GenderIT.org feminist talk
Digital Rights in the Asia-Pacific 2024 Public Report: Welcome to a Movement
Digital Rights in the Asia-Pacific 2024 or DRAPAC24 aimed to foster resilience and solidarity within the digital rights community. This year’s event gathered over 287 changemakers from 150 organizations in Taipei, Taiwan for two days of conversations centered on three broad themes: regional solution-making, empowerment of young persons, and adoption of open technology.
The DRAPAC Assembly traces its roots to the Coconet camps organised in the Philippines and Indonesia, and it has now evolved into a space for collective solution-making and alliance-building within the broader Asia-Pacific community. Its inaugural edition held last May 2023 in Chiang Mai, Thailand gathered a wide range of stakeholders – from activists and technologists to artists and journalists – for five days of workshops, panels, art exhibits, film screenings, and networking sessions.
Building on the success and lessons from DRAPAC23, this year’s event featured a more focused but diverse mix of sessions. DRAPAC24 platformed new voices, highlighted novel and community-led approaches to addressing digital rights challenges, and provided spaces for engagement and collaboration. Through DRAPAC, Asia-Pacific civil society can come together to advance the digital rights movement and forge a unified response to shared challenges in the region.
External URL Read here the public report in full Areas of work Community Human rights Topics Access Capacity building Cultural and linguistic diversity Digital inclusion Digital society Environment and ICTs Feminist internet Free/libre and open source software (FLOSS) Freedom of expression Human rights and ICTs Internet rights Media and ICTs Security and privacy Strategic use of the internet Regions Asia Tags Members involved EngageMediaFrom village roots to digital dreams: How women are transforming rural connectivity and driving community change
Technology is a feminist issue. Technology is an issue for all feminists.
From 2 to 5 December, APC will join the 15th AWID International Forum in Bangkok, Thailand, which is both a global community event and a space of radical personal transformation that brings together feminist, women’s rights, gender justice, LBTQI+ and allied movements, in all our diversity and humanity, to connect, heal and thrive.
The AWID International Forum has always been a place to frame critical feminist issues, and more than ever it is critical that this space nurtures accessible, intentional and hopeful conversations about the different aspects of tech and its embeddedness in every aspect of feminist organising and movement building.
APC's aim is to bring this framing into the AWID Forum in the hope of bridging the conversations about feminist movement building/organising and digital technologies/infrastructures, from a much needed feminist and decolonising perspective that challenges power and the status quo. We want all feminists at AWID and beyond to understand and not be intimidated by the language and power of tech, to feel agency and empowerment in their engagement with tech, and to see feminist tech as a key strategy in our movements for feminist liberatory presents and futures.
Many members and partners in the APC network will be actively participating in various sessions as organisers, speakers and moderators, as well as hosting specific activities during the Forum that will advance our movements' connections and our advocacy around a feminist internet.
The Feminist Tech Gardens
In recent years, feminist techies have witnessed the massive expansion of digital infrastructure perpetuating colonial exploitation of Black and Indigenous communities and resources, with women human rights defenders often at the frontlines of these impacts and struggles. New forms of technology like generative artificial intelligence (AI) are not only subsidised through underpaid labour by the Global Majority, but are exacerbating harms through gender-based violence.
Technology is implicitly and explicitly embedded in gender-based violence, racism, homophobia, war and genocide, state surveillance, reproductive rights and health, public and civic participation, climate justice, feminist scholarship, mainstream publishing, and memory work. If we want technology that is feminist by design, we need spaces to contain and ground our dreams, enabling playfulness, experimentation and deep human connection in fertile soil to nurture and grow technology that is liberatory.
The Feminist Tech Gardens are the result of the collaboration between three feminist organisations that think deeply and critically about decolonising the internet and building fair, just, equitable, safe and feminist digital infrastructures: APC, Numun Fund and Whose Knowledge? All participants at the AWID Forum are invited to hands-on, interactive activities to re-discover and re-design our relationship with technology.
The Feminist Tech Gardens are diverse yet deeply interconnected ecosystems, with their own mood, energy and landscapes. The feminist digital rights conceptual umbrella for these spaces are the Feminist Principles of the Internet (FPI), a series of statements that offer a gender and sexual rights lens on critical internet-related rights.
Within the gardens, participants will find resources to cultivate and reclaim the digital and technological space of innovation with solidarity, hope and resistance. The gardens are interactive and nurturing spaces and at the same time they are deeply political. They are rooted in Global Majority practices and the perfect places for feminist cross-pollination, offering a reservoir of plurality of knowledge in connection with our territories, communal lands and ways of being and dreaming in life.
What are we growing in the gardens? See the plans for the gardens here: https://gardens.feminist.techCheck out some of the activities and sessions by APC, members and partners:
- Revisiting transnational feminist solidarity and movement building in light of experiences of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) in war and conflict zones
Monday 2 December | 11:45 to13:30 local time. Organised by APC
A panel discussion exploring of digital violence in war, conflict, and genocide. Focusing on regions like Palestine, Sudan, Lebanon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, we will how online spaces normalize hate speech against communities labeled as "terrorists". Researchers, advocates, and activists will discuss how digital violence intersects with political and social struggles in the global South. Participants are invited to challenge dominant narratives, centering voices from conflict zones to shape a feminist understanding of digital violence rooted in lived experiences.
- Data sets and AI
Monday 2 December | 11:45-13:30 local time. Organised by Point of View
Join Point of View to take a step back to imagine a feminist world through artistic expression that transcends linguistic boundaries! Together, we will create a tapestry of “data” points that counter and build a new perspective of AI in the context of bodies, spirits and autonomy. This workshop is for anyone interested in understanding and reimagining one of the foundational blocks of AI systems: data from an artistic perspective.
- Platform Accountability Lab
Monday 2 to Wednesday 4 December | 11:00 to 20:30 local time. 5 December | 9:00 to 14:00 local time. Organised by Point of View and CREA
Join Point of View and CREA in rethinking how data misuse affects women and structurally excluded communities by signing up to be part of our upcoming campaign under the Arise Community. Together, we can make platforms more accountable, user-friendly and protective of everyone’s rights!
- Feminist Pub Quiz and Full Picture campaign launch
Tuesday 3 December | 18:00 to 21:00 local time. Organised by Our Voices Our Futures consortium (OVOF)
There will be a Feminist Pub Quiz and the launch of the Full Picture campaign about online mis- and disinformation. This will be a fun and fantastic opportunity to engage, network, and celebrate our shared commitment to feminist principles. Sign up for the @fullpicturenet launch. Participate in an exciting pub quiz where you can win #TheFullPicture merch and bragging rights. Scan the QR code to reserve your spot!
- Unlocking the future of feminist tech funding
Wednesday 4 December | 11:45 to 13:30 local time. Organised by Pollicy
This workshop equips grantmakers with insights into funding practices that transform, sustain, and strengthen digital rights and feminist tech communities. Focusing on feminist tech’s transformative impact in the global South, we’ll examine lessons from Feminist Civic Tech Funders like Numun Fund and leaders from feminist tech organisations. Pollicy will lead the conversation, sharing findings to reimagine Feminist Technology Philanthropies and #ShiftPower. The goal is to amplify feminist tech narratives, increase resources for data feminism, and advance feminist tech activism in the global South.
- Internet Shutdown game
Thursday 5 December | 10:45 to 12:30 local time. Organised by APC
APC developed the Shutdown Game to create an engaging and informative training activity that highlights the methods of internet shutdowns and ways to counteract them. Designed as a Creative Commons game for adaptation, this interactive session will offer a fun, hands-on approach to exploring the technical intricacies of various shutdown models. Using real-world scenarios and "circumvention" cards, players will learn about the technical mechanisms behind shutdowns and the strategies available to navigate them. Suitable for diverse audiences, the game raises awareness of tactics used to restrict internet access and builds understanding of internet infrastructure and circumvention tools.
- WHRD strategies challenging online violence
Thursday, 5 December | 10:45 to 12:30 local time. It will have Wordly interpretation and it is available virtually and in-person. Organised by Safety for Voices
A space for critical reflection and exchange of South-South experiences, which seeks to identify collective and community strategies to protect the voices of women defenders and nonbinary people in the digital environment, from a decolonial, integral and feminist protection approach, based on the recognition of the systematic violence we experience in the digital environment as an extension of patriarchal, racist and colonial violence.
- Take pictures at the #VisibleWikiWomxn photo booth
The photo booth is a practice and a feminist corner that Whose Knowledge? has brought to different convenings. This time, they are taking pictures and documenting fellow feminists, especially from the Global Majority worlds, at the AWID Forum, in order to create visual memories that will be brought to WikiCommons as part of the #VisibleWikiWomen campaign, while also centering feminist practices of consent and image-taking and sharing. Come say hi, hang out, take your photo, and talk more about feminist memory-making and visual memories at Plenary Foyer B at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.
