Introduction
A feminist resource toolkit for online gender-based violence.
What is this toolkit about?
Online gender-based violence (OGBV) is deeply rooted in structural gender inequalities and discriminatory social norms. Many of these incidents of OGBV are not new and are, in fact, an extension of the forms of gender-based violence experienced by women and girls. Yet, the technological dimension adds elements of persistence, replicability and scalability which facilitate aggressors/perpetrators’ access to the women and girls (and boys and men) whom they are targeting and can escalate and exacerbate the harm. Incidents like mob attacks, doxxing and harassment aggravate harm and violence through the use of the very same tools that are fundamental to the liberation of information and freedom of opinion and expression.
In this toolkit, we unpack OGBV and provide explanations to assist you in identifying the ever-evolving forms of OGBV. We also talk about steps you can take when you are facing or at risk of online gender-based violence, including first responses, available redress and relevant legislations, resources for emotional and mental health support, guides in reporting to police.
This toolkit is a living resource to address the growing problem of OGBV. It is drafted and curated by the team from KRYSS Network, and built on the collective learnings and resilience of feminists and activists who had defended and upheld the digital space.
Who is this toolkit for?
This toolkit aims to offer actionable guide and knowledge to anyone who is targeted for online gender-based violence (OGBV), or someone who is supporting a victim/survivor of OGBV, or someone who wants to learn more about the issues.
How to use this toolkit?
This toolkit is a compilation of tips, advises and guide from the feminists and those who have experienced violence online or those who had provided support for those affected by online violence.
Online gender-based violence manifests in many different ways and affects every victim/community differently depending on our social location, privileges and vulnerabilities. This toolkit does not have all the answers because every response is unique to the individual and we believe the victim has the right to self-determination in deciding what steps they want to do, even if it means deleting their social media account for self-preservation.
Overall categorisation of the toolkit
The overall toolkit is categorised by these five main sections:
Understanding online gender-based violence: Understand why online violence affects one disproportionately based on their gender identity and sexual orientation, and how they are rooted in the broad umbrella of gender inequalities.
Types of online gender-based violence: Gender-based violence can manifest in different forms in digital spaces - and they vary depending on the different features made available by different platforms, our intersectionality and sociocultural contexts, ability to access justice etc.
First response to online gender-based violence: Responses to online gender-based violence begin with prioritising your well-being and assessing your risk.
Incident response: Tips and guides on how to respond to specific incidents of online gender-based violence.
Understanding the laws in Malaysia: Our legal system is far from perfect, and it is often not survivor-centric. However, it is important to know what are our legal rights and what legal redress are available to you, so that we are able to articulate our demands and fight for better protection for the people.
Acknowledgement
Our deepest gratitude to the participants of our toolkit consultation workshop, who so generously share their experiences and strategies in pushing back against online gender-based violence.
Our utmost shout out to Appolonia Tesera for bringing our toolkit to live through her artistic interpretation. All illustrations in this toolkit is done by Appolonia Tesera.
Last updated