Feminist talk

Online abuse and harassment prevents women from realising their full rights online. In this article we look at specific instances of harassment of women online in Ghana, and what needs to be done to ensure full and meaningful internet access for women.

Women in Ghana, ordinary women and celebrities, have dealt with harassment and violence online, but there is minimal effort by the government currently to effectively address this problem. The suggestion seems to be that self-censorship should solve such problems faced by women.

The annual Forum on Internet Freedom, Africa brings together people from across the African continent to to deliberate on gaps, concerns and opportunities for advancing privacy, access to information, free expression, non-discrimination and the free flow of information online on the continent. But what about gender perspectives? 

At the camp of Take back the tech! campaigners a group of intrepid people came together to create a fantastical super person - a non binary character who is a feminist and has powers to analyse, slay and decrypt the digital world.

What is self-care in a time of hyper-connected people and devices and of image-saturated capitalism and what does it mean to speak about self-care in relation to feminist politics and the women's movement. Sharanya examines the politics of self-care arising from many discussions with activists, writers and campaigners.

Non consensual circulation or sharing of intimate intimages or non consensual pornography is becoming increasingly prevalent. Here Bonface Witaba shares few studies on this viral social phenomenon, what steps have been taken and are likely to be taken in the context of Kenya, on a global scale and by social media companies to address the problem.

How to start a sex-positive conversation around queerness, sensuality and sexuality, gender expression, and even violence? HOLAAfrica is one platform that shows us how to do it. From pleasure manuals to podcasts to articles, the platform raises and discusses several sensitive issues and concerns relevant to African women, gender non-conforming persons and sexual minorities.

In the wake of recent accusations of rampant sexual harassment at the workplace in various industries in India - including journalism, advertising, academia, development and many others - Sanitary Panels explores what patriarchy has huge tolerance for. [comic]

Dalit-Bahujan women in India have increasingly started using the internet and social media to articulate their positions and politics. This article explores how women have combated sexual harassment and exploitation, especially when it takes place in spaces that are considered progressive.

In this column series we unpack keywords relevant to the internet and the digital age. Here we look at algorithms, their origin in the work of Ada Lovelace. At how they are a sequence of steps, how they enfold consequences. And lastly we ask - can we talk about feminist algorithms?