Stay tuned for more updates! Follow #FeministTechGardens and #FeministTech in social media. Also, don't miss the Feminist Sound Bites we will be launching during the event!
Get in touch: gardens@feminist.tech
The AWID Forum downloadable and web-based app is available for download! It contains important information about the event, different ways to connect with participants and details on all the sessions. Visit this page to learn more.
Related partner Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) Areas of work Feminist internet Human rights Topics Feminist internet Human rights and ICTs Internet rights Media and ICTs Strategic use of the internet Regions Global Tags Members involved PollicyAPC at the 15th AWID International Forum 2024
Technology is a feminist issue. Technology is an issue for all feminists.
From 2 to 5 December, APC will join the 15th AWID International Forum in Bangkok, Thailand, which is both a global community event and a space of radical personal transformation that brings together feminist, women’s rights, gender justice, LBTQI+ and allied movements, in all our diversity and humanity, to connect, heal and thrive.
The AWID International Forum has always been a place to frame critical feminist issues, and more than ever it is critical that this space nurtures accessible, intentional and hopeful conversations about the different aspects of tech and its embeddedness in every aspect of feminist organising and movement building.
APC's aim is to bring this framing into the AWID Forum in the hope of bridging the conversations about feminist movement building/organising and digital technologies/infrastructures, from a much needed feminist and decolonising perspective that challenges power and the status quo. We want all feminists at AWID and beyond to understand and not be intimidated by the language and power of tech, to feel agency and empowerment in their engagement with tech, and to see feminist tech as a key strategy in our movements for feminist liberatory presents and futures.
Many members and partners in the APC network will be actively participating in various sessions as organisers, speakers and moderators, as well as hosting specific activities during the Forum that will advance our movements' connections and our advocacy around a feminist internet.
The Feminist Tech Gardens
In recent years, feminist techies have witnessed the massive expansion of digital infrastructure perpetuating colonial exploitation of Black and Indigenous communities and resources, with women human rights defenders often at the frontlines of these impacts and struggles. New forms of technology like generative artificial intelligence (AI) are not only subsidised through underpaid labour by the Global Majority, but are exacerbating harms through gender-based violence.
Technology is implicitly and explicitly embedded in gender-based violence, racism, homophobia, war and genocide, state surveillance, reproductive rights and health, public and civic participation, climate justice, feminist scholarship, mainstream publishing, and memory work. If we want technology that is feminist by design, we need spaces to contain and ground our dreams, enabling playfulness, experimentation and deep human connection in fertile soil to nurture and grow technology that is liberatory.
The Feminist Tech Gardens are the result of the collaboration between three feminist organisations that think deeply and critically about decolonising the internet and building fair, just, equitable, safe and feminist digital infrastructures: APC, Numun Fund and Whose Knowledge? All participants at the AWID Forum are invited to hands-on, interactive activities to re-discover and re-design our relationship with technology.
The Feminist Tech Gardens are diverse yet deeply interconnected ecosystems, with their own mood, energy and landscapes. The feminist digital rights conceptual umbrella for these spaces are the Feminist Principles of the Internet (FPI), a series of statements that offer a gender and sexual rights lens on critical internet-related rights.
Within the gardens, participants will find resources to cultivate and reclaim the digital and technological space of innovation with solidarity, hope and resistance. The gardens are interactive and nurturing spaces and at the same time they are deeply political. They are rooted in Global Majority practices and the perfect places for feminist cross-pollination, offering a reservoir of plurality of knowledge in connection with our territories, communal lands and ways of being and dreaming in life.
What are we growing in the gardens?
See the plans for the gardens here (coming soon): feminist.tech/gardens
And check out some of the APC sessions:
- Entramados feministas descoloniales: tejiendo alianzas para la justicia digital y climática
Tuesday, 3 December | Time TBD. Organised by May First
- WHRD strategies challenging online violence
Thursday, 5 December | 11:00 to 12:30 local time. It will have Wordly interpretation and it is available virtually and in-person. Organised by Safety for Voices
- Unlocking the future of feminist tech funding
Date TBD | Time TBD. Organised by Pollicy
Stay tuned for more updates! Follow #FeministTechGardens and #FeministTech in social media. Also, don't miss the Feminist Sound Bites we will be launching during the event!
Get in touch: gardens@feminist.tech
The AWID Forum downloadable and web-based app is available for download! It contains important information about the event, different ways to connect with participants and details on all the sessions. Visit this page to learn more.
Related partner Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) Areas of work Feminist internet Human rights Topics Feminist internet Human rights and ICTs Internet rights Media and ICTs Strategic use of the internet Regions Global Tags Members involved PollicyCelebrants of diversity and community seekers: New GenderIT.org edition offers reflections from Central Asia and the South Caucasus
Activists embody more than just the ability to endure hardships; they are individuals facing unique challenges and vulnerabilities.
The latest edition of GenderIT.org highlights that true self-care includes community care. This means activists should focus not only on their personal well-being but also on cultivating supportive relationships within their communities. Creating these bonds is crucial for addressing burnout and despair, common issues in activism. By providing mutual support, activists can build a care network to help them navigate difficulties. This approach challenges the notion that self-care is a solitary pursuit and emphasises the importance of collective support.
This edition delves into these themes, highlighting the significance of safe spaces and mental health. Safe spaces offer activists environments where they can express themselves without fear of judgment or reprisal. These spaces are vital for mental health, providing a refuge from the stresses of activism. The edition features essays and art from activists in the South Caucasus, discussing the impact of political burnout, the necessity of supportive communities, and the role of art in expressing and preserving queer joy.
Art plays a significant role in activism, providing a creative outlet for activists to express their emotions and experiences. The featured essays and artwork demonstrate how art can be a powerful tool for preserving and celebrating queer joy, even in the face of adversity. The authors have provided insights into this through lived realities and experiences that caring for oneself and one's community is essential for sustaining activism. By prioritising both self-care and community care, activists can ensure they have the strength and motivation needed to continue their important work.
In this new edition you will find:
- Celebrants of diversity and community seekers: Reflections from Central Asia and the South Caucasus (Editorial)
- Feminist marching towards change: The evolving significance of International Women's Day in Azerbaijan (also available in Russian)
- Life as a queer person in Tajikistan (also available in Russian)
- When safe spaces disappear: An essay on political burnout and authoritarianism (also available in Russian)
- Building community and fostering care amidst oppression and war: Activism and resistance in the South Caucasus (Interview)
- Advocating for visibility: Zhanar Sekerbayeva on LGBTQIA+ and feminist activism and the fight for equality in Central Asia (Interview)
- Orpheuses: Queer struggles and resilience in Georgia
Read the full edition at GenderIT.org.
Areas of work Community Feminist internet Topics Cultural and linguistic diversity Feminist internet Human rights and ICTs Strategic use of the internet Regions Asia Europe Tags
From bridging the tech sector gender gap to environment-friendly fashion to queer joy: GenderIT’s feminist talk highlights local issues and voices across Asia and Africa
APC’s GenderIT.org provides a space for reflection, influence and advocacy on internet policy in relation to the rights and demands of women and gender-diverse people and issues related to sexuality, with a particular focus on voices from the Global South.
Here we share a sampling of recent posts featuring the opinions, experiences and thoughts of writers from the diverse community of GenderIT contributors.
Feminist talk from AfricaSpinning protests: Kenya’s pro-government bloggers push anti-queer smears
Amidst the protests to reject the Finance Bill 2024 in Kenya, protestors were subjected to online campaigns with particular attacks on queer individuals in the country, reports Linda Ngari. Data analysis of Twitter activities of some of the most active accounts suggests that these smear campaigns were in fact coordinated, and points towards an ongoing trend victimising marginalised communities.
Beating the gender gap: Nigeria’s tech space is a challenge for women to enter
Nigeria's tech industry has shown impressive growth, contributing 16.66% to the nation's GDP, but remains heavily male-dominated. Women face unique challenges, from hiring biases to workplace harassment, even as some companies adopt women-only initiatives that sometimes feel performative. Ugonna-Ora Owoh argues that continued support and accountability are crucial to fostering a truly inclusive environment for women in tech.
Securing the future of African women and girls online
The internet has become a mirror of women's grim reality in Africa, where they are subjected to various forms of violence daily. Chioma Agwuegbo discusses the situation of online gender-based violence on the continent while envisioning a different reality that secures the digital futures of African women and girls.
Feminist talk from AsiaUnverified and false information on the internet has significantly impacted women's health in ways that leave lasting impact on their bodies. Momina Mindeel speaks to a woman who, in attempts to cure her polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), turned to social media after the health care system failed and she ended up with eating disorders.
Women street vendors are hesitant to use digital payment methods in India
While digital payments are transforming the shopping experience for people in India, the overemphasis on digitisation without addressing the gaps in technological access is creating challenges for those who lack necessary skills. As Anuj Behal reports, women street vendors say that they either don't have the skills or technology to access payments made to them, or they don't trust the platforms with their hard earned money.
