Women Fight Back: Combatting Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (CIPE)

Arguments

Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) is a significant barrier to the social and economic opportunities of women, especially businesswomen and entrepreneurs

Supporting facts:

• A global study by The Economist found that 38% of women have personally experienced online violence, 65% reported knowing other women who had been targeted online

• 85% of women have witnessed digital violence against other women

Topics: gender-based violence, digital economy, women empowerment, TFGBV

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Women often do not realize when they are victims of digital gender violence

Supporting facts:

• 53% of women in a survey recognized themselves as victims, but 47% did not recognize digital violence and normalized the conduct

• Only 11% of these women reported the incidents within their organizations

Topics: Women’s Equity, Gender Violence, Digital Harassment

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Adam Sachs agrees with Liana Sargsyan that the issue of online violence and harassment needs to be systematically addressed and measured.

Supporting facts:

• About 30% of women entrepreneurs surveyed were unsure if reporting online violence would help or change anything.

• Many incidents of online harassment remain unreported due to lack of trust in the effectiveness of reporting.

• Fear of retaliation is also a reason women avoid reporting.

• Another 30% of surveyed women were uncertain if the online harassment they faced was serious, suggesting that such harassment is being normalized.

Topics: Online Violence, Women Entrepreneurs, Public Neglect, Systematic Solution

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Technology is a tool that can either exacerbate or help heal cultural and social issues

Supporting facts:

• Technology can exacerbate or heal cultural and social issues, including sexism and stereotyping

Topics: Technology, Cultural Issues, Social Issues

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The importance of a legal framework and regulation providing certainty.

Supporting facts:

• A supportive legal framework is absent in Armenia in addressing technology facilitated harms.

Topics: Law, Regulation, Certainty, Rights, Women rights

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Report

Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) is a significant barrier to the social and economic opportunities of women, especially businesswomen and entrepreneurs. A global study by The Economist found that 38% of women have personally experienced online violence, and 65% reported knowing other women who had been targeted online.

Additionally, 85% of women have witnessed digital violence against other women. This highlights the pervasive nature of TFGBV and the urgent need for action. The economic implications of TFGBV are concerning, with researchers estimating that online violence costs the global economy over two billion dollars in lost economic opportunity.

This reinforces the need to prioritise investments in women’s economic empowerment, which could lead to an additional 10 trillion dollars of economic growth by 2030. To address TFGBV, an inclusive policy environment should be fostered, supporting women business owners and entrepreneurs. Digital security and safety measures need to be promoted to protect women from online violence.

Collaboration between women’s business associations and civil society organisations is essential in combating TFGBV effectively. One challenge in addressing TFGBV is the lack of awareness among women regarding their victimisation. Many incidents go unreported due to a lack of trust in reporting mechanisms and fear of retaliation.

Creating a culture of trust and support is crucial to empower victims. Adam Sachs emphasises the need to address TFGBV systematically and advocates for regulatory measures. He also highlights the potential of technology to exacerbate or alleviate cultural and social issues.

It is worth noting that Armenia lacks a supportive legal framework to address technology-facilitated harms, underlining the importance of comprehensive policies and regulations. Uniting diverse voices through a coalition can further amplify efforts in raising awareness and finding solutions. In conclusion, TFGBV poses significant challenges to women’s social and economic opportunities.

Actions such as fostering an inclusive policy environment, promoting digital security, raising awareness, and enforcing regulations are needed to combat TFGBV effectively. Empowering women economically and using technology responsibly can create a more equal and inclusive digital world.

Arguments

Connected Women focuses on digital inclusion and digital upskilling for women, particularly in the AI industry

Supporting facts:

• Connected Women has a community of around 150,000 women

• During the pandemic, they shifted focus towards entry-level roles in AI such as data annotation and have trained over 1,000 women

Topics: Digital Inclusion, Artificial Intelligence, Upskilling

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The exponential increase in the usage of generative AI tools is unknowingly exposing a wide range of users to potential risks.

Supporting facts:

• Generative AI has become mainstream and is causing a big disruption.

