At the Digital Margins? A Theoretical Examination of Social Media Engagement Using Intersectional Feminism

This article applies an intersectional feminist lens to social media engagement with European politics. Disproportionately targeted at already marginalised people, the problem of online abuse/harassment has come to increasing public awareness. At the same time, movements such as #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo have demonstrated the value of social media in facilitating global grassroots activism that challenges dominant structures of power. While the literature on social media engagement with European politics has offered important insights into the extent to which social media facilitates democratic participation, it has not to date sufficiently accounted for patterns of intersectional activism and online inequalities. Using Nancy Fraser’s feminist critique of Habermas’ public sphere theory and Kimberlé Crenshaw’s theory of intersectionality, this article explores patterns of gender and racial inequalities in the digital public space. By analysing both the role of racist and misogynistic online abuse targeted at women, nonbinary, agender, and gender-variant people in public life, as well as the opportunities for marginalised groups to mobilise transnationally through subaltern counter-publics, I argue that social media engagement is inextricably linked with offline inequalities. To fully understand the impact of social media on European democracy, we need to pay attention to gendered and racialised dynamics of power within the digital public sphere that have unequal consequences for democratic participation. This will involve expanding our methodological repertoire and employing tools underpinned by a critical feminist epistemology.

One click is all it takes: technology-assisted child sexual abuse

In times of easily accessible technology and the Internet, the number of technology-assisted child sexual abuse (TA-CSA) is increasing. Anonymity, the multitude of victims that can be reached at the same time, as well as the variety of online abuse forms are in some way conducive to the perpetrators of sexual crimes in undertaking the act. Nevertheless, specialists in the field indicate that the phenomenon itself, as well as its consequences are not fully investigated. The aim of this article is to introduce the reader to the issues of TA-CSA by: 1) to present what the phenomenon of child sexual abuse is and what notions it entails, 2) to identify different types and forms of online sexual abuse (cyber grooming, sexting, sextortion and web-cam sexting), and 3) to take a close look at several selected research studies in the field, examining the consequences of technology-assisted sexual abuse on children. From previous reports of researchers investigating the causes and effects of child sexual abuse, including technology-assisted abuse, it can be concluded that the consequences of online abuse are very similar to those of offline sexual abuse, and even include additional factors that victims must face. Further research on this topic should therefore be looked at in order to better understand the nature of technology-assisted sexual abuse and not succumb to the illusion of this type of experience minor importance over the experience of offline sexual violence. Understanding the relevance and consequences of this phenomenon will allow for effective interventions in support services and educational activities.

Estonian Male Journalists’ Experiences with Abusive Online Communication

Several studies have established that female journalists experience (sexual) harassment and online abuse considerably more than their male colleagues. Understandably, this has resulted in a gap in research – male journalists’ experiences with abusive online communication have not yet been thoroughly studied. This paper seeks to understand how abusive communication is contextualised and defined by male journalists in the context of hegemonic masculinity, and to explore which coping strategies are employed to overcome such experiences. From qualitative in-depth interviews with male journalists (n=15), we found that participants considered different forms of abusive online communication from readers/sources a normalised practice, “feedback” that one must just ignore or overcome. Experiences are interpreted predominantly in the frame of hegemonic (complicit) masculinity, but the results also indicate that shifts in these rigid norms are emerging and can be embraced when acknowledged and supported by surrounding structures.

Censoring cyber-bullies: Is the Harmful Digital Communications Bill a justified limitation on the right to freedom of expression?

<p>Harmful Digital Communications have become a pervasive and serious problem in New Zealand. The Harmful Digital Communications Bill aims to address this problem in a number of ways. This paper focuses on the civil enforcement regime and the criminal offence of causing harm by posting a digital communication established by the Bill. It considers these aspects of the Bill in light of the right to freedom of expression, and analyses whether they constitute a justified limitation on that right. By applying the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 section 5 analysis from Hansen v R, the paper discovers that the civil enforcement regime is a justified limitation, but the new criminal offence is not. The paper concludes that the inclusion of a public interest defence in the offence would allow it to effectively ameliorate the harm caused by online abuse without impinging on freedom of expression more than is reasonably necessary.</p>

Censoring cyber-bullies: Is the Harmful Digital Communications Bill a justified limitation on the right to freedom of expression?

<p>Harmful Digital Communications have become a pervasive and serious problem in New Zealand. The Harmful Digital Communications Bill aims to address this problem in a number of ways. This paper focuses on the civil enforcement regime and the criminal offence of causing harm by posting a digital communication established by the Bill. It considers these aspects of the Bill in light of the right to freedom of expression, and analyses whether they constitute a justified limitation on that right. By applying the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 section 5 analysis from Hansen v R, the paper discovers that the civil enforcement regime is a justified limitation, but the new criminal offence is not. The paper concludes that the inclusion of a public interest defence in the offence would allow it to effectively ameliorate the harm caused by online abuse without impinging on freedom of expression more than is reasonably necessary.</p>

Gender

This chapter explores the way that gender influences and blocks ambition. Despite recent progress, women still are grossly underrepresented at the top and overrepresented at the bottom in measures of power and economic reward. In explaining these disparities, research suggests that while women may be more ambivalent about ambition than men and ambitious for somewhat different things, the primary explanation for their different achievements lies elsewhere: in gender bias, stereotypes, and socialization patterns; and in inequalities in family responsibilities and inadequacies in workplace policies. Discussion focuses on the special obstacles to ambition for women of color, women leaders, and women politicians. Gender differences in mentors, sponsors, and allies and in the incidence of sexual harassment and online abuse compound the problems. These inequalities are not only unjust for individuals, but they also impair organizational performance. The chapter closes with strategies for ambitious women and for organizations seeking greater equity, diversity, and inclusion.