The fate of Bangladesh’s cyber security act? A swift repeal
Bangladesh's Cyber Security Act replicates the draconian legislative framework that its predecessors imposed on online civil liberties in the country. With the new government in place, activists are demanding for its repeal, writes Parsa Sanjana Sajid.
Desi queer joy on the internet is defying social norms rooted in violence
Given the multifaceted structural violence that queer communities face in South Asia, their identities and existence are only referred to in relation to this violence. Arslan Athar challenges this notion and introduces how LGBTQIA+ folks in the region are reclaiming their identities by portraying the joyful parts of their lives on the internet.
Social media is helping people make environment-friendly fashion choices
The low prices of fast fashion have made it the preferred fashion choice for consumers around the world, leading to not just overconsumption but also overproduction that impacts the environment. Anmol Irfan explores how sustainability advocates are taking to social media in attempts to push for a behaviour change.
Image: Illustration by Paru Ramesh for GenderIT.org.
Regions Africa Asia Global Topics Feminist internet Freedom of expression Human rights and ICTs ICT policy Tags Areas of work Feminist internet OffDigital security trainings: Barriers, opportunities and decolonial perspectives
APC’s GenderIT.org provides a space for reflection, influence and advocacy on internet policy in relation to the rights and demands of women and gender-diverse people and issues related to sexuality, with a particular focus on voices from the Global South.
Here we share a sampling of recent posts featuring the opinions, experiences and thoughts of writers from the diverse community of GenderIT contributors.
Feminist talk from AfricaSpinning protests: Kenya’s pro-government bloggers push anti-queer smears
Amidst the protests to reject the Finance Bill 2024 in Kenya, protestors were subjected to online campaigns with particular attacks on queer individuals in the country, reports Linda Ngari. Data analysis of Twitter activities of some of the most active accounts suggests that these smear campaigns were in fact coordinated, and points towards an ongoing trend victimising marginalised communities.
Beating the gender gap: Nigeria’s tech space is a challenge for women to enter
Nigeria's tech industry has shown impressive growth, contributing 16.66% to the nation's GDP, but remains heavily male-dominated. Women face unique challenges, from hiring biases to workplace harassment, even as some companies adopt women-only initiatives that sometimes feel performative. Ugonna-Ora Owoh argues that continued support and accountability are crucial to fostering a truly inclusive environment for women in tech.
Securing the future of African women and girls online
The internet has become a mirror of women's grim reality in Africa, where they are subjected to various forms of violence daily. Chioma Agwuegbo discusses the situation of online gender-based violence on the continent while envisioning a different reality that secures the digital futures of African women and girls.
Feminist talk from AsiaUnverified and false information on the internet has significantly impacted women's health in ways that leave lasting impact on their bodies. Momina Mindeel speaks to a woman who, in attempts to cure her polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), turned to social media after the health care system failed and she ended up with eating disorders.
Women street vendors are hesitant to use digital payment methods in India
While digital payments are transforming the shopping experience for people in India, the overemphasis on digitisation without addressing the gaps in technological access is creating challenges for those who lack necessary skills. As Anuj Behal reports, women street vendors say that they either don't have the skills or technology to access payments made to them, or they don't trust the platforms with their hard earned money.
The fate of Bangladesh’s cyber security act? A swift repeal
Bangladesh's Cyber Security Act replicates the draconian legislative framework that its predecessors imposed on online civil liberties in the country. With the new government in place, activists are demanding for its repeal, writes Parsa Sanjana Sajid.
Desi queer joy on the internet is defying social norms rooted in violence
Given the multifaceted structural violence that queer communities face in South Asia, their identities and existence are only referred to in relation to this violence. Arslan Athar challenges this notion and introduces how LGBTQIA+ folks in the region are reclaiming their identities by portraying the joyful parts of their lives on the internet.
Social media is helping people make environment-friendly fashion choices
The low prices of fast fashion have made it the preferred fashion choice for consumers around the world, leading to not just overconsumption but also overproduction that impacts the environment. Anmol Irfan explores how sustainability advocates are taking to social media in attempts to push for a behaviour change.
Image: Illustration by Paru Ramesh for GenderIT.org.
Regions Africa Asia Global Topics Feminist internet Freedom of expression Human rights and ICTs ICT policy Tags Areas of work Feminist internet OffSeeding change: Revisiting Birosca and the transfeminist collective’s legacy of code, community and care
"This work of reclaiming memory is filled with a lot of affection, to look at where we've been walking, and what remains of our footprints."
They were from Brasília, Goiânia, Belo Horizonte, São Paulo and other towns and cities across Brazil. More importantly, it was 2005 and they were all on email lists and in IRC chatrooms. These particular spaces were focused on women and technology. And from those spaces sprang Birosca, a sparkling feminist movement in Brazil that ran from 2005 to 2012, and eventually had its own virtual server called Baderna, named after Marieta Baderna, the dancer from Rio. Baderna also means "disturbance" in Portuguese, an allusion to how activists are often perceived.
Cristina "Kit" Barretto de Menezes Lopes was part of Birosca from the beginning. “I learned a lot,” she says, and comments with a laugh, “I had a car, so sometimes I would handle transportation for the many needs that came up.” Menezes deeply valued those six years of Birosca and retraces those years in her new documentary, Birosca: Care, Women and Technology.
She was among the first round of recipients of the APC Women’s Rights Programme’s Feminist #TechJoy small grants, which facilitated the production of this half-hour long documentary film in the first six months of 2024. “This work of reclaiming memory is filled with a lot of affection,” she says. “These are relationships that make us revisit personal processes, to look at where we've been walking, and what remains of our footprints.”
Sorry, this video will not work because your web browser does not support HTML5 video.
It was a particular moment in the history of the internet in 2005. In Brazil, the government supported digital inclusion and the adoption of free/libre and open source software (FLOSS). In the documentary, Menezes interviews several members of the collective, one of whom reminisces how nobody needed a username or password to publish on the website. The internet was still an open space. It’s hard to remember now, but it wasn’t that long ago.
“It was a very important moment that marked the beginning of the popularisation of the internet,” Menezes wrote in the project report for APC. “This turning point of the web that enabled silenced voices to be amplified and facilitated new forms of organisation. The idea of a free and autonomous internet was put into practice by young and vibrant hearts that planted seeds.”
"The idea of a free and autonomous internet was put into practice by young and vibrant hearts that planted seeds."
Birosca began with a group of women who were involved in the Global Network of Independent Media Centres, better known as Indymedia, a website for citizen journalism and the world’s first open source software, according to one interviewee in the film. As the project grew, “we felt the need to create a space for women in technology,” says Isabela "Toya" Fernandes, one of the founders of Birosca, in the film.
As a transfeminist collective, they worked on several techno-political issues that still pique us today, including private monopolies, deploying open source software and the restrictions imposed by big corporations. The collective provided its own email services – not just out of pride, but to make a political point. Similarly, it was a political choice to use OSS like Cinelerra for video editing (even if it crashed a lot) and Audacity to edit audio. They worked on hardware and the software and were autonomous.
As she was shooting the interviews, Menezes heard a phrase repeated that stayed with her. Several women mentioned how working in the collective, "They 'learned how to learn’ because we were supporting each other, but it was us for us. So much of it was about paving the way ourselves, writing tutorials that didn’t exist. We learned so we could teach. It was a process of great generosity – with ourselves, with others, and with the process itself.”
This phrase became a key touchpoint as it triggered further memories for Menezes: “I felt very welcomed in Birosca, in that moment in time, because I was the oldest in the group but the youngest when it came to technology.” Menezes was 35 then and most of the other members were a decade younger. “I didn’t have the boldness they had to take things apart; I was afraid of breaking them. And there, in the project, I started to lose that fear of making mistakes.”
Learning, teaching and breaking gender norms while doing itWorking on technology was, of course, going against the grain of gender expectations, but Menezes has an intriguing insight that goes further on how the work on technology intersected with the activists’ lives. “Through our time in Birosca, we started to understand the difficulty of accessing technology as a taboo – it was the same taboo that had prevented us from knowing our own bodies. […] Breaking away from that gave us a powerful sense of autonomy, and we thought it was important to share that, to document this experience.”
This point is echoed by almost every person interviewed in the film. “We talked about the body, about technology, about the fear of not knowing enough,” says Karine "Foz" Batista. Ianni Luna reads out from old notes for a meta-recycling and sexuality workshop that they conducted, discussing the parallels about knowing your own body and a piece of hardware, in opposition to the more usual, detached discourse around technology. “We made a point of having people tell us about themselves. We talked about our private lives in connection with technology.”
“No other collective was discussing the same things as us – feminism, gender and technology,” says Fernandes. “We talked about how society wouldn’t enable us to get to know ourselves sexually, just like not knowing how to open a PC and find out if that motherboard worked, and how it worked.”
Menezes and other women from the collective thought it was crucial to share this aspect and to document this experience. “Making the film made me revisit the importance of this desire to learn,” she adds. “Because at that moment it wasn't clear, but now, looking back at this process through the film, it’s much clearer how important it was to have been part of it all.”
