Tech-facilitated violence: thinking structurally and intersectionally

Technologically-facilitated violence (TFV) can take many shapes and forms, In this thought piece, we reflect on TFV from structural intersectional perspectives, examining how these might change our understanding of TFV, with particular attention to gender-based TFV. We are motivated engage in reflection for two main reasons. First, traditional understandings violence, including tend prioritise physical acts (whether word or application), contributing a trivialisation the kinds harms effected through digitised communications networks (Dunn, 2021). Second, if is understood primarily terms individual interpersonal acts, ability understand intersecting oppressions such as sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, colonialism affect likelihood being targeted experience will be compromised. As Black feminist critical race scholars Crenshaw (1991), Hill Collins (2017), Jiwani, Berman Cameron (2010) have ably demonstrated, individualistic single axis accounts outside technologised contexts resulted exclusionary dangerous outcomes that selectively harm members equality-seeking communities. The result individualised ‘erased, trivialised, contained within categories evacuate violation [structural] violence’ (Jiwani, 2006, xi–xii). Among other effects, erasure risks rendering invisible opportunities intervene respect not carried out by individuals, often resulting ‘remedies’ emphasise interventions state against actors (for example, criminal law), powers already disproportionately target communities, misses potential need capitalistic corporate systems behaviours. both cases, prospect achieving justice recedes.