• Many people are not aware of how these systems work and what they’re built on.

• People across various demographics and socio-economic backgrounds use these tools without fully understanding the implications or risks involved.

Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Digital Literacy, Online Safety

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There is a need for comprehensive education about the functionality, benefits and risks of AI tools.

Supporting facts:

• Gina’s community is launching a new program focused on generative AI, its benefits, and potential risks.

• She believes there’s a lack of data literacy among users and education is necessary to close this gap.

Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Digital Education

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The unawareness among users exposes them to risks of economic exploitation.

Supporting facts:

• Women or men might be asked to create and share explicit or sensitive content which might lead to their exploitation.

• Some might be exposed to disturbing content for moderation, without proper awareness or preparation.

Topics: Digital Exploitation, Online Safety, Generative AI

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Generative AI tools are being adopted rapidly but their understanding and usage among users, particularly women, is not comprehensive

Supporting facts:

• ChatGPT reached 100 million users quickly

• 55% of women in a webinar knew about Gen AI but have not used it

• Only 25% of those who knew about it were actually using it

Topics: Generative AI, Gender disparity, Technology Adoption

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Cultural intolerance of sexism and stereotyping needs to be addressed

Supporting facts:

• Even though younger generations in the Philippines are showing promising changes, sexism and stereotyping is still widely present in the society

Topics: Sexism, Stereotyping, Cultural norms

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Digital technologies play a crucial role in every facet of what we do

Topics: Digital Technologies, Role of Technology

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Lack of diversity, including gender and race, in the development and governance of technologies poses a societal risk

Topics: Diversity in Tech, Gender Equality, Racial Diversity

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Exclusion of women and minority communities from technology spaces has implications beyond economic loss

Topics: Gender Equality, Economic Impact, Societal Risk

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Gina Romero believes in the essentiality of diversity in company boards.

Supporting facts:

• The board under discussion presently composed of only white males.

• Few voices in the room pushing for more diversity.

Topics: Board Diversity, Corporate Governance

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Certain professions, like journalism, are more susceptible to technology-facilitated gender-based violence

Supporting facts:

• Mention of a prominent female journalist in the Philippines who was harassed during the 2016 elections due to perceived bias.

Topics: technology-facilitated gender-based violence, journalism

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Silencing women journalists can be detrimental to democracy

Supporting facts:

• Discussion of the impact of trying to silence a woman journalist during the 2016 Philippine elections.

Topics: democracy, journalism, women’s rights

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Report

The analysis of the provided statements highlights various issues related to gender equality and the impact of technology. Connected Women, an organization focusing on digital inclusion and upskilling for women in the AI industry, has trained over 1,000 women in entry-level roles such as data annotation.

Ethical treatment of digital micro-workers, data literacy, and the risks associated with generative AI tools are also important concerns. Comprehensive education about the functionality and risks of AI tools is needed, particularly for women. The lack of safety considerations and diverse representation in AI development raises concerns.

Users’ unawareness of data utilization in AI tools and cultural stereotypes need to be addressed. Men’s active opposition to sexism is encouraged. Lack of diversity in technology development and governance poses societal risks. Addressing these issues is crucial for promoting gender equality and creating an inclusive society in the face of technological advancements.

Arguments

Awareness and workforce training is crucial to combat Technology-Facilited Gender-Based Violence

Supporting facts:

• JMF and CIPE’s work focuses on supporting business women in Armenia via digital literacy and security skills training.

• Liana Sargsyan emphasized the significance of digital skills as a tool to perform better in the digital economy for economically disadvantaged women entrepreneurs from remote regions.

Topics: Digital Literacy, Online Harassment, Women entrepreneurs

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Digitalization of small and medium-sized enterprises is vital for their survival especially during crisis like COVID-19 pandemic

Supporting facts:

• JMF helped many small businesses to survive by shifting to online platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• After the pandemic, the importance of digitalization of SMEs is still crucial.