A legacy of thinking and nurturingIt’s hard to find Birosca on today’s internet with its fragile archives and flickering amnesia, but Menezes says the memory of Birosca is significant and hence its documentation is significant. The film premiered in June this year at the Casarão da Cultura in the city of Rio Claro, a significant audiovisual hub in the interior of São Paulo.
Fernandes says in the film that “Birosca is like a dandelion, it’s flown and spread out there. Each of us holds a part of it, we’re still friends.” Menezes remembers Birosca as “bold, beautiful and poetic," and comments, "It lives on not only in the memories of those who lived through that moment but now, documented, so that others can know that this moment existed.” She adds that she wanted the film “to provoke a tension through these discussions. to continue thinking, revisiting the paths, the milestones, the points of arrival. It's really good to know the history, the paths that others have taken for us to be where we are today, whether to learn from mistakes or to create new possibilities."
There is much evidence in the film of the value of such revisiting. As Aline Freitas says in the film, the collective opened up conversations so much beyond just technology. “Birosca gave me a feeling of being sheltered. I’d say that feeling made my life so much easier.”
Regions Latin America & the Caribbean Topics Feminist internet Free/libre and open source software (FLOSS) Internet feminista Media and ICTs Tags Areas of work Feminist internet Column Seeding change OffBreaking the matrioska: Gender and racial biases in AI-generated art
APC’s GenderIT.org provides a space for reflection, influence and advocacy on internet policy in relation to the rights and demands of women and gender-diverse people and issues related to sexuality, with a particular focus on voices from the Global South.
Here we share a sampling of recent posts featuring the opinions, experiences and thoughts of writers from the diverse community of GenderIT contributors.
Feminist talk from AfricaSpinning protests: Kenya’s pro-government bloggers push anti-queer smears
Amidst the protests to reject the Finance Bill 2024 in Kenya, protestors were subjected to online campaigns with particular attacks on queer individuals in the country, reports Linda Ngari. Data analysis of Twitter activities of some of the most active accounts suggests that these smear campaigns were in fact coordinated, and points towards an ongoing trend victimising marginalised communities.
Beating the gender gap: Nigeria’s tech space is a challenge for women to enter
Nigeria's tech industry has shown impressive growth, contributing 16.66% to the nation's GDP, but remains heavily male-dominated. Women face unique challenges, from hiring biases to workplace harassment, even as some companies adopt women-only initiatives that sometimes feel performative. Ugonna-Ora Owoh argues that continued support and accountability are crucial to fostering a truly inclusive environment for women in tech.
Securing the future of African women and girls online
The internet has become a mirror of women's grim reality in Africa, where they are subjected to various forms of violence daily. Chioma Agwuegbo discusses the situation of online gender-based violence on the continent while envisioning a different reality that secures the digital futures of African women and girls.
Feminist talk from AsiaUnverified and false information on the internet has significantly impacted women's health in ways that leave lasting impact on their bodies. Momina Mindeel speaks to a woman who, in attempts to cure her polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), turned to social media after the health care system failed and she ended up with eating disorders.
Women street vendors are hesitant to use digital payment methods in India
While digital payments are transforming the shopping experience for people in India, the overemphasis on digitisation without addressing the gaps in technological access is creating challenges for those who lack necessary skills. As Anuj Behal reports, women street vendors say that they either don't have the skills or technology to access payments made to them, or they don't trust the platforms with their hard earned money.
The fate of Bangladesh’s cyber security act? A swift repeal
Bangladesh's Cyber Security Act replicates the draconian legislative framework that its predecessors imposed on online civil liberties in the country. With the new government in place, activists are demanding for its repeal, writes Parsa Sanjana Sajid.
Desi queer joy on the internet is defying social norms rooted in violence
Given the multifaceted structural violence that queer communities face in South Asia, their identities and existence are only referred to in relation to this violence. Arslan Athar challenges this notion and introduces how LGBTQIA+ folks in the region are reclaiming their identities by portraying the joyful parts of their lives on the internet.
Social media is helping people make environment-friendly fashion choices
The low prices of fast fashion have made it the preferred fashion choice for consumers around the world, leading to not just overconsumption but also overproduction that impacts the environment. Anmol Irfan explores how sustainability advocates are taking to social media in attempts to push for a behaviour change.
Image: Illustration by Paru Ramesh for GenderIT.org.
Regions Africa Asia Global Topics Feminist internet Freedom of expression Human rights and ICTs ICT policy Tags Areas of work Feminist internet OffIntegrating policy, research and technical standards in gender approaches to cybersecurity: Key takeaways from a recent APC-hosted roundtable
APC’s GenderIT.org provides a space for reflection, influence and advocacy on internet policy in relation to the rights and demands of women and gender-diverse people and issues related to sexuality, with a particular focus on voices from the Global South.
Here we share a sampling of recent posts featuring the opinions, experiences and thoughts of writers from the diverse community of GenderIT contributors.
Feminist talk from AfricaSpinning protests: Kenya’s pro-government bloggers push anti-queer smears
Amidst the protests to reject the Finance Bill 2024 in Kenya, protestors were subjected to online campaigns with particular attacks on queer individuals in the country, reports Linda Ngari. Data analysis of Twitter activities of some of the most active accounts suggests that these smear campaigns were in fact coordinated, and points towards an ongoing trend victimising marginalised communities.
Beating the gender gap: Nigeria’s tech space is a challenge for women to enter
Nigeria's tech industry has shown impressive growth, contributing 16.66% to the nation's GDP, but remains heavily male-dominated. Women face unique challenges, from hiring biases to workplace harassment, even as some companies adopt women-only initiatives that sometimes feel performative. Ugonna-Ora Owoh argues that continued support and accountability are crucial to fostering a truly inclusive environment for women in tech.
Securing the future of African women and girls online
The internet has become a mirror of women's grim reality in Africa, where they are subjected to various forms of violence daily. Chioma Agwuegbo discusses the situation of online gender-based violence on the continent while envisioning a different reality that secures the digital futures of African women and girls.
Feminist talk from AsiaUnverified and false information on the internet has significantly impacted women's health in ways that leave lasting impact on their bodies. Momina Mindeel speaks to a woman who, in attempts to cure her polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), turned to social media after the health care system failed and she ended up with eating disorders.
Women street vendors are hesitant to use digital payment methods in India
While digital payments are transforming the shopping experience for people in India, the overemphasis on digitisation without addressing the gaps in technological access is creating challenges for those who lack necessary skills. As Anuj Behal reports, women street vendors say that they either don't have the skills or technology to access payments made to them, or they don't trust the platforms with their hard earned money.
The fate of Bangladesh’s cyber security act? A swift repeal
Bangladesh's Cyber Security Act replicates the draconian legislative framework that its predecessors imposed on online civil liberties in the country. With the new government in place, activists are demanding for its repeal, writes Parsa Sanjana Sajid.
Desi queer joy on the internet is defying social norms rooted in violence
Given the multifaceted structural violence that queer communities face in South Asia, their identities and existence are only referred to in relation to this violence. Arslan Athar challenges this notion and introduces how LGBTQIA+ folks in the region are reclaiming their identities by portraying the joyful parts of their lives on the internet.
Social media is helping people make environment-friendly fashion choices
The low prices of fast fashion have made it the preferred fashion choice for consumers around the world, leading to not just overconsumption but also overproduction that impacts the environment. Anmol Irfan explores how sustainability advocates are taking to social media in attempts to push for a behaviour change.
Image: Illustration by Paru Ramesh for GenderIT.org.
Regions Africa Asia Global Topics Feminist internet Freedom of expression Human rights and ICTs ICT policy Tags Areas of work Feminist internet OffWebinar explained: Launch of the TFGBV Shared Research Agenda
APC’s GenderIT.org provides a space for reflection, influence and advocacy on internet policy in relation to the rights and demands of women and gender-diverse people and issues related to sexuality, with a particular focus on voices from the Global South.
Here we share a sampling of recent posts featuring the opinions, experiences and thoughts of writers from the diverse community of GenderIT contributors.
Feminist talk from AfricaSpinning protests: Kenya’s pro-government bloggers push anti-queer smears
Amidst the protests to reject the Finance Bill 2024 in Kenya, protestors were subjected to online campaigns with particular attacks on queer individuals in the country, reports Linda Ngari. Data analysis of Twitter activities of some of the most active accounts suggests that these smear campaigns were in fact coordinated, and points towards an ongoing trend victimising marginalised communities.
Beating the gender gap: Nigeria’s tech space is a challenge for women to enter
Nigeria's tech industry has shown impressive growth, contributing 16.66% to the nation's GDP, but remains heavily male-dominated. Women face unique challenges, from hiring biases to workplace harassment, even as some companies adopt women-only initiatives that sometimes feel performative. Ugonna-Ora Owoh argues that continued support and accountability are crucial to fostering a truly inclusive environment for women in tech.
