When the first “international days for women” were organized in the early 20th century the world looked very different. The digitalization and online interconnectedness that many now take for granted were part of a yet unimagined future. Those early calls for workplace equality, voting rights, and radical social reform resonate more than a century later, however. A range of digital technologies amplify and reinforce discrimination and the stereotypes of the so-called offline world and introduce new forms of harm for women and people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Apart from the existing gender gap there is now a digital gender gap encompassing digital literacy as well as employment and educational concerns. Yet, technology offers powerful new channels to access vital services and information, and to mobilize. Holistic, intersectional, and inclusive solutions are needed as we collectively mark the 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD), for which the United Nations has designated “innovation and technology for gender equality” as a theme.
Expanding Threat Landscapes
Cyber security, technology, and innovation are complex and multi-faceted topics, and the application of a gender lens reveals even more dimensions. An important starting point for any discussion is viewing gender identity as a factor in how and why we use technology, including digital technology.
For instance, research on the gendered impact of internet shutdowns has shown that in diverse societies and countries the internet is integral for women to pursue education or earn income when family responsibilities or other constraints make it challenging to attend class in-person or work in the formal economy. Many also use it to access information that is not widely available through other means, such as in relation to sexual and reproductive rights. Certain digital technologies like social media and messaging platforms have been shown to provide safe spaces for people of diverse gender identities or sexual orientation in contexts where they may be persecuted.
Gender differentiated use of cyber and digital technologies means there are gender differentiated impacts of its misuse. Recent research on the economic impact of internet shutdowns in Iran highlights that limitations on access to platforms like Instagram have had a negative economic impact on all Iranians, women are disproportionately impacted because a high percentage of Iranian businesses relying on the platform are women-owned. From Latin America to Australia and the United States, data breaches in which sensitive medical or health information exposed have also been found to pose unique risks for women or gender minorities. And some technologies, like tracking apps, have been specifically devised to constrain the mobility of women.
Barriers to meaningful access are linked to the digital gender divide. According to the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) latest data, the proportion of women using the internet globally stands at 57%, compared to 62% of men. This varies across regions: in least developed countries, only 19% of women used the internet in 2020, compared to 86% in developed countries in 2019. The disparity in meaningful access is also a function of other intersecting factors, such as location, economic power, age, gender, racial or ethnic origin, social and cultural norms, and education, amongst others. In some societies the internet is commonly accessed through mobile devices rather than computers, and it is not uncommon for a family to share a single device often controlled by a male family member. These factors also play a role in women’s ability to develop digital literacy as well as access fields of education which lend themselves to cybersecurity-related careers, in which there is also a well-acknowledged gender gap.
Undermining Participation
Women’s political participation was among the priorities of early IWDs. Significant strides have been made globally in this area but the abuse of digital platforms risks undermining that progress. A new report from #ShePersisted notes, “Building on sexist stereotypes and disseminated with malign intent, gendered disinformation campaigns in every context identified have a chilling effect on the women they target, often leading to political violence, hate and the deterring of young women from considering a political career.” The report affirmed that women coming from what are traditionally marginalized sections of society are made even more vulnerable by gendered disinformation and online hate campaigns which have racist and sexist undertones.
This is not unique to the political sector. Women or gender diverse people working in other public roles such as journalism are routinely targeted. So too are women peacebuilders, working in post-conflict situations or contexts with high levels of armed violence. Here technology has been an enabling factor for women-led civil society to engaged in peace talks, or for grassroots organizing, but such groups have also been threatened with offline violence through online tactics and platforms because of their work. When technology facilitated GBV or disinformation “smear campaigns” are conducted by foreign actors seeking to influence political dynamics elsewhere, it is no longer a human rights issue but also one of international security.
A Download in Progress
Some progress is being made towards closing gaps and preventing harm, buoyed along by civil society advocacy and research and growing governmental support. IWD 2023 is an opportunity to increase that momentum and commitment. Frameworks like the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and relevant human rights instruments should be adapted for the digital landscape and to account for broader and intersectional understandings of gender, going beyond women alone. New and more focused tools are also needed to fill legal gaps, underpinned by independent research and involving the technology companies whose products and platforms are failing women. Of key importance will be locking in meaningful participation of women and gender diverse people within cyber security and relevant fields. When women, or any group, are a part of policymaking from the outset, the potential for impactful results grows exponentially. This not only closes gaps and moves us towards equality but will enable gender-responsiveness and awareness within cyber and digital security, and can address issues of gender and other bias.
