By: Mabinty M. Kamara
Issues of online violence continue to exert a tight grip on the participation of women and marginalized communities in public life, including governance. The digital space is witnessing a concerning trend that threatens to roll back the hard-fought progress made by advocates across the globe in advancing women's rights. Sexist content and various forms of online criminality, such as cyberbullying, take centre stage during critical moments like elections.
Cyberbullying, a disturbing manifestation of online violence, involves intimidating and harassing individuals, groups, or institutions through electronic devices like phones and computers. In Africa, where gender dynamics still exhibit dominance and superiority, this malevolent behaviour becomes increasingly prevalent when women dare to rise and assert themselves.
Female politicians often face unique and degrading scrutiny that delves into their personal lives, relationships, and even their sexuality, overshadowing their qualifications and competence as leaders.
The Sad Reality: Gender Bias in Political Scrutiny
In the realm of politics, when male candidates vie for positions of trust or seek election, their competence, strength, and power are put to the test. However, public scrutiny often fails to delve into their personal lives or question how they balance family responsibilities with their public duties for efficient service delivery. Instead, discussions tend to revolve around their wealth, successes, education, and social connections.
Conversely, when a woman steps forward to compete on equal footing with a male counterpart for the same position, her personal life, including relationships, family matters, and even her sexuality, suddenly become a subject of intense public debate and scrutiny. In this glaring double standard, the focus shifts away from her capabilities and competence to fulfil her prescribed mandate.
This gender bias in political scrutiny perpetuates a troubling pattern that hinders women's progress and representation in public office, denying society the benefits of diverse and inclusive governance.
A Universal Crisis: Global Women Face Similar Battles
The unfortunate reality is that gendered attacks on women in politics are not confined to Africa or underdeveloped nations; they constitute a global issue. Even in the United States, heralded as the cradle of modern democracy, women candidates find themselves subjected to an onslaught of online abuse.
The 2016 elections between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton stand as a stark example, with Clinton enduring a torrent of online trashing from opponents and supporters alike.
During the campaign, the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, resorted to using crude displays to undermine his female opponent, aiming to weaken her confidence. Clinton's response revealed her resilience and empathy for young people experiencing similar online bullying.
“You are looking at somebody who's had a lot of terrible things said about me," she said.
Adding that "I am old enough that it doesn't particularly bother me but I can't imagine what it's like to be, you know, a young person in today's world where that's coming at you all the time," she said.
This response came after her main challenger had referred to her as "schlonged." His description came after Clinton’s long delay to return to the stage after a bathroom break during a weekend debate.
It only took a strong and courageous woman to battle with such a man who types every character his fingers touch on the keyboard.
This has deterred many women, especially in Africa from venturing into public life not to talk about politics.
The Case of Sierra Leone: Escalating Cyberbullying During Elections
Sierra Leone witnessed a surge in cyberbullying against female political figures during its recent elections, exacerbated by increased internet penetration and mobile phone access. According to DataReportal-Global Digital Insights, there were 2.67 million internet users in Sierra Leone in January 2022.
"Sierra Leone's internet penetration rate stood at 32.4% of the total population at the start of 2022. Kepois analysis indicated that internet users in Sierra Leone increased by 296 thousand (+12.5 percent) between 2021 and 2022" it reads.
The 50/50 Group, advocating for political equality rights in Sierra Leone, voiced grave concerns over cyberbullying targeting women leaders and election observers.
"Cyberbullying against women in leadership positions not only undermines their contributions but also has broader implications for the overall democratic process. Such harmful behaviour can deter women from participating in politics, limit their representation and deny society the benefit of diverse and inclusive governance," the statement reads in part.
During the elections, the Elected Mayor of Freetown was subjected to constant bullying, with attackers mocking her love for "red lipstick." She also became popularly known as the "woman with the issue of blood" after she had made a social media post about a scene she claimed was overflowing with human blood at her party’s office (which turned out to be fake), following an altercation between his party and state security personnel.
Another victim of online intimidation was the head of the National Elections Observation Group, Marcella Samba Sesay, who endured several instances of cyberbullying throughout the election period.
Disturbingly, the impact of cyberbullying extended beyond the digital realm. During one of the town hall meetings held by Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL), it was reported that a female parliamentary aspirant after several online harassments and bullying was also physically attacked after the election results were announced and her party didn't win.
The Way Forward
Sierra Leone enacted a cyber security law in 2021; however, its implementation has faced challenges for law enforcement agencies. Consequently, fake news, hate speech, and cyberbullying have thrived. Urgent attention is required to equip and empower the Cyber Unit to effectively address online violence. Collaborative efforts with social media platforms like Meta and Twitter are crucial to swiftly remove problematic contents.
According to the European Union Elections Observation Mission preliminary report, Meta introduced only basic measures to prevent abuse and speed of harmful content.
"Fact-checking recognized by Facebook did not have a solid presence in Sierra Leone and Meta did not have the so-called trusted partner in Sierra Leone who would have a direct communication line with Facebook," it reads
Conclusion
The prevalence of online violence against women in politics necessitates a united response from governments, social media platforms, and civil society. Sierra Leone, like many other nations, must prioritize the implementation of cyber security laws and ensure effective enforcement to combat cyberbullying.
By empowering women to participate in public life without fear of online violence, will foster diverse and inclusive governance, safeguard democracy, and promote gender equality.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (02/10/23)