Securing the future of African women and girls online
The internet has become a mirror of women's grim reality in Africa, where they are subjected to various forms of violence daily. Chioma Agwuegbo discusses the situation of online gender-based violence on the continent while envisioning a different reality that secures the digital futures of African women and girls.
Feminist talk from AsiaUnverified and false information on the internet has significantly impacted women's health in ways that leave lasting impact on their bodies. Momina Mindeel speaks to a woman who, in attempts to cure her polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), turned to social media after the health care system failed and she ended up with eating disorders.
Women street vendors are hesitant to use digital payment methods in India
While digital payments are transforming the shopping experience for people in India, the overemphasis on digitisation without addressing the gaps in technological access is creating challenges for those who lack necessary skills. As Anuj Behal reports, women street vendors say that they either don't have the skills or technology to access payments made to them, or they don't trust the platforms with their hard earned money.
The fate of Bangladesh’s cyber security act? A swift repeal
Bangladesh's Cyber Security Act replicates the draconian legislative framework that its predecessors imposed on online civil liberties in the country. With the new government in place, activists are demanding for its repeal, writes Parsa Sanjana Sajid.
Desi queer joy on the internet is defying social norms rooted in violence
Given the multifaceted structural violence that queer communities face in South Asia, their identities and existence are only referred to in relation to this violence. Arslan Athar challenges this notion and introduces how LGBTQIA+ folks in the region are reclaiming their identities by portraying the joyful parts of their lives on the internet.
Social media is helping people make environment-friendly fashion choices
The low prices of fast fashion have made it the preferred fashion choice for consumers around the world, leading to not just overconsumption but also overproduction that impacts the environment. Anmol Irfan explores how sustainability advocates are taking to social media in attempts to push for a behaviour change.
Image: Illustration by Paru Ramesh for GenderIT.org.
Regions Africa Asia Global Topics Feminist internet Freedom of expression Human rights and ICTs ICT policy Tags Areas of work Feminist internet OffStalkerware and targeted digital surveillance: What it is and what strategies can we use to look out for one another collectively
APC’s GenderIT.org provides a space for reflection, influence and advocacy on internet policy in relation to the rights and demands of women and gender-diverse people and issues related to sexuality, with a particular focus on voices from the Global South.
Here we share a sampling of recent posts featuring the opinions, experiences and thoughts of writers from the diverse community of GenderIT contributors.
Feminist talk from AfricaSpinning protests: Kenya’s pro-government bloggers push anti-queer smears
Amidst the protests to reject the Finance Bill 2024 in Kenya, protestors were subjected to online campaigns with particular attacks on queer individuals in the country, reports Linda Ngari. Data analysis of Twitter activities of some of the most active accounts suggests that these smear campaigns were in fact coordinated, and points towards an ongoing trend victimising marginalised communities.
Beating the gender gap: Nigeria’s tech space is a challenge for women to enter
Nigeria's tech industry has shown impressive growth, contributing 16.66% to the nation's GDP, but remains heavily male-dominated. Women face unique challenges, from hiring biases to workplace harassment, even as some companies adopt women-only initiatives that sometimes feel performative. Ugonna-Ora Owoh argues that continued support and accountability are crucial to fostering a truly inclusive environment for women in tech.
Securing the future of African women and girls online
The internet has become a mirror of women's grim reality in Africa, where they are subjected to various forms of violence daily. Chioma Agwuegbo discusses the situation of online gender-based violence on the continent while envisioning a different reality that secures the digital futures of African women and girls.
Feminist talk from AsiaUnverified and false information on the internet has significantly impacted women's health in ways that leave lasting impact on their bodies. Momina Mindeel speaks to a woman who, in attempts to cure her polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), turned to social media after the health care system failed and she ended up with eating disorders.
Women street vendors are hesitant to use digital payment methods in India
While digital payments are transforming the shopping experience for people in India, the overemphasis on digitisation without addressing the gaps in technological access is creating challenges for those who lack necessary skills. As Anuj Behal reports, women street vendors say that they either don't have the skills or technology to access payments made to them, or they don't trust the platforms with their hard earned money.
The fate of Bangladesh’s cyber security act? A swift repeal
Bangladesh's Cyber Security Act replicates the draconian legislative framework that its predecessors imposed on online civil liberties in the country. With the new government in place, activists are demanding for its repeal, writes Parsa Sanjana Sajid.
Desi queer joy on the internet is defying social norms rooted in violence
Given the multifaceted structural violence that queer communities face in South Asia, their identities and existence are only referred to in relation to this violence. Arslan Athar challenges this notion and introduces how LGBTQIA+ folks in the region are reclaiming their identities by portraying the joyful parts of their lives on the internet.
Social media is helping people make environment-friendly fashion choices
The low prices of fast fashion have made it the preferred fashion choice for consumers around the world, leading to not just overconsumption but also overproduction that impacts the environment. Anmol Irfan explores how sustainability advocates are taking to social media in attempts to push for a behaviour change.
Image: Illustration by Paru Ramesh for GenderIT.org.
Regions Africa Asia Global Topics Feminist internet Freedom of expression Human rights and ICTs ICT policy Tags Areas of work Feminist internet OffStatement to the open consultation of the CWG-Internet on “The developmental aspects to strengthen the internet”
APC’s GenderIT.org provides a space for reflection, influence and advocacy on internet policy in relation to the rights and demands of women and gender-diverse people and issues related to sexuality, with a particular focus on voices from the Global South.
Here we share a sampling of recent posts featuring the opinions, experiences and thoughts of writers from the diverse community of GenderIT contributors.
Feminist talk from AfricaSpinning protests: Kenya’s pro-government bloggers push anti-queer smears
Amidst the protests to reject the Finance Bill 2024 in Kenya, protestors were subjected to online campaigns with particular attacks on queer individuals in the country, reports Linda Ngari. Data analysis of Twitter activities of some of the most active accounts suggests that these smear campaigns were in fact coordinated, and points towards an ongoing trend victimising marginalised communities.
Beating the gender gap: Nigeria’s tech space is a challenge for women to enter
Nigeria's tech industry has shown impressive growth, contributing 16.66% to the nation's GDP, but remains heavily male-dominated. Women face unique challenges, from hiring biases to workplace harassment, even as some companies adopt women-only initiatives that sometimes feel performative. Ugonna-Ora Owoh argues that continued support and accountability are crucial to fostering a truly inclusive environment for women in tech.
Securing the future of African women and girls online
The internet has become a mirror of women's grim reality in Africa, where they are subjected to various forms of violence daily. Chioma Agwuegbo discusses the situation of online gender-based violence on the continent while envisioning a different reality that secures the digital futures of African women and girls.
Feminist talk from AsiaUnverified and false information on the internet has significantly impacted women's health in ways that leave lasting impact on their bodies. Momina Mindeel speaks to a woman who, in attempts to cure her polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), turned to social media after the health care system failed and she ended up with eating disorders.
Women street vendors are hesitant to use digital payment methods in India
While digital payments are transforming the shopping experience for people in India, the overemphasis on digitisation without addressing the gaps in technological access is creating challenges for those who lack necessary skills. As Anuj Behal reports, women street vendors say that they either don't have the skills or technology to access payments made to them, or they don't trust the platforms with their hard earned money.
The fate of Bangladesh’s cyber security act? A swift repeal
Bangladesh's Cyber Security Act replicates the draconian legislative framework that its predecessors imposed on online civil liberties in the country. With the new government in place, activists are demanding for its repeal, writes Parsa Sanjana Sajid.
Desi queer joy on the internet is defying social norms rooted in violence
Given the multifaceted structural violence that queer communities face in South Asia, their identities and existence are only referred to in relation to this violence. Arslan Athar challenges this notion and introduces how LGBTQIA+ folks in the region are reclaiming their identities by portraying the joyful parts of their lives on the internet.
Social media is helping people make environment-friendly fashion choices
The low prices of fast fashion have made it the preferred fashion choice for consumers around the world, leading to not just overconsumption but also overproduction that impacts the environment. Anmol Irfan explores how sustainability advocates are taking to social media in attempts to push for a behaviour change.
Image: Illustration by Paru Ramesh for GenderIT.org.
Regions Africa Asia Global Topics Feminist internet Freedom of expression Human rights and ICTs ICT policy Tags Areas of work Feminist internet OffCommunity networks newsletter: Bringing to the forefront the voices and experiences of community-centred connectivity initiatives
APC’s GenderIT.org provides a space for reflection, influence and advocacy on internet policy in relation to the rights and demands of women and gender-diverse people and issues related to sexuality, with a particular focus on voices from the Global South.
Here we share a sampling of recent posts featuring the opinions, experiences and thoughts of writers from the diverse community of GenderIT contributors.
