Dr Clíona Saidléar: Digital opportunities for women start with online safety
Since the advent of smartphones, a growing percentage of people in sexual relationships over the past few decades have consented to or shared sexualised images of themselves at some stage – many now live with the unknown that this material may be ‘out there’ and potentially used against them. File picture
This year the UN Women theme for International Women's Day is focused on the digital world and its opportunities for gender equality.
No matter where we are, how privileged or how poor, digital technology has transformed our lives. While there are undoubtedly many benefits to global communication and interconnectedness, this technology has also upended previously-held certainties, opened up new battlegrounds in an ever-polarised society and developed new ways to oppress, exploit, shame and dismiss women and girls, not least in the area of sexual violence and exploitation.
