Women's Views on News |
- Digital Women UK is one year old
- March for abortion rights in Ireland
- Rise in stalking prosecutions
- Girlguiding says #GirlsMatter
| Digital Women UK is one year old Posted: 25 Sep 2014 06:25 AM PDT
By Julie Tomlin, co-founder of Digital Women UK. A recent survey prompted headlines claiming that men are more likely to be harassed online than women, and gave rise to claims that women were wrong to think that they are abused online because they are women. But this survey was carried out by among celebrities, politicians, journalists and musicians. Does it really contradict what #Gamergate and the threats against gamer blogger Anita Sarkeesian – which forced her to leave her home in the USA – and the rise of so-called revenge porn seem to suggest, that gender plays a key part in the ways that women are being targeted on social media? Carried out by think tank Demos, the survey shows that 2.54 per cent of the tweets containing the @ username of male public figures contained abuse, compared to 0.95 per cent of the tweets received by prominent women. It should come as no surprise, however that that Piers Morgan and Ricky Gervais and Katie Hopkins – all of whom appear to thrive on controversy – were the main targets of insults. Contained in the Demos survey there are some hints as to the nature of online harassment and how it impacts women. Men, for instance, are most likely to be abusive online – they were responsible for 86.49 per cent of abusive tweets sent to men, and 60.42 per cent of those sent to women. Furthermore, female journalists and TV news presenters received roughly three times as much abuse as their male counterparts, suggesting that women who engage in ‘non traditional’ spheres, along with those who challenge sexism, are more likely to be attacked. The issue of online abuse has been on Digital Women UK's radar since we launched one year ago to facilitate female creative practitioners to fully engage with social media, raise their profile, showcase their work and reach their target audiences, and provide training and campaigns for more inclusion online. Digital Women UK’s Digital Confidence Survey showed that 14 per cent of women who took part said they had been abused – and 60 per cent took action to deal with it. What our snapshot didn't show, and what we hope to look at next, is the extent to which sexism, and racism, plays a part in this abuse. Sexism is an aspect of so-called trolling that often gets overlooked in generalised discussions about online incivility that tend to focus on the social inadequacies of the trolls. Academic, novelist and social media campaigner Sunny Singh, who will be discussing practical strategies for Digital Women UK's first anniversary event, says her experiences indicate that the issue has little to do with social habits, politeness and good manners, and is more to do with who is accepted as an authority figure with valuable and valid opinions. Singh, who deliberately uses a Twitter avatar that is non gender specific, said that often people assume she is a man and are very respectful and approving on her comments on politics. "But the moment that I say I’m a woman, the tone changes – the gender bias is very obvious," she said. "As long as, in an Indian context, you are a man, or in an international, or western case, a white man, you have the authority to talk about serious things. "You can have a conversation about finance, or politics or the military, etc, but the moment you are seen as a figure not deserving of authority, because of your biology, you can't." Jessica Megarry, an academic now based in Australia, analysed the #mencallmethings hashtag, which was created in late 2011, and the examples of online harassment that female Twitter users received from men. Making a distinction between sexual harassment and general incivility or abuse is vital, she said. "The language we use to describe certain behaviours carries a lot of political weight, and we therefore need to be very careful in regards to terminology. "Women have never been equal in the workplace or in the public sphere, and indeed the internet also emerged from the traditionally male dominated institutions of the military and academia," she said. "Yet when we talk about these issues there is a tendency to assume that we are starting from a level playing field where every voice is given equal weight." Singh is also concerned at how the role race plays also is not widely acknowledged. "The silence of the mainstream media on this topic only exacerbates the isolation women of colour often feel online, especially when experiencing abuse," she said. In her presentation, she intends to "assert women of colour as a significant, productive and important presence on social media." Singh will be sharing strategies and practical steps on how to cope with online abuse and trolling, many of which she learnt during the Arab uprisings of 2011, particularly