Topics: Digital transformation, COVID-19 impacts, SMEs

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Many women entrepreneurs in Armenia have been victims of online gender-based violence and sexual harassment

Supporting facts:

• An anonymous survey among over a hundred Armenian women entrepreneurs showed that around 19% have been targeted online in the workplace and almost 11% have witnessed other women being targeted.

• Around 6.2% reported being subjected to repeated technology-assisted harms in the workplace.

• These incidents caused harm, including mental and emotional distress, leaving them feeling unsafe and embarrassed.

Topics: Technology facilitated harms, Gender-based Violence, Online Harassment

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The prevalence of technology facilitated harms negatively impacts the economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs

Supporting facts:

• Many women reported losing their motivation, self-confidence and interest in their work, leading to the loss of economic opportunity.

• Women are becoming more cautious about their online interactions to mitigate risks.

Topics: Gender-based Violence, Economic Opportunity, Online Harassment

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There is a lack of public attention towards increasing cases of online violence

Supporting facts:

• Survey findings show most respondents say there is neglect by the public on the online violence issue

• Incidents remain unreported

• Around 30% respondents unsure if their reporting would help or things would change

Topics: Online violence, Public awareness

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Lack of systematic solution to address issue of online violence

Supporting facts:

• Stakeholders fail to address this issue with a systematic solution

• Lack of trust in the effectiveness of reporting

• Fear of retaliation

Topics: Online violence, Solution, Responding mechanism

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Not all forms of online harassment are taken seriously; some even perceived as normal

Supporting facts:

• Around 30% of women were uncertain whether certain behaviour was serious

• Many forms of online harassment are not taken seriously and perceived as normal

Topics: Online harassment, Perception, Normalization

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The legal framework in Armenia does not sufficiently address technology facilitated harms

Supporting facts:

• In Armenia, the legal framework is dominated

• There is no specific law that addresses technology facilitated harms

• No legal mechanism is in place to enforce and punish offenders

Topics: Armenia, Legal Framework, Technology Facilitated Harms

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Organizations should include gender diversity as an ongoing effort to educate both men and women.

Supporting facts:

• SAI has encouraged them as an organization to integrate this component into their work.

• A global and local strategy is needed.

• Certain things need to come from the top.

Topics: Gender Diversity, Organizational Culture

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Changing mindset and culture plays a crucial role in implementing gender diversity.

Supporting facts:

• Many issues come from the local mentality and culture.

• Changing minds is the first step towards change.

Topics: Cultural Values, Change Management

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Report

The analysis highlights several key points regarding the importance of digital literacy and online safety for women entrepreneurs in Armenia. The Genesian Memorial Foundation (JMF) and CIPE focus on supporting business women through digital skills training. Liana Sargsyan, from JMF, emphasises the significance of digital skills as a tool to perform better in the digital economy for economically disadvantaged women entrepreneurs from remote regions.

Despite efforts to empower women through digital literacy, it is revealed that many women in Armenia have experienced online gender-based violence and harassment. An anonymous survey among over a hundred Armenian women entrepreneurs showed that around 19% have been targeted online in the workplace, and almost 11% have witnessed other women being targeted.

Incidents of online harassment have caused harm, including mental and emotional distress, leaving women feeling unsafe and embarrassed. The prevalence of technology-facilitated harms negatively impacts the economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Many women reported losing their motivation, self-confidence, and interest in their work, leading to the loss of economic opportunity.

Women are becoming more cautious about their online interactions to mitigate risks. There is a lack of public attention towards increasing cases of online violence. Survey findings show that most respondents say there is neglect by the public on the issue of online violence.

Incidents often remain unreported, with around 30% of respondents unsure if reporting would help or bring about change. Stakeholders have failed to address this issue with a systematic solution, resulting in a lack of trust in the effectiveness of reporting and fear of retaliation.

The legal framework in Armenia does not sufficiently address technology-facilitated harms. There is no specific law that addresses this issue, and no legal mechanism is in place to enforce and punish offenders. As a result, women in Armenia do not report cases of technology-facilitated harms due to a lack of faith in the existing system.

