Aasai

TECHNOLOGY AS A CATALYST TO GENDER BASED VIOLENCE.

Gender based violence refers to the harassment and unfair treatment of individuals based on their gender of being a male or a female.Technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes like in education, medical and transport.The various forms of technology are communication technology, information technology, transport technology and medical technology.Technology can be used for various functions.

Technology has been used as a great facilitator for gender based violence.Therefore this process can be termed as technology facilitated gender based violence.This can be achieved through various platforms including Instagrams, Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter currently referred as X and other social media platforms.Gender based violence may occur in various forms including physical violence which involves physically abusing by domestic violence and fights to target a specific gender.

Emotional violence involves various types of abuses that can affect an individual mentally and psychologically.Sexual abuse is another form of gender based violence which involves non consensual acts like rape, sexual harassment and child sexual abuse.All these types of abuses combined can contribute to gender based violence.Technology facilitated violence have several diverse effects.

Emotional distress is the main effect of technology facilitated gender violence.Emotional distress arise from emotional violence and physical violence.Chronic emotional distress can lead to stress.When stress occurs either acute, chronic,distress , hypostress and hyperstress then there is high likelihood of developing depression.

Grief or loss can also occur as a result of technology facilitated gender based violence.Grief occurs in five stages before one can arrive at acceptance.If one experiences grief,one will have to go through denial,anger, bargaining, depression and then finally acceptance.What can one do when you experience loss or grief? Acceptance is key.

There are various strategies that have been put into place or have to be strengthened to ensure effective implementation of gender violence measures.Individuals, groups and the community at large need to combine efforts to ensure that these measures are effectively implemented into action since two are better than one:

Regulations of different social media accounts can be very helpful when it comes to curbing of technology facilitated gender based violence.Various social media platforms should have strategies to restrict individuals from posting false information about people, groups or the community at large.When this is done,cyber bullys as I may call them will lack enough chances to express opinions any how.

Education and awareness can serve a very fundamental function when it comes to elimination of gender based violence through technology.Through awareness, citizens get a chance to learn,unlearn and relearn technological behaviours.Education also provides a platform for information sharing and sharing of views and opinions about technology facilitated gender based violence.

Social support including counselling and support for the victims abused can also serve a great function when it comes to healing of the abused.Through counselling programs,the victims get an opportunity to share their experiences and feelings and in the process they get an opportunity to join various social groups.In the process, people get an opportunity to realize that they are not alone in the fight.