Feminist talk from AfricaSpinning protests: Kenya’s pro-government bloggers push anti-queer smears
Amidst the protests to reject the Finance Bill 2024 in Kenya, protestors were subjected to online campaigns with particular attacks on queer individuals in the country, reports Linda Ngari. Data analysis of Twitter activities of some of the most active accounts suggests that these smear campaigns were in fact coordinated, and points towards an ongoing trend victimising marginalised communities.
Beating the gender gap: Nigeria’s tech space is a challenge for women to enter
Nigeria's tech industry has shown impressive growth, contributing 16.66% to the nation's GDP, but remains heavily male-dominated. Women face unique challenges, from hiring biases to workplace harassment, even as some companies adopt women-only initiatives that sometimes feel performative. Ugonna-Ora Owoh argues that continued support and accountability are crucial to fostering a truly inclusive environment for women in tech.
Securing the future of African women and girls online
The internet has become a mirror of women's grim reality in Africa, where they are subjected to various forms of violence daily. Chioma Agwuegbo discusses the situation of online gender-based violence on the continent while envisioning a different reality that secures the digital futures of African women and girls.
Feminist talk from AsiaUnverified and false information on the internet has significantly impacted women's health in ways that leave lasting impact on their bodies. Momina Mindeel speaks to a woman who, in attempts to cure her polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), turned to social media after the health care system failed and she ended up with eating disorders.
Women street vendors are hesitant to use digital payment methods in India
While digital payments are transforming the shopping experience for people in India, the overemphasis on digitisation without addressing the gaps in technological access is creating challenges for those who lack necessary skills. As Anuj Behal reports, women street vendors say that they either don't have the skills or technology to access payments made to them, or they don't trust the platforms with their hard earned money.
The fate of Bangladesh’s cyber security act? A swift repeal
Bangladesh's Cyber Security Act replicates the draconian legislative framework that its predecessors imposed on online civil liberties in the country. With the new government in place, activists are demanding for its repeal, writes Parsa Sanjana Sajid.
Desi queer joy on the internet is defying social norms rooted in violence
Given the multifaceted structural violence that queer communities face in South Asia, their identities and existence are only referred to in relation to this violence. Arslan Athar challenges this notion and introduces how LGBTQIA+ folks in the region are reclaiming their identities by portraying the joyful parts of their lives on the internet.
Social media is helping people make environment-friendly fashion choices
The low prices of fast fashion have made it the preferred fashion choice for consumers around the world, leading to not just overconsumption but also overproduction that impacts the environment. Anmol Irfan explores how sustainability advocates are taking to social media in attempts to push for a behaviour change.
Image: Illustration by Paru Ramesh for GenderIT.org.
Regions Africa Asia Global Topics Feminist internet Freedom of expression Human rights and ICTs ICT policy Tags Areas of work Feminist internet OffTaller de Comunicación Mujer se une a la red APC: "Es fundamental buscar alianzas para atajar las desigualdades sociales y las brechas políticas y digitales"
"This work of reclaiming memory is filled with a lot of affection, to look at where we've been walking, and what remains of our footprints."
They were from Brasília, Goiânia, Belo Horizonte, São Paulo and other towns and cities across Brazil. More importantly, it was 2005 and they were all on email lists and in IRC chatrooms. These particular spaces were focused on women and technology. And from those spaces sprang Birosca, a sparkling feminist movement in Brazil that ran from 2005 to 2012, and eventually had its own virtual server called Baderna, named after Marieta Baderna, the dancer from Rio. Baderna also means "disturbance" in Portuguese, an allusion to how activists are often perceived.
Cristina "Kit" Barretto de Menezes Lopes was part of Birosca from the beginning. “I learned a lot,” she says, and comments with a laugh, “I had a car, so sometimes I would handle transportation for the many needs that came up.” Menezes deeply valued those six years of Birosca and retraces those years in her new documentary, Birosca: Care, Women and Technology.
She was among the first round of recipients of the APC Women’s Rights Programme’s Feminist #TechJoy small grants, which facilitated the production of this half-hour long documentary film in the first six months of 2024. “This work of reclaiming memory is filled with a lot of affection,” she says. “These are relationships that make us revisit personal processes, to look at where we've been walking, and what remains of our footprints.”
Sorry, this video will not work because your web browser does not support HTML5 video.
It was a particular moment in the history of the internet in 2005. In Brazil, the government supported digital inclusion and the adoption of free/libre and open source software (FLOSS). In the documentary, Menezes interviews several members of the collective, one of whom reminisces how nobody needed a username or password to publish on the website. The internet was still an open space. It’s hard to remember now, but it wasn’t that long ago.
“It was a very important moment that marked the beginning of the popularisation of the internet,” Menezes wrote in the project report for APC. “This turning point of the web that enabled silenced voices to be amplified and facilitated new forms of organisation. The idea of a free and autonomous internet was put into practice by young and vibrant hearts that planted seeds.”
"The idea of a free and autonomous internet was put into practice by young and vibrant hearts that planted seeds."
Birosca began with a group of women who were involved in the Global Network of Independent Media Centres, better known as Indymedia, a website for citizen journalism and the world’s first open source software, according to one interviewee in the film. As the project grew, “we felt the need to create a space for women in technology,” says Isabela "Toya" Fernandes, one of the founders of Birosca, in the film.
As a transfeminist collective, they worked on several techno-political issues that still pique us today, including private monopolies, deploying open source software and the restrictions imposed by big corporations. The collective provided its own email services – not just out of pride, but to make a political point. Similarly, it was a political choice to use OSS like Cinelerra for video editing (even if it crashed a lot) and Audacity to edit audio. They worked on hardware and the software and were autonomous.
As she was shooting the interviews, Menezes heard a phrase repeated that stayed with her. Several women mentioned how working in the collective, "They 'learned how to learn’ because we were supporting each other, but it was us for us. So much of it was about paving the way ourselves, writing tutorials that didn’t exist. We learned so we could teach. It was a process of great generosity – with ourselves, with others, and with the process itself.”
This phrase became a key touchpoint as it triggered further memories for Menezes: “I felt very welcomed in Birosca, in that moment in time, because I was the oldest in the group but the youngest when it came to technology.” Menezes was 35 then and most of the other members were a decade younger. “I didn’t have the boldness they had to take things apart; I was afraid of breaking them. And there, in the project, I started to lose that fear of making mistakes.”
Learning, teaching and breaking gender norms while doing itWorking on technology was, of course, going against the grain of gender expectations, but Menezes has an intriguing insight that goes further on how the work on technology intersected with the activists’ lives. “Through our time in Birosca, we started to understand the difficulty of accessing technology as a taboo – it was the same taboo that had prevented us from knowing our own bodies. […] Breaking away from that gave us a powerful sense of autonomy, and we thought it was important to share that, to document this experience.”
This point is echoed by almost every person interviewed in the film. “We talked about the body, about technology, about the fear of not knowing enough,” says Karine "Foz" Batista. Ianni Luna reads out from old notes for a meta-recycling and sexuality workshop that they conducted, discussing the parallels about knowing your own body and a piece of hardware, in opposition to the more usual, detached discourse around technology. “We made a point of having people tell us about themselves. We talked about our private lives in connection with technology.”
“No other collective was discussing the same things as us – feminism, gender and technology,” says Fernandes. “We talked about how society wouldn’t enable us to get to know ourselves sexually, just like not knowing how to open a PC and find out if that motherboard worked, and how it worked.”
Menezes and other women from the collective thought it was crucial to share this aspect and to document this experience. “Making the film made me revisit the importance of this desire to learn,” she adds. “Because at that moment it wasn't clear, but now, looking back at this process through the film, it’s much clearer how important it was to have been part of it all.”
A legacy of thinking and nurturingIt’s hard to find Birosca on today’s internet with its fragile archives and flickering amnesia, but Menezes says the memory of Birosca is significant and hence its documentation is significant. The film premiered in June this year at the Casarão da Cultura in the city of Rio Claro, a significant audiovisual hub in the interior of São Paulo.
Fernandes says in the film that “Birosca is like a dandelion, it’s flown and spread out there. Each of us holds a part of it, we’re still friends.” Menezes remembers Birosca as “bold, beautiful and poetic," and comments, "It lives on not only in the memories of those who lived through that moment but now, documented, so that others can know that this moment existed.” She adds that she wanted the film “to provoke a tension through these discussions. to continue thinking, revisiting the paths, the milestones, the points of arrival. It's really good to know the history, the paths that others have taken for us to be where we are today, whether to learn from mistakes or to create new possibilities."
There is much evidence in the film of the value of such revisiting. As Aline Freitas says in the film, the collective opened up conversations so much beyond just technology. “Birosca gave me a feeling of being sheltered. I’d say that feeling made my life so much easier.”
Regions Latin America & the Caribbean Topics Feminist internet Free/libre and open source software (FLOSS) Internet feminista Media and ICTs Tags Areas of work Feminist internet Column Seeding change OffKeIGF2024: Championing women’s rights online using Feminist Principles of the Internet
This piece was originally published on the website of APC member organisation KICTANet.
