The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

Online abuse against women is rife, but some women suffer more – and we need to step up for them

  • Written by Hannah Klose, Teaching Associate/PhD Candidate, Monash University
Online abuse against women is rife, but some women suffer more – and we need to step up for them

Women online suffer a disproportionate amount of harm and abuse, but it isn’t all based on their gender. This “cyber violence” is also shaped by a range of other intersecting[1] factors[2] such as race, religion, class, caste and disability.

Our ongoing research involves collecting case studies from both India[3] and Australia to understand how various marginalised identities can impact young women’s experiences of online violence, and how social media companies – including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – aren’t doing enough to stop it.

India is a rich case study for this research, as it’s a country where women have many different expressions of identity in large numbers – and where there remains a lot of racial, religious and social tension across society.

However, although Australia and India have significantly different cultures, women in both countries fall victim to online[4] crimes[5], including cyber stalking and cyber harassment. And those with marginalised identities have to deal with more more stigma and targeting.

What’s worse is platform content moderators are failing to recognise this cyber violence – often because they don’t understand the nuance and contexts in which[6] stigmas operate.

What is cyber violence?

Cyber violence[7] can be understood as harm and abuse facilitated by digital and technological means.

In 2019, there was a 63.5% increase[8] in the number of cyber violence cases being reported in India, compared to 2018. There has since been a further rise in cases against women from marginalised communities, including Muslim and Dalit women.

One prominent example is the “Bulli Bai[9]app[10], which turned up on GitHub in July last year. The app developers used the images of some 100 Muslim women[11] without their permission, to put them up “for sale” in a fake auction. The purpose was to denigrate and humiliate Muslim women in particular.

This is mirrored in Australia. Young Indigenous women are susceptible to being on the receiving end of cyber violence which not only targets them by gender, but also race.

A 2021 research report by eSafety[12] found Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women felt victimised by racist and threatening comments made online, usually in public Facebook groups. They also reported feeling unsafe and having their mental health significantly impacted.

Another example comes from New South Wales Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi[13], who has received extremely[14] high[15] levels of online abuse as Australia’s first female Muslim senator. Speaking on behalf of women from marginalised backgrounds, Faruqi said[16]:

It is based on where I come from, what I look like, my religion.

Young women with marginalised identities

Research[17] on cyber violence against women in India reveals how hatred towards certain religions, races and sexual orientations can make gender-based violence even more harmful.

When women express their opinions or post pictures online, they are targeted based on their marginalised identities. For instance, Kiruba Munusamy, an advocate practising in the Supreme Court of India, received racist and caste-based slurs[18] for speaking out about sexual violence online.

And women with marginalised identities continue be victimised online[19], despite attempts to control this.

Read more: A better way to regulate online hate speech: require social media companies to bear a duty of care to users[20]

Take Australia’s “Safety by Design” framework[21], developed by the eSafety commissioner. Despite having some gathered traction in the past few years, it remains a “voluntary” code that encourages technology companies to prevent online harm through product design.

In India, hate speech against Muslims in particular has been on the rise[22]. India has laws (albeit flawed) that[23] can be used to deal with online abuse, but better implementation is needed.

With a Hindu majority, and radicalisation, it can be difficult to report incidents. Victims are concerned about safety and secondary victimisation, wherein they may face further abuse as a result of reporting a crime.

Read more: Why Modi's India has become a dangerous place for Muslims[24]

It’s hard to know the exact amount of cyber violence perpetrated against women with marginalised identities. Yet it’s clear these identities are linked to the amount of, and type of, abuse women face online[25].

One study by Amnesty International found[26] Indian Muslim women politicians faced 94.1% more ethnic or religious slurs than women politicians of other religions, and women from marginalised castes received 59% more caste-based slurs than women from more general castes.

We’ve long understood the need for an intersectional approach to feminism. We now need the same approach to protecting women’s safety online. Shutterstock

Recognition in platform design

Five years ago, Amnesty International submitted a report[27] to the United Nations highlighting the need for moderators to be trained in identifying gender-related and identity-related abuse on platforms.

Similarly, in 2019 Equality Labs in India[28] published an advocacy report discussing how Facebook failed to protect people from marginalised Indian communities[29]. This is despite Facebook having caste, religion and gender as “protected” categories under hate speech guidelines.

Yet in 2022 social media companies and moderators still need to do more to approach cyber violence[30] through an intersectional lens. While platforms have country-specific moderation teams, moderators will often lack cultural competency and literacy on matters of caste, religion, sexuality, disability and race. There could be various reasons for this, including a lack of diversity among staff and contractors[31].

In a 2020 report by Mint[32], one moderator working for Facebook India said she’s expected to achieve an accuracy report of 85% minimum to keep her job. In practise, this means she can’t spend more than 4.5 seconds on content being reviewed. Such structural issues can also contribute to the problem.

The way forward

In March 2022, the eSafety Commission in Australia[33] joined a global partnership[34] to end cyber violence against women. But a great deal of work still needs to be done.

Content moderation can be complex, and requires collective expertise from communities and advocates[35]. One way forward is to enforce transparency, accountability and resource allocation to build solutions within social media companies.

In November last year, the Australian government released the draft of a bill[36] aimed at holding social media companies accountable for content posted on their platforms, and protecting people from trolls.

It’s anticipated these regulations will ensure platforms are held responsible for harmful content that affects users.