Even when violations are reported, there is often no solution due to the lack of enforcement mechanisms. Organisations should include gender diversity as an ongoing effort to educate both men and women. The Strategicus Advisory Institute (SAI) encourages organisations to integrate gender diversity into their work, emphasising the need for a global and local strategy.

Changing mindset and culture play a crucial role in implementing gender diversity. The analysis concludes that awareness, training, and protection against technology-facilitated violence are crucial to empower women and foster their economic growth. Efforts to support women entrepreneurs in Armenia should focus on digital literacy and online safety.

Furthermore, there is a need for public attention, a systematic solution, and a stronger legal framework to address the issue of online gender-based violence. Finally, organisations should actively promote gender diversity and work towards changing cultural mentality to ensure equal opportunities for men and women.

Arguments

High incidence of digital gender violence among women in Columbia

Supporting facts:

• A survey conducted by the Observatory for Women’s Equity found that 53% of women recognize themselves as victims of digital violence

• Many women, 47%, do not even know that digital violence exists.

• 35% of women receive inappropriate sexual content on the internet

Topics: Digital Violence, Gender Violence, Businesswomen

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Digital tools can help women to balance reproductive work with productive work

Supporting facts:

• During the pandemic, digital tools were useful in allowing women in Colombia to work from home

Topics: Digital tools, Women, Work-life balance

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Women feel insecure in a digital environment

Supporting facts:

• A survey revealed that 80% of women in Colombia feel insecure in a digital environment

Topics: Women, Digital insecurity

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The issue of gender digital violence is challenging to measure

Supporting facts:

• Initiated with digital surveys but got low response

• Had to shift to telephonic surveys which cost more

• Telephonic surveys were followed up with focus groups and other qualitative strategies

Topics: gender digital violence, research methods

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Need to push regulation to combat gender violence

Supporting facts:

• Regulatory reforms in Colombia and Latin America have helped to name and understand violence, playing an important role in cultural transformation.

Topics: gender violence, regulations, laws

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Enterprises lack procedures and protocols to address gender digital violence

Supporting facts:

• Surveys show that women often don’t report incidents because their employers lack the necessary protocols or mechanisms.

Topics: corporate responsibility, gender digital violence

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Tech industry should play a vital role in combating digital gender violence

Supporting facts:

• Technology can act as an ally by sending alerts of risky conduct similar to those in the financial sector, hence needing a gender design of tech infrastructure.

Topics: tech industry, digital gender violence

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A broad alliance involving academia, stakeholders, policymakers, and private enterprises is needed to combat gender digital violence.

Supporting facts:

• Academia has a role in pushing for more women in STEAM and tech industry.

• Policymakers can push for regulatory and legal changes.

• Private enterprises can help transform cultural norms and build pedagogical tools to understand gender digital violence.

• Surveys can also serve as pedagogical tools, helping women to recognize and understand specific actions as digital violence.

Topics: Gender digital violence, Intersectionality, Coalition building, Policy change, Legal reform, Private sector involvement

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Importance of speaking up and increasing representation

Supporting facts:

• Lina emphasizes on the need to speak up

• Appreciates the space for multiple voices from different sectors

Topics: Representation, Diversity, Inclusion

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Report

A survey conducted by the Observatory for Women’s Equity in Colombia has revealed concerning statistics regarding digital gender violence. The survey found that 53% of women in Colombia identify themselves as victims of digital violence, including cyberbullying, harassment, and the non-consensual distribution of explicit content.

Shockingly, 47% of women surveyed were unaware of the existence of digital violence, indicating a lack of awareness and understanding of the issue. Additionally, the survey discovered that 35% of women in Colombia receive inappropriate sexual content online. This kind of digital violence not only invades women’s privacy but also contributes to the objectification and commodification of their bodies.

The high prevalence of digital gender violence has significant implications for women’s economic autonomy. Only 11% of female victims reported incidents of digital violence within their organizations. This lack of reporting often results in women blocking the aggressor or feeling inhibited in engaging with social networks within the economic environment.

Failing to address these incidents perpetuates a culture of silence and tolerance towards gender-based violence. Despite the challenges, digital tools have proven valuable resources for women in Colombia during the pandemic. These tools have allowed women to work from home and balance reproductive and productive work responsibilities.