The Kenya Internet Governance Forum (KeIGF) kicked off its week with a focus on women’s rights in the digital age.
KICTANet in partnership with the Association of Progressive Communications (APC) hosted a roundtable discussion on “Women’s Inclusion for a Multi-stakeholder Digital Future”, aimed to popularize the Feminist Principles of the Internet (FPIs) and encourage women’s meaningful participation in Internet governance.
Dr. Grace Githaiga, CEO of KICTANet, highlighted Kenya’s thriving young population and its role in driving innovation. She emphasized the importance of digital activism as a tool for holding institutions accountable and creating positive change.
In addition, she spoke on the importance of digital literacy and critical thinking, as well as the role of social media in mobilizing people and amplifying marginalized voices. The issue of government shutdowns and their impact on digital activism was also raised, along with the potential for digital activism to create a more inclusive and participatory democracy.
Feminist principles in the Global Digital CompactAmanda Manyame, Equality Now’s Digital Rights Advisor, discussed the importance of integrating the FPIs into the upcoming Global Digital Compact, a UN initiative promoting an open and secure digital future.
The Compact will be the first international agreement to comprehensively address digital governance.
Why feminist principles matterAccording to Amanda, the FPIs, developed by a coalition of organizations, provide a framework for protecting women’s rights online. Some of the key areas include:
- Public commitments to protect the digital rights of women and girls, particularly those facing discrimination.
- Freedom from technology-based violence, including measures to address online harassment and empower survivors.
- Universal access to the Internet for all, ensuring affordability, accessibility, and diverse languages.
- Safeguarding human rights, demanding action against discriminatory AI systems and ensuring privacy in the digital workplace.
Within the Kenyan context, integrating the FPIs into the Kenyan ICT Law Reform process will entail:
- Strengthening Kenyan law to hold transnational corporations accountable for online harms against women.
- Promoting human-rights-based design of technology to address algorithmic bias and data privacy.
- Empowering women in STEM fields by encouraging girls to pursue careers in technology and fostering safe work environments.
Reimagining a feminist internet
Cherie Oyier, KICTANet’s Programs Officer for the Women’s Digital Rights Program, outlined her vision for a future aligned with how the FPIs empower women.
One is affordable internet access for all, including access to sexual and reproductive health information. Two, digital literacy programs that equip women to become creators and leaders in the tech industry.
Three, the creation of safe online spaces free from harassment and discrimination and inclusive internet governance with women’s voices shaping policy decisions.
She also said everyone needs to advocate for digital equality, including affordable access, bridging the gender gap, and promoting diverse online languages. Embracing personal agency online by controlling what you share and how you express yourself besides protecting your privacy and security online.
“The internet should empower everyone to access information freely, express themselves authentically, control their data, and join movements that make a difference,” emphasised Cherie.
Areas of work Feminist internet Internet governance Topics Feminist internet Internet governance Regions Africa Tags Members involved Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet)
The machine that fosters shame: The weaponisation of sexuality in anti-gender anti-democracy disinformation
There exists a growing body of mainstream journalistic and scholarly work about disinformation which attempts to capture and expose the bounds of a “disinformation industry”, or “disinformation for hire”. In addition, there is a large body of data-based work which looks at disinformation as “computational propaganda” wielded by nation-states. Much of this work uncovers the involvement of “foreign powers”, and the use of bots and trolls.
The public conversation about disinformation tends, therefore, to be framed using a “macro” lens, with concern for its “serious” impact on political and democratic processes. On the other hand, the impact of disinformation campaigns which weaponise sexuality and target communities who are excluded due to gender, sex and sexuality norms, are seen as having a “less serious” effect on politics and democracy, even though the evidence says otherwise.
Despite these conditions, there is an increasing focus on “gendered disinformation”, including from international human rights experts, like the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression (UNSR FoE). Gendered disinformation as a conceptual framework includes examining the gendered dimensions of who is targeted and by whom, and the content and impact of such disinformation.
Our aim with this paper is to explore the specific location of sexuality in disinformation campaigns targeting those standing up to patriarchal and authoritarian regimes of social and political power, going beyond “gender”.
Ideas about women’s and gender-diverse persons’ sexuality have long been weaponised against those fighting for gender justice and human rights, particularly sexual rights. Indeed, “lesbian-baiting” and “sexuality-baiting” were tools historically used against feminist organising at the international level.
When the women’s rights agenda gained momentum through major multilateral conferences such as the World Conferences on Women, disinformation campaigns against feminist activists and the feminist agenda intensified.
At the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, flyers distributed at the conference claimed that the Beijing Platform for Action “seeks to promote abortion, depraved sexual behaviour, homosexuality, lesbianism, sexual promiscuity and sex for children.” Another asked, “do sexual rights and sexual orientation include: pedophilia, and prostitution?”
Conservative state actors who opposed the feminist agenda, and their civil society allies such as religious fundamentalist groups, warned of “Gender Feminists”. The label signals many feminists’ efforts to include “gender” as a category in law and policy, as a way to understand inequality and promote equality.
Challenges to the inclusion of the term “gender” continue today. Some member states – supported by right-wing organisations – contest the inclusion of “gender” in legal and policy documents, and challenge its inclusion in a variety of instruments, including those meant to combat gender-based violence. Its inclusion has come to be used as a bargaining tool.
Supportive of this agenda are self-proclaimed “gender-critical feminists”, or trans- exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs). They take issue with all aspects of what they describe as “gender theory”, on the basis that it sets out to create a world beyond binary sex and gender categorisation, and push for “sex-based rights”.
These disinformation campaigns continue the legacy of a patriarchal practice: rumour and gossip – forms of “casual disinformation” – which historically weaponised sexuality to discredit women, gender non-conforming persons, or those who fought against patriarchal and exclusionary social hierarchies.
The UNSR FoE points out in her 2023 report that while gendered disinformation is not a new phenomenon, it is fuelled by new technologies and social media. Today’s disinformation campaigns that weaponise sexuality are intricately shaped by the explosive potential of digital technologies and the decision makers behind them – importantly, in many unseen and unknown ways.
Disinformation campaigns such as those seen in Beijing in 1995 deliberately conflated distinct issues like prostitution, paedophilia, lesbianism (or homosexuality more generally) and sexual promiscuity, and were designed to invoke moral outrage and panic. As we will explore, similar themes and strategies persist in today’s disinformation campaigns.
There is agreement among many feminists that gendered disinformation is a strategy used to silence those criticising the powerful, particularly women and gender-diverse persons. This is in alignment with the opinion of the UNSR FoE. Structural exclusion and social and state violence exacerbate the impact of disinformation “because [gendered disinformation] reinforces prejudices, bias and structural and systemic barriers that stand in the way of gender equality and gender justice.”
In this paper, we explore three specific types of disinformation campaigns which weaponise sexuality: 1) the use of deepfake “pornography” to silence women engaged in the critique of powerful actors, and to attack the gender justice agenda; 2) transferences of anti-trans narratives and strategies through disinformation campaigns across borders; and 3) disinformation campaigns about comprehensive sexuality education.
Table of contents
- Author's note on timeline, methodology and positionality
- Introduction
- Chapter 1: Deepfake "porn" as a tool to silence and delegitimise critiques of anti-gender and anti-democracy actors
- Chapter 2: Sexuality weaponised in disinformation campaigns targeting sexually and gender-diverse communities
- Chapter 3: Attacks on comprehensive sexuality education as a tool in the anti-gender and anti-democracy toolkit
- Chapter 4: The role of disinformation weaponising sexuality in the broader anti-democracy agenda
- Conclusions
A call to action to effectively address technology-facilitated gender-based violence
This is episode 1 of the podcast This Feminist Internet Life: FTX Stories of Collaboration, Creativity and Care.
This podcast starts in the Huairou district in China, where the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) was part of a 40-woman team who set up, in 1995, a communication centre during the UN Fourth World Conference on Women. Run by women volunteers, the “women’s tent” – as it’s remembered – connected the diverse women from the conference to the rest of the world, plenty of them discovering the internet for the first time! In this episode, we hear from incredible women who were there and left their mark on feminist technology to this day.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
Read the transcript of the podcast here.
This podcast is an initiative from the Association for Progressive Communications Women’s Rights Programme (APC WRP) and Our Voices, Our Futures project with support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Areas of work Feminist internet Topics Access Capacity building Feminist internet Security and privacy Strategic use of the internet Regions Global TagsWe are part of feminist movements
This piece was originally published at GenderIT.org.
In this podcast, we invite you on a journey to explore stories by the voices of over 15 feminist tech activists from the global South! You will start by hearing how since the dial-up internet era the paths towards imagining and creating a feminist internet started, leading to building more inclusive, safe and queer feminist movements in the digital age – while having at the core of the process fun and care for people, the Earth and our feminist activism.