following the intervention of a group of women who acted as mentors, advising her and helping her draw on a network of trusted friends to fight back against the trolls. In a recent Twitter discussion hosted by Digital Women UK about trolling and sexism, Sunny said that she would reach out to those she saw coming under attack. Such collaborations are necessary if women are not only to use social media, but influence it and speak without fear of threat or harassment. We hope that our anniversary event – Get Connected: Digital Women UK Turns One – will provide women with useful tools and tips for combatting sexual harassment as well as provide space for them to connect and begin to form effective partnerships and ensure that their presence, voices and strengths on social media are maximised in the future. To see the programme, click here. ‘Get Connected: Digital Women UK Turns One’ is at Lift Islington, 45 White Lion Street, London N1 9PW, on 30 September 2014 from 9.30am to 6pm. Tickets are still available and there are concessions and group discounts. To find out more about the event and how to book your tickets, visit us here; you can also call us on 020 3176 5646 or email us for info.  |
| March for abortion rights in Ireland Posted: 25 Sep 2014 04:24 AM PDT
Dublin city centre is set to rumble to the sound of hundreds of wheelie suitcases on 27 September during the 3rd annual March for Choice, as campaigners bring their hand-luggage to the streets to symbolise the thousands of women forced to leave Ireland for abortions each year. Saturday's march, which marks International Decriminalisation of Abortion Day and coincides with events around the world, is organised by the Abortion Rights Campaign (ARC), which is demanding free, safe and legal abortion in Ireland. The March For Choice will start at the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, at 2pm on Saturday 27 September. "We're asking people to bring their wheelie cases to make the sound of travel loud and clear," ARC spokesperson Justine Murphy said. "Ireland must no longer ignore the 10 women travelling to the UK every day. "With the most recent mistreatment of Ms Y and the clear calls from opinion polls, the country is calling for real action to meet our healthcare needs in Ireland. "But while the country has been urging action, demanding the much-delayed guidelines, calling for a referendum and reflecting on the UN Human Rights Committee findings, the best the government has to offer us is the entirely unworkable, toothless Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act and the same old story of their hands being tied. "But that long-awaited legislation provided limited access in the rarest of circumstances and an unnecessary fourteen-year prison sentence in all other circumstances. "A suicidal woman was forced to comply and give birth against her wishes while in State care. "It has always been clear to us that this Government drafted legislation that does not actually provide new care or legislate meaningfully for X, and with each mistake, delay tactic and dismissive statement the people in Ireland are growing tired of waiting," she said. "What we want is simple: real and realistic abortion access in Ireland. "And we will work and march until we have it." Speakers will include Clare Daly TD and representatives from the Abortion Rights Campaign, Union of Students Ireland, UNITE, Doctors for Choice, National Women's Council, and migrant and Traveller communities. After the march, the travel theme continues from 4pm at FilmBase in Temple Bar, where ARC have recast the building's interior as an airport departure lounge, complete with a baggage drop for marchers to leave their wheelie cases; check-in desks and customs. An art installation in the form of a baggage carousel will allow participants to create their own 'Case for Abortion Rights'. A special passport-style photo booth will allow visitors have their photo taken with #NotAVessel placards – a reference to the remarks by the UN Human Rights Committee chairman Nigel Rodley in July that Ireland's abortion laws treat women "as a vessel and nothing more". Finally, the evening will finish with a ‘Speak Out’, inviting people to share their experiences of abortion, travel, and activism in an event designed to break the silence in Ireland around abortion. Music, an open art exhibit, and film screenings will take place throughout the event. Transportation to Dublin on Saturday is being organised by local groups including Galway Pro-Choice, Alliance for Choice (Belfast), Cork Women's Right to Choose and Limerick Pro-Choice. The Abortion Rights Campaign, joined by civil society organisations, unions, migrant groups, political parties, invites everyone to gather for a festive and proactive march through the capital city to call for the abortion rights, the bodily autonomy and the values we really want to live by in Ireland.  |
| Posted: 25 Sep 2014 03:45 AM PDT
