By Edwin Wanjawa and Dommie Yambo-Odotte
The digital sphere has become an indispensable space for communication, self-expression, and political participation. Yet for many women across the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, this space is fraught with danger. Digital violence—manifesting through targeted cyberattacks, harassment, disinformation, and hate speech—mirrors and amplifies offline inequalities. It is a contemporary continuation of the structural marginalisation women have historically endured. As online platforms increasingly shape public life, understanding the nature and impact of digital violence becomes vital to advancing gender justice, digital rights, and inclusive civic participation.
The experiences of women online cannot be separated from the broader social contexts in which they live. In societies where patriarchal norms, rigid gender expectations, and cultural biases remain deeply entrenched, digital violence becomes both an extension of offline hostility and a unique mechanism of harm. Research by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC, 2020) shows that women who assert themselves online—whether through activism, leadership, or professional visibility—are disproportionately targeted. The intersection of gender, age, socio-economic status, and public visibility creates layered vulnerabilities that mainstream policy and digital platforms often fail to adequately recognise.
Targeted cyberattacks are among the most severe forms of digital violence affecting women. These attacks go beyond trolling or insults; they involve attempts to break into personal accounts, leak private information, impersonate individuals, or distribute intimate images without consent. According to Amnesty International (2022), women human rights defenders and journalists face “intensified levels of coordinated digital surveillance and attacks,” often intended to silence or intimidate. For many women, a hacked account or leaked message can lead to reputational damage, career setbacks, family conflict, or physical harm. In contexts where victim-blaming is prevalent, digital attacks have real-world consequences that threaten safety, dignity, and livelihood.
Closely linked to cyberattacks is the misuse of personal information—particularly images and private conversations. The non-consensual dissemination of intimate content (often referred to as “revenge pornography”) is one of the most psychologically devastating forms of digital abuse. As documented by multiple women’s rights organisations, perpetrators use the threat of exposure as a tool of control, extortion, or humiliation. This fear forces many women into digital silence, pushing them away from online forums, civic discussions, and professional networking spaces. Digital violence thus becomes a mechanism of exclusion, erasing women’s voices from the digital public sphere.
Beyond targeted attacks, women consistently face rampant digital harassment. This includes derogatory messages, sexualised insults, moral policing, and attempts at coercion. Such harassment is not random; it is systematic, reflecting social norms that police women’s behaviour, mobility, and expression. In 2019, a study by the International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW) found that women who challenge traditional expectations—through activism, public commentary, or visible leadership—experience significantly higher rates of online abuse. The psychological toll—anxiety, self-censorship, burnout, and social withdrawal—reveals an environment where visibility comes with significant risk.
Hate speech represents the broader cultural ecosystem in which these acts occur. Online hate directed at women often borrows from cultural, religious, or political narratives, portraying them as immoral, incompetent, or unfit for leadership. Digital platforms—especially comment sections, Twitter/X threads, TikTok videos, and WhatsApp groups—become spaces where harmful stereotypes circulate unchecked. Research from the African Digital Rights Network (2022) highlights how digital hate speech normalises violence by reinforcing patriarchal ideologies that justify exclusion and abuse. When amplified, hate speech fosters a climate where discrimination becomes both tolerated and reproduced.
In this context, the media plays a pivotal role. Organisations such as Development Through Media (DTM) have an ethical responsibility to counter harmful narratives, promote inclusive storytelling, and uphold the dignity of all individuals. Ethical reporting requires journalists to avoid sensationalism, respect consent, and use language that neither stereotypes nor endangers. As UNESCO emphasised in 2023, inclusive and gender-sensitive media coverage can shift public attitudes, challenge biases, and broaden civic understanding. DTM’s advocacy for digital literacy, fact-checking, and rights-based reporting is essential in combating digital violence and fostering safer online spaces.
Ultimately, addressing digital violence against women demands a holistic approach—strengthening legal protections, holding tech platforms accountable, promoting digital literacy, and cultivating a media ecosystem grounded in ethics and human rights. Digital spaces hold immense potential for liberation and participation, but only when safety, dignity, and inclusion are guaranteed. For women, visibility should not equate to vulnerability. Ending digital violence is therefore not only a technological issue; it is a profound struggle for justice, equality, and the right to participate fully in both physical and digital work.
Edwin Wanjawa is the Programmes Associate, DTM and Dommie Yambo-
Odotte is the Executive Director and Producer, DTM
