Though information and communication technologies (ICTs) broaden our reach, with its evolution emerges the monster that is technology facilitated gender-based violence.
- Technology Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) plagues youth in the digital age.
- Lack of education, adequate law enforcement, and ability to identify the cyber abuse allows the problem to persist.
- The Wits Gender Equity Office works separately from government, allowing for increased reporting of abuse by student.
In a move to increase awareness about TFGBV, Wits students have joined the youth-led initiative, SafeDigitalVoices, to combat the persistence of cyber-stalking, non-consensual image sharing, and online harassment, in the digital age.
TFGBV is a term which addresses the problem of abuse, exploitation, and harassment through digital platforms, including dating apps and social media. As it is a relatively new concept, but an important one at that, education on TFGBV is minimal and as a result, many do not know how to identify it.
It is important to know the “difference between a joke and being violated,” said Dr. Aretha Asakitikpi, coordinator of the SafeDigitalVoices TFGBV course. She explained that TFGBV is ‘internalised’, describing that it has become normalised in popular culture.
Jazz Selektor and SafeDigitalVoices member, Buntu, spoke to Wits Vuvuzela about her experience. “I experienced it a lot during 2017 and ‘18 because of the way that my boobs look. I went through so much backlash on social media which led me to deactivating my Facebook account,” she said.
This brings to light the problem of reporting TFGBV and the consequent challenges of law enforcement. Dr. Asakitikpi says that, “law enforcement understand the physical,” but not the intangible. Cyber bullying cannot be seen or touched.
Many of these cases go unreported. According to Dr. Asakitikpi, this is because youth don’t often tell elders, such as their parents or the authorities, due to fear of being shamed, misunderstood, and even ignored.
“Technology is growing faster than our laws,” Asakitikpi said. She described a case she came across during her research in which a respondent reported being stalked online and was met with negligence due to lack of training on the new age beast.
“They didn’t know what to do,” she explained.
Wits Vuvuzela spoke to Bhekamndeni Mkwanazi, a staff member at the Wits Gender Equity Office (GEO), who argued that the GEO is more effective than government law enforcement because they “use an inquisitorial approach, we ensure that we keep the complainant safer and also the respondent,” explaining a belief in restorative justice rather than solely punishment.
“We conscientise them, so whenever they do come back to the university, they’re better people than what they were,” he said.
Identifying and reporting TFGBV is extremely important, not only to protect the subject of the harm, but to hold perpetrators accountable, working toward combatting online norms that are causing or perpetuating harmful behaviours.
To report TFGBV cases you can email them at: info.geo@wits.ac.za, or call the crisis hotline: 0800 111 331. They are also available on Facebook: witsgeo and X: @WitsGEO.
FEATURED IMAGE: Image of the TFGBV awareness team, working with SafeDigitalVoices. Photo: Dipalesa Letuka.
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