Read more: Leigh Sales showed us the abuse women cop online. When are we going to stop tolerating misogyny?[37]

References

  1. ^ intersecting (www.amnesty.org)
  2. ^ factors (oxfamilibrary.openrepository.com)
  3. ^ India (journals.sagepub.com)
  4. ^ online (www.theguardian.com)
  5. ^ crimes (www.coe.int)
  6. ^ nuance and contexts in which (journals.sagepub.com)
  7. ^ Cyber violence (eige.europa.eu)
  8. ^ 63.5% increase (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
  9. ^ Bulli Bai (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
  10. ^ app (www.bbc.com)
  11. ^ 100 Muslim women (www.ibtimes.com.au)
  12. ^ research report by eSafety (www.esafety.gov.au)
  13. ^ Mehreen Faruqi (www.abc.net.au)
  14. ^ extremely (www.sbs.com.au)
  15. ^ high (www.theguardian.com)
  16. ^ said (digitallibrary.un.org)
  17. ^ Research (journals.sagepub.com)
  18. ^ racist and caste-based slurs (genderit.org)
  19. ^ online (link.springer.com)
  20. ^ A better way to regulate online hate speech: require social media companies to bear a duty of care to users (theconversation.com)
  21. ^ “Safety by Design” framework (www.esafety.gov.au)
  22. ^ on the rise (thediplomat.com)
  23. ^ laws (albeit flawed) that (www.aljazeera.com)
  24. ^ Why Modi's India has become a dangerous place for Muslims (theconversation.com)
  25. ^ women face online (www.europarl.europa.eu)
  26. ^ found (www.amnestyusa.org)
  27. ^ report (www.ohchr.org)
  28. ^ Equality Labs in India (static1.squarespace.com)
  29. ^ communities (www.hup.harvard.edu)
  30. ^ approach cyber violence (dl.acm.org)
  31. ^ lack of diversity among staff and contractors (www.equalitylabs.org)
  32. ^ Mint (www.livemint.com)
  33. ^ eSafety Commission in Australia (www.esafety.gov.au)
  34. ^ global partnership (www.state.gov)
  35. ^ communities and advocates (unidir.org)
  36. ^ the draft of a bill (www.ag.gov.au)
  37. ^ Leigh Sales showed us the abuse women cop online. When are we going to stop tolerating misogyny? (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/online-abuse-against-women-is-rife-but-some-women-suffer-more-and-we-need-to-step-up-for-them-183646

The Times Features

Australian businesses face uncertainty under new wage theft laws

As Australian businesses brace for the impact of new wage theft laws under The Closing Loopholes Acts, data from Yellow Canary, Australia’s leading payroll audit and compliance p...

Why Staying Safe at Home Is Easier Than You Think

Staying safe at home doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Many people think creating a secure living space is expensive or time-consuming, but that’s far from the truth. By focu...

Lauren’s Journey to a Healthier Life: How Being a Busy Mum and Supportive Wife Helped Her To Lose 51kg with The Lady Shake

For Lauren, the road to better health began with a small and simple but significant decision. As a busy wife and mother, she noticed her husband skipping breakfast and decided ...

How to Manage Debt During Retirement in Australia: Best Practices for Minimising Interest Payments

Managing debt during retirement is a critical step towards ensuring financial stability and peace of mind. Retirees in Australia face unique challenges, such as fixed income st...

hMPV may be spreading in China. Here’s what to know about this virus – and why it’s not cause for alarm

Five years on from the first news of COVID, recent reports[1] of an obscure respiratory virus in China may understandably raise concerns. Chinese authorities first issued warn...

Black Rock is a popular beachside suburb

Black Rock is indeed a popular beachside suburb, located in the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It’s known for its stunning beaches, particularly Half M...

Times Magazine

Lessons from the Past: Historical Maritime Disasters and Their Influence on Modern Safety Regulations

Maritime history is filled with tales of bravery, innovation, and, unfortunately, tragedy. These historical disasters serve as stark reminders of the challenges posed by the seas and have driven significant advancements in maritime safety regulat...

What workers really think about workplace AI assistants

Imagine starting your workday with an AI assistant that not only helps you write emails[1] but also tracks your productivity[2], suggests breathing exercises[3], monitors your mood and stress levels[4] and summarises meetings[5]. This is not a f...

Aussies, Clear Out Old Phones –Turn Them into Cash Now!

Still, holding onto that old phone in your drawer? You’re not alone. Upgrading to the latest iPhone is exciting, but figuring out what to do with the old one can be a hassle. The good news? Your old iPhone isn’t just sitting there it’s potential ca...

Rain or Shine: Why Promotional Umbrellas Are a Must-Have for Aussie Brands

In Australia, where the weather can swing from scorching sun to sudden downpours, promotional umbrellas are more than just handy—they’re marketing gold. We specialise in providing wholesale custom umbrellas that combine function with branding power. ...

Why Should WACE Students Get a Tutor?

The Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) is completed by thousands of students in West Australia every year. Each year, the pressure increases for students to perform. Student anxiety is at an all time high so students are seeking suppo...

What Are the Risks of Hiring a Private Investigator

I’m a private investigator based in Melbourne, Australia. Being a Melbourne Pi always brings interesting clients throughout Melbourne. Many of these clients always ask me what the risks are of hiring a private investigator.  Legal Risks One of the ...

LayBy Shopping