Here you can listen to some great stories of long-time feminist tech activists and savvy newbies from the APC Women's Rights Programme (WRP) and its expanded network. During our season together, we will get inspired by their memories and experiences, all connected by a common thread: making a feminist internet!
We will learn more about the Feminist Tech eXchange (FTX), a digital care curriculum that has been developed for years, connecting feminist tech trainers from around the world to exchange knowledge, strategies and care practices. These conversations explore their methodologies, experiences and the wisdom of alternative ways of being online.
So, hit play and join us in this five-episode season!Episode 1: Dial-up to Beijing 1995: The women's communication tentWe start this podcast in the Huairou district in China, where the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) was part of a 40-women team who set up, in 1995, a communication centre during the UN 4th World Conference on Women. Run by women volunteers, the “women’s tent” – as it’s remembered – connected the diverse women from the conference to the rest of the world, plenty of them discovering the internet for the first time! In this episode, we hear from incredible women who were there and left their mark on feminist technology to this day.
Read the transcript of the podcast.
Episode 2: The beginnings of the FTXIn this episode, we answer: Why Feminist Tech eXchanges? Directly from the mouths of the digital care trainers who were part of the beginnings of the FTX and their personal journeys with feminism and technology. Talking about why holding space with a feminist lens and intersectionality matter, especially while figuring out technology.
Read the transcript of the podcast.
Episode 3: This is a WE thingOur guests start by sharing stories from the in-person FTX in 2008, totally led by women and hosted in Cape Town, South Africa. That was the start to building a community around digital safety and care, leading to the embodiment of the FTX: Safety reboot, which is both a learning curriculum and a community of feminist digital security trainers that keeps growing.
Read the transcript of the podcast.
Episode 4: There is no security with a big SThis episode is filled with tips and strategies from different feminists on how to create alternative infrastructures of care and embed affection into digital security trainings and most importantly, their lives, communities and movements. It challenges the notions of a one-size-fits-all prescriptive curriculum and/or training and invites activists to reflect on what safety and care mean to them and their communities.
Read the transcript of the podcast.
Episode 5: We are part of feminist movementsWe finish this first season by listening to some new voices around the globe talking about how and why they have become trainers and some of their biggest challenges and joys as feminist digital security trainers. They share first-person experiences and tips on how to balance their work with digital and holistic care and personal life and activism, while dealing with patriarchy pressures, imposter syndrome and fatigue.
Read the transcript of the podcast.
This podcast is an initiative from the Association for Progressive Communications Women’s Rights Programme (APC WRP) and Our Voices, Our Futures project, with support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Related supporter Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS) Areas of work Feminist internet Topics Capacity building Feminist internet Freedom of expression Human rights and ICTs Security and privacy Regions Global Tags
There is no security with a big S
This piece was originally published at GenderIT.org.
In this podcast, we invite you on a journey to explore stories by the voices of over 15 feminist tech activists from the global South! You will start by hearing how since the dial-up internet era the paths towards imagining and creating a feminist internet started, leading to building more inclusive, safe and queer feminist movements in the digital age – while having at the core of the process fun and care for people, the Earth and our feminist activism.
Here you can listen to some great stories of long-time feminist tech activists and savvy newbies from the APC Women's Rights Programme (WRP) and its expanded network. During our season together, we will get inspired by their memories and experiences, all connected by a common thread: making a feminist internet!
We will learn more about the Feminist Tech eXchange (FTX), a digital care curriculum that has been developed for years, connecting feminist tech trainers from around the world to exchange knowledge, strategies and care practices. These conversations explore their methodologies, experiences and the wisdom of alternative ways of being online.
So, hit play and join us in this five-episode season!Episode 1: Dial-up to Beijing 1995: The women's communication tentWe start this podcast in the Huairou district in China, where the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) was part of a 40-women team who set up, in 1995, a communication centre during the UN 4th World Conference on Women. Run by women volunteers, the “women’s tent” – as it’s remembered – connected the diverse women from the conference to the rest of the world, plenty of them discovering the internet for the first time! In this episode, we hear from incredible women who were there and left their mark on feminist technology to this day.
Read the transcript of the podcast.
Episode 2: The beginnings of the FTXIn this episode, we answer: Why Feminist Tech eXchanges? Directly from the mouths of the digital care trainers who were part of the beginnings of the FTX and their personal journeys with feminism and technology. Talking about why holding space with a feminist lens and intersectionality matter, especially while figuring out technology.
Read the transcript of the podcast.
Episode 3: This is a WE thingOur guests start by sharing stories from the in-person FTX in 2008, totally led by women and hosted in Cape Town, South Africa. That was the start to building a community around digital safety and care, leading to the embodiment of the FTX: Safety reboot, which is both a learning curriculum and a community of feminist digital security trainers that keeps growing.
Read the transcript of the podcast.
Episode 4: There is no security with a big SThis episode is filled with tips and strategies from different feminists on how to create alternative infrastructures of care and embed affection into digital security trainings and most importantly, their lives, communities and movements. It challenges the notions of a one-size-fits-all prescriptive curriculum and/or training and invites activists to reflect on what safety and care mean to them and their communities.
Read the transcript of the podcast.
Episode 5: We are part of feminist movementsWe finish this first season by listening to some new voices around the globe talking about how and why they have become trainers and some of their biggest challenges and joys as feminist digital security trainers. They share first-person experiences and tips on how to balance their work with digital and holistic care and personal life and activism, while dealing with patriarchy pressures, imposter syndrome and fatigue.
Read the transcript of the podcast.
This podcast is an initiative from the Association for Progressive Communications Women’s Rights Programme (APC WRP) and Our Voices, Our Futures project, with support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Related supporter Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS) Areas of work Feminist internet Topics Capacity building Feminist internet Freedom of expression Human rights and ICTs Security and privacy Regions Global Tags
This is a WE thing
This piece was originally published at GenderIT.org.
In this podcast, we invite you on a journey to explore stories by the voices of over 15 feminist tech activists from the global South! You will start by hearing how since the dial-up internet era the paths towards imagining and creating a feminist internet started, leading to building more inclusive, safe and queer feminist movements in the digital age – while having at the core of the process fun and care for people, the Earth and our feminist activism.
Here you can listen to some great stories of long-time feminist tech activists and savvy newbies from the APC Women's Rights Programme (WRP) and its expanded network. During our season together, we will get inspired by their memories and experiences, all connected by a common thread: making a feminist internet!
We will learn more about the Feminist Tech eXchange (FTX), a digital care curriculum that has been developed for years, connecting feminist tech trainers from around the world to exchange knowledge, strategies and care practices. These conversations explore their methodologies, experiences and the wisdom of alternative ways of being online.
So, hit play and join us in this five-episode season!Episode 1: Dial-up to Beijing 1995: The women's communication tentWe start this podcast in the Huairou district in China, where the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) was part of a 40-women team who set up, in 1995, a communication centre during the UN 4th World Conference on Women. Run by women volunteers, the “women’s tent” – as it’s remembered – connected the diverse women from the conference to the rest of the world, plenty of them discovering the internet for the first time! In this episode, we hear from incredible women who were there and left their mark on feminist technology to this day.
Read the transcript of the podcast.
Episode 2: The beginnings of the FTXIn this episode, we answer: Why Feminist Tech eXchanges? Directly from the mouths of the digital care trainers who were part of the beginnings of the FTX and their personal journeys with feminism and technology. Talking about why holding space with a feminist lens and intersectionality matter, especially while figuring out technology.
Read the transcript of the podcast.
Episode 3: This is a WE thingOur guests start by sharing stories from the in-person FTX in 2008, totally led by women and hosted in Cape Town, South Africa. That was the start to building a community around digital safety and care, leading to the embodiment of the FTX: Safety reboot, which is both a learning curriculum and a community of feminist digital security trainers that keeps growing.
Read the transcript of the podcast.
Episode 4: There is no security with a big SThis episode is filled with tips and strategies from different feminists on how to create alternative infrastructures of care and embed affection into digital security trainings and most importantly, their lives, communities and movements. It challenges the notions of a one-size-fits-all prescriptive curriculum and/or training and invites activists to reflect on what safety and care mean to them and their communities.
Read the transcript of the podcast.
Episode 5: We are part of feminist movementsWe finish this first season by listening to some new voices around the globe talking about how and why they have become trainers and some of their biggest challenges and joys as feminist digital security trainers. They share first-person experiences and tips on how to balance their work with digital and holistic care and personal life and activism, while dealing with patriarchy pressures, imposter syndrome and fatigue.
Read the transcript of the podcast.
This podcast is an initiative from the Association for Progressive Communications Women’s Rights Programme (APC WRP) and Our Voices, Our Futures project, with support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Related supporter Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS) Areas of work Feminist internet Topics Capacity building Feminist internet Freedom of expression Human rights and ICTs Security and privacy Regions Global Tags
Asociación para el Progreso de las Comunicaciones (APC) 2022
Si no se dispone lo contrario, el contenido del sitio web de APC se encuentra bajo la licencia Creative Commons Atribución 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0)