Download in Progress: Addressing the Gender Dimensions of Cyber Security
By Allison Pytlak
In Emerging Technology
When the first “international days for women” were organized in the early 20th century the world looked very different. The digitalization and online interconnectedness that many now take for granted were part of a yet unimagined future. Those early calls for workplace equality, voting rights, and radical social reform resonate more than a century later, however. A range of digital technologies amplify and reinforce discrimination and the stereotypes of the so-called offline world and introduce new forms of harm for women and people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Apart from the existing gender gap there is now a digital gender gap encompassing digital literacy as well as employment and educational concerns. Yet, technology offers powerful new channels to access vital services and information, and to mobilize. Holistic, intersectional, and inclusive solutions are needed as we collectively mark the 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD), for which the United Nations has designated “innovation and technology for gender equality” as a theme.
Expanding Threat Landscapes
Cyber security, technology, and innovation are complex and multi-faceted topics, and the application of a gender lens reveals even more dimensions. An important starting point for any discussion is viewing gender identity as a factor in how and why we use technology, including digital technology.
For instance, research on the gendered impact of internet shutdowns has shown that in diverse societies and countries the internet is integral for women to pursue education or earn income when family responsibilities or other constraints make it challenging to attend class in-person or work in the formal economy. Many also use it to access information that is not widely available through other means, such as in relation to sexual and reproductive rights. Certain digital technologies like social media and messaging platforms have been shown to provide safe spaces for people of diverse gender identities or sexual orientation in contexts where they may be persecuted.
Gender differentiated use of cyber and digital technologies means there are gender differentiated impacts of its misuse. Recent research on the economic impact of internet shutdowns in Iran highlights that limitations on access to platforms like Instagram have had a negative economic impact on all Iranians, women are disproportionately impacted because a high percentage of Iranian businesses relying on the platform are women-owned. From Latin America to Australia and the United States, data breaches in which sensitive medical or health information exposed have also been found to pose unique risks for women or gender minorities. And some technologies, like tracking apps, have been specifically devised to constrain the mobility of women.
Barriers to meaningful access are linked to the digital gender divide. According to the International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) latest data, the proportion of women using the internet globally stands at 57%, compared to 62% of men. This varies across regions: in least developed countries, only 19% of women used the internet in 2020, compared to 86% in developed countries in 2019. The disparity in meaningful access is also a function of other intersecting factors, such as location, economic power, age, gender, racial or ethnic origin, social and cultural norms, and education, amongst others. In some societies the internet is commonly accessed through mobile devices rather than computers, and it is not uncommon for a family to share a single device often controlled by a male family member. These factors also play a role in women’s ability to develop digital literacy as well as access fields of education which lend themselves to cybersecurity-related careers, in which there is also a well-acknowledged gender gap.
Undermining Participation
Women’s political participation was among the priorities of early IWDs. Significant strides have been made globally in this area but the abuse of digital platforms risks undermining that progress. A new report from #ShePersisted notes, “Building on sexist stereotypes and disseminated with malign intent, gendered disinformation campaigns in every context identified have a chilling effect on the women they target, often leading to political violence, hate and the deterring of young women from considering a political career.” The report affirmed that women coming from what are traditionally marginalized sections of society are made even more vulnerable by gendered disinformation and online hate campaigns which have racist and sexist undertones.
This is not unique to the political sector. Women or gender diverse people working in other public roles such as journalism are routinely targeted. So too are women peacebuilders, working in post-conflict situations or contexts with high levels of armed violence. Here technology has been an enabling factor for women-led civil society to engaged in peace talks, or for grassroots organizing, but such groups have also been threatened with offline violence through online tactics and platforms because of their work. When technology facilitated GBV or disinformation “smear campaigns” are conducted by foreign actors seeking to influence political dynamics elsewhere, it is no longer a human rights issue but also one of international security.
A Download in Progress
Some progress is being made towards closing gaps and preventing harm, buoyed along by civil society advocacy and research and growing governmental support. IWD 2023 is an opportunity to increase that momentum and commitment. Frameworks like the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and relevant human rights instruments should be adapted for the digital landscape and to account for broader and intersectional understandings of gender, going beyond women alone. New and more focused tools are also needed to fill legal gaps, underpinned by independent research and involving the technology companies whose products and platforms are failing women. Of key importance will be locking in meaningful participation of women and gender diverse people within cyber security and relevant fields. When women, or any group, are a part of policymaking from the outset, the potential for impactful results grows exponentially. This not only closes gaps and moves us towards equality but will enable gender-responsiveness and awareness within cyber and digital security, and can address issues of gender and other bias.
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