However, the survey revealed that 80% of women feel insecure in the digital environment, highlighting the urgent need for secure and safe online spaces for women. Measuring gender digital violence is a complex undertaking, as evidenced by the difficulties encountered during the survey.

Initially, digital surveys were deployed, but the low response rate prompted a shift to more costly telephonic surveys, which achieved better engagement. Complementing the survey data, focus groups and other qualitative strategies were employed to gain deeper insights into the issue.

Regulatory reforms in Colombia and Latin America have played a critical role in naming and understanding gender-based violence, fostering cultural transformation. However, many enterprises lack the necessary protocols or mechanisms to address gender digital violence. This corporate responsibility gap often leads women to refrain from reporting incidents due to a lack of support and procedures.

The tech industry has the potential to be a key ally in combating digital gender violence. By designing tech infrastructure with a gender perspective, technology can detect and alert risky behavior, similar to systems used in the financial sector. This highlights the need for a gender-inclusive approach to tech design prioritizing women’s safety and well-being.

Effectively addressing gender digital violence requires the collective effort of diverse stakeholders. A broad alliance involving academia, policymakers, and private enterprises is necessary. Academia can promote more women in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) fields and the tech industry.

Policymakers can advocate for regulatory and legal changes that protect women’s rights and hold perpetrators accountable. Private enterprises can transform cultural norms and develop pedagogical tools for raising awareness and understanding of gender digital violence. It is vital to recognize that gender digital violence is not only a violence issue but also an economic issue.

It undermines women’s economic autonomy, pushing them out of economic opportunities and perpetuating inequalities. Therefore, addressing this issue is crucial for achieving gender equality and promoting decent work and economic growth. Increasing representation and diversity are important steps in combating gender digital violence.

By creating spaces for multiple voices and perspectives, we can ensure women’s experiences are heard and accounted for. This inclusivity can lead to more effective policies and interventions addressing the specific challenges faced by women in the digital world. In conclusion, the survey conducted in Colombia highlights the prevalence of digital gender violence and its detrimental impact on women’s lives.

Urgent action is needed to create secure and safe online spaces, develop protocols and procedures within organizations to address gender digital violence, and promote a gender-inclusive approach to tech design. Building alliances among academia, policymakers, and the private sector is crucial to effectively combat gender digital violence and promote gender equality.

Arguments

There’s an increasing number of women in decision-making positions in the tech sector in Georgia

Supporting facts:

• The number of women in tech in Georgia was significantly lower 5-10 years ago

• Women are now in executive level and decision making positions in tech in Georgia

Topics: gender equality, technology sector, leadership

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Technological solutions can be biased by gender-based assumptions

Supporting facts:

• She mentions the topic of artificial intelligence and gender-based assumptions

Topics: Bias in technology, Gender-based assumptions, Artificial Intelligence

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Positive impact of tech-related education targeting women

Supporting facts:

• Education for women, specifically related to technology, being provided for free

• Year over year, representation of women in the workforce has been influenced positively by education

Topics: Education, Gender equality, Women empowerment

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Active discussion on cybersecurity in Georgia

Supporting facts:

• Leaving footprint in a lot of organizations like financials, insurance companies

Topics: Cybersecurity, data management, data governance

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Data mismanagement in organizations makes people vulnerable

Supporting facts:

• If data is not managed and governed properly, anyone can get access to it

Topics: Data protection, vulnerability

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Lack of knowledge and literacy about data protection and risks

Supporting facts:

• People don’t pay much attention to disclosing more data to companies which becomes a risk

Topics: Literacy, data protection, risks

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Tech tools and AI models, largely designed by men, can reflect gender bias.

Supporting facts:

• Most tech tools and AI models are designed by men.

• Gender bias can be propagated by tech tools and AI models if the input data reflects such bias.

Topics: gender bias, AI, technology

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Women need to be involved in designing and using tech tools.

Supporting facts:

• CTO of OpenAI, Mira Murati, a woman who is breaking the stereotypes.

