world, and the corresponding opportunities and threats it poses to the women users.

3. Voices from digital spaces: Technology related violence against women. 

Fascendini, F., & Fialová, K. (2011). Voices from digital spaces: Technology related violence against women. Association for Progressive Communications (APC).

The paper delves into the consequences of the interconnections between ICT and Violence against Women (VAW), that is, the aggressions against women through mobile phones and internet. In addition to lack of legal and political framework, lesser number of women activist groups focusing on this issue are the major concern. It showcases the increasing cases of online violence against women, and the dire lack of awareness that most of these cases go unrecognized and the abusers scot free.  It underlines the need for the better formulation and implementation of rights-based policies that protect women’s rights in technology related VAW. The article explores the findings gathered of Millennium Development Goal 3 (MDG3): Take Back the Tech! Project implemented by the Women´s Programme of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC WNSP) between 2009 and 2011. It also makes use of relevant international documents, conventions and treaties, and research studies on VAW and ICTs. It also studies pre-existing laws related to ICT and VAW world-over (child pornography laws, privacy protection laws,  Anti-violence against women laws)  to look for the shortcomings and space for innovation. The article urges state, organizations, and private companies with stakes in the online forum to formulate and enact holistic legislative approach in this regard- with focus on empowerment rather than protection. This involves steps like prevention, strong advocacy, data collection and evidence building, incorporating complain mechanisms, awareness and digital literacy amongst women users, etc. While ICT provides women with opportunities, it also comes with a backlog of threats based on gender discrimination and social hierarchy. The article holds accountable technical infrastructure, connection costs, location of public access points, poverty, ethnicity, region, geographic location, education and computer literacy, gender-based cultural attitudes for the rampant violence against women further perpetuated by digitalization.

Anvesha Pandey

Intern, Asia in Global Affairs