Date post: | 24-May-2015 |
Category: |
Technology |
Upload: | sangonet |
View: | 1,834 times |
Download: | 0 times |
Is a feminist organisation and works to advance gender equality and justice in South Africa through the use of Information &Communication Technologies (ICTs) by:
- Providing content and training that supports individual women, girls, women’s organizations and networks to take control of their own content and use of technology
- Intervening in ICT policy processes to ensure access, and meaningful use
• Cellphones are primary mode of socialisation for teens
• Cellphones = young people’s best friend• Because:- Privacy when communicating- Fit in with peers- The convergence of technologies- The Internet on cellphones- social networks/mobile social networks/mobile
instant communication
• Mobile instant applications have been adopted by young people
• Inexpensive, privacy and can help increase the number of friends
• Research – girls are frequent users of social networks
• however, these spaces pose a danger to girls• Mirror inequalities outside these spaces
Mobile Social Networks in South Africa: APreliminary Investigation into Young People's Use
• 11 girls from Orange Farm aged between 15-16 • They all knew Mxit• One did not have a cell phone• Other group: 16 – 31, Grow Bacha in Orange
Farm, equal number of male and female
Air time for the cellphones???
I get it from one of my parent, I save or from the chicken (quote from one of the girls)
● Girls jokingly referred to “minister of Airtime’’ – a reference to transactional sex for airtime
Using Mxit● Girls denied using Mxit ● But eventually admitted to using it● Did not open up because:- They know many adults/parents are pessimistic
about mobile texting applications- Some of the ‘sexting’ they had encountered
made them embarrassed
● Girls said they felt uncomfortable and unsafe when using Mxit
● Continual encounters to textual harassment or exposure to pornography
● Girls are shy to talk about their experiences because of fear of being judged and simply because they do not know these are criminal offenses
● Boys felt comfortable to use the application● They expressed that is an easy way to get
‘chics’
Sicelo: while you are chatting, you will show an interest in her life and you will arrange a date: if she agrees, then where does she live? Can we met? The nearest place where she lives, you will arrange. Maybe in town. Or a mall, where ever. But ill have to check you first, ill stand far away, if you are what I am expecting, then there I will come, If you are not then I'm gone
Cell phones and identity
● Part of the three Cs (Clothes, cosmetics and cellphones)
● Cell phones give status
● Cellpnone brand important
● It stands to reason that 'virtual' spaces reflect the realities of day to day life for South African girls – sexual harassment, sexual violence and domestic and dating violence is common
●This limits the girls’ participation in these technologies
If we don' t intervene, the mobile and online social spaces young people occupy will become like our
streets (and homes) where violence is rife and sexism predominates ..
transformation is key:-)
• Keep-Your-Chats-Exactly-That is a campaign that will educate and raise awareness on the pitfalls of using social networks
• To empower South African girls and boys with information and tactics to keep themselves safe when using social networking tools with a computer or mobile phone.
• Like the streets, and at home, social networks reflect power and gender imbalances
• Like in other spaces, girls need support and empowerment
• These spaces must be transformed
Picture taken from “The Reality of the MXit Mania”, Ramon Thomas
How we do it?
Through public education aimed at:
• Girls and boys
• Teachers
• Parents
• Policy makers
• Service providers
Contact us…. Lebo Marishane
+27 11 429-0000
• http://www.womensnet.org.za