• When women are contributing in a positive way, it influences society in a positive way.

Topics: women in technology, gender equality

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Education and role models key to encouraging more women in tech.

Supporting facts:

• Nino Gvazava’s student girls were influenced to pursue a career in tech by her speeches and articles.

• Women getting inspiration from successful women figures.

Topics: education, women in tech, role models

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Men need to equally contribute at home to allow women more time to invest in business and economical activities

Supporting facts:

• Research in Georgia shows that men spend five times less effort on family work and childcare than women do.

• This inequitable division of labor results in women having significantly less time to devote to their careers and businesses.

Topics: Contributions at Home, Female Empowerment, Work-Life Balance

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Technology can be a real equalizer, especially for women.

Supporting facts:

• Technologies allow for work from home and flexible work schedules, which are particularly beneficial for women.

• However, proper awareness and knowledge about these technologies are required.

Topics: Work from Home, Technologies, Agile Working Hours

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Technology brings both opportunities and risks to society.

Topics: Technology, Society, Risks

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Platforms like these provide the opportunity to discuss and tackle risks.

Topics: Discussion Platforms, Risk Management

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Progress is being made towards gender equality.

Topics: Gender Equality

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Report

Upon analysing the provided statements, several noteworthy observations emerge regarding the increasing presence of women in decision-making positions in the tech sector in Georgia. This positive trend reflects a significant shift from the low representation of women in tech observed 5 to 10 years ago.

The current landscape now sees women occupying executive-level roles and actively contributing to the transformation of Georgian enterprises into tech-driven entities. The positive impact of tech-related education targeting women is emphasised as a catalyst for increasing representation in the workforce.

Free education, specifically focused on technology for women, has led to a year-on-year improvement in the representation of women in tech careers. The accessibility of such education has been instrumental in empowering women to pursue careers in the sector. However, concerns are raised about potential gender bias in technology, particularly in relation to artificial intelligence (AI) and gender-based assumptions.

It is highlighted that tech tools and AI models, predominantly designed by men, can unintentionally perpetuate gender bias if the input data reflects such biases. This issue underscores the need for diversity and inclusivity in the design and development of tech solutions.

Active discussions surrounding cybersecurity and data protection in Georgia are also evident. The focus is on the proper management and governance of data to safeguard against vulnerability. It is asserted that if data is not managed and governed appropriately, anyone can gain access to it, posing risks to individuals and organizations alike.

The analysis also reveals a concerning lack of knowledge and literacy about data protection and risks. The general public is not paying adequate attention to the disclosure of personal data to companies, leading to increased vulnerabilities. Addressing this issue requires greater awareness and education about data protection to mitigate the risks associated with data mismanagement.

On a broader level, it is argued that women must be actively involved in both the design and use of technology. It is highlighted that when women contribute in a positive way to the development and use of tech tools, society benefits as a whole.

Education and the presence of role models are identified as critical factors in encouraging more women to enter the tech industry. Furthermore, the issue of financial equality for women, particularly concerning heritage, is addressed. It is revealed that in Georgia, only 25% of women receive heritage from their parents, while all men do.

This disparity limits women’s opportunities for entrepreneurship and business activities. It is noted that financial equality is a crucial component of gender equality. The analysis also sheds light on the unequal division of family responsibilities between men and women. Research conducted in Georgia indicates that men spend significantly less effort on family work and childcare compared to women.

This imbalance leads to women having less time available for their careers and businesses. To address this, there is a call for men to equally contribute at home, allowing women more time to invest in business and economic activities. Technology is recognized as a potential equalizer, particularly for women, as it enables work from home and flexible schedules.

However, it is acknowledged that proper awareness and knowledge about these technologies are necessary to fully harness their benefits. In conclusion, progress has been made towards gender equality in the tech sector in Georgia, with an increase in women holding decision-making positions.

However, ongoing efforts are needed to address potential risks and biases associated with technology. Platforms for discussion and risk management are deemed essential in tackling these challenges and ensuring that the benefits of technology are inclusive and accessible to all.