The CPS and ACPO have agreed on a protocol for better victim support in cases of stalking as CPS figures show an increase in prosecutions under new harassment laws. The figures come as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) launch a new protocol to ensure consistency of approach in dealing with all forms of stalking behaviour. Figures indicate prosecutions for all stalking and harassment offences, using both new and older legislation, have increased by more than 20 per cent in 2013-14 (from 8,648 in 2012-13 to 10,535 last year). Breaches of restraining and non-molestation orders, the vast majority of which relate to domestic abuse cases and can involve stalking-related behaviours, have also seen a 14.6 per cent rise in prosecutions brought to court in 2013-14: from 15,838 to 18,149. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, said: “I am pleased that prosecutors are making effective use of new stalking laws in order to protect victims and put their stalkers before the courts where previously, in some cases, we were unable to do so. “These new offences enable us to bring people to court potentially before they risk going on to commit more serious crimes,” she added. “The rise in prosecutions sends a message to both victims and criminals about how seriously we are taking these types of offences.” The number of cases are expected to grow as public confidence in the system improves and victims feel more able to come forward and seek help. It is anticipated that figures will also increase further as cyber-stalking offences become more prevalent. The stalking laws introduced in November 2012 have previously been criticised for failing to produce prosecutions. This had largely been blamed on a lack of training and police understanding of the new legislation. The new ‘Protocol on the Appropriate Handling of Stalking Offences‘, which has been jointly drafted and agreed by the CPS and ACPO, focuses strongly on the needs of stalking victims. Police and prosecutors must ensure that the victim has the opportunity to provide a Victim Personal Statement to the court and is able to read this out personally should they wish; fully investigate the reasons behind any victim withdrawing a complaint, ensuring it is not the result of pressure from others; and ensure that victims are consulted on issues such as bail and restraining orders. The protocol also instructs prosecutors to apply, where possible, for restraining orders on both conviction and acquittal in order to protect the ongoing safety and security of victims. Imposing restraining orders on acquittal can add further protection for victims where the likelihood of abuse is considered ‘beyond the balance of probabilities’. This is a lower standard of proof than the usual ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ often required in criminal convictions. Harry Fletcher, director of the Digital-Trust and a leading stalking campaigner said: “It is important that the police and CPS listen to victims however, we can still learn how to improve on the low prosecution rates by looking towards Scotland.” “Whilst this is obviously an improvement, progress is still needed in order to get the new law properly understood,” he added. “The appointment of a lead prosecutor and specific victim advocates are also vital for England and Wales."  |
| Posted: 25 Sep 2014 01:46 AM PDT
Girlguiding is calling for change. A leading charities for girls and young women, Girlguiding has created an eight-point report outlining the need for young women to be respected and to have their voices heard. The report calls on politicians to stop children's exposure to harmful sexualised content in the mainstream media and to empower girls and young women to speak out and be heard on the impact of media sexism and stereotyping. Over 2500 people have already pledged their support to Girlguiding's demand that politicians listen to girls and young women And as 18 year-old Girlguiding advocate Katie said: 'Too often the media present women as merely sex objects. 'Parliament needs to take the lead to show that girls and women are worth so much more than that – they are individual, intelligent and equal human beings. ‘By setting regulations on the portrayal of women in the media, politicians can help to create a society in which young girls and boys are not surrounded by the sexist images of Page 3 and others like it, and know that women are equal and have more to offer than just their bodies.' According to Girlguiding up to 85 per cent of young women aged 17 to 21 beleive that the government has a role to play in making sure the media represent women fairly, and 75 per cent of those aged 11-21 and 48 per cent of 7-10 year olds think that there are too many images of naked or nearly naked women in the media. To find out more about #GirlsMatter follow Girlguiding on Twitter or visit their website.  |
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