This research was included in the ANROWS Register of Active Research (RAR). The research has concluded and the output has been added to the ANROWS library. Please visit https://www.anrows.org.au/register-of-active-research/ for more information on the RAR.

Project title: Qualitative research on culturally and linguistically diverse women’s experiences of technology-facilitated abuse

Project description:

Technology-facilitated abuse (TFA) includes abusive behaviours through mobile phones and other devices, social media and online accounts (like email and banking). There are four main areas of TFA:

• Harassment – for example, sending menacing images such as a coffin; bombarding with calls, emails and texts.
• Monitoring/stalking – for example, hacking into a person’s email or bank accounts, or covert GPS tracking.
• Impersonation – for example, creating a false account resulting in the woman being harassed or stalked by others or to send abusive messages to her family and friends.
• Threats/punishment – for example, posting embarrassing comments or intimate images.

TFA is often a form of domestic violence. Almost all (98%) of domestic violence sector practitioners in Australia surveyed in a recent study stated they had clients who had experienced technology-facilitated stalking and abuse1. According to this study, the group most commonly identified as facing particular risks in relation to TFA was women from non-English speaking countries. Practitioners have noted that there are specific risks for women from CALD backgrounds, with people sometimes using technology to further isolate women from family and friends.

This commissioned qualitative research seeks to better understand CALD women’s experiences of TFA.

The qualitative research has the following objectives:

• To hear the stories of CALD women who have experienced TFA
• To gain insight into specific situations and issues CALD women face in relation to TFA
• To understand the impact of TFA on CALD women
• To understand preferred pathways to seek assistance/take action and trusted sources of help/support
• To understand cultural sensitivities that need to be considered in relation to the type of support and information provided

Reference

Women’s Legal Service NSW, Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria and WESNET (2015), ReCharge: women’s technology safety – National study findings

Project contact
Karen Kellard
Australian National University

Funding Body
Office of the eSafety Commissioner

Project start & End Dates
March 2018 – June 2018