New Study Reveals Grim Reality of Online GBV Against African Women
GenderIT, in collaboration with several African organizations, has published a groundbreaking study titled 'Alternate Realities, Alternate Internets'. This research explores African women's experiences with the internet and online gender-based violence (GBV), revealing a grim reality that impacts their mental health and digital lives.
The study, the first of its kind, interviewed over 3,000 women from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, and South Africa. It found that 28 percent had experienced online harassment, with 41 percent attributing it to their gender. Navigating the internet as a woman in Africa can be stressful and dangerous due to online GBV.
This violence takes a significant toll on women's mental health, causing depression, anxiety, and fear that extends offline. Many women delete or deactivate their accounts or stop using digital services after experiencing online violence. However, existing laws and authorities often fail to protect them, with cases rarely reaching court and victims facing trivialization and blame.
Facebook was the primary platform where online harassment occurred, accounting for 71 percent of incidents. Yet, 95 percent of women were unaware of protective policies and laws. The study also highlights the potential of cyberfeminism in critiquing and recreating the internet, centering women as protagonists in technology-dominated Afrofutures.
The 'Alternate Realities, Alternate Internets' study underscores the urgent need for action to address online GBV against African women. Recommendations include adapting digital security resources to local contexts, training law enforcement, and adopting data protection laws. By doing so, we can create a safer digital space for women across Africa.
