[Event Announcement] Embrace at Sadhana Dell’Arte

January 25, 2025

We will be at Sadhana Dell’Arte Goa hosting our tech-pop up embrace. Embrace will continue to be a space of solidarity and support. TBP intends to hold this space for women and non-binary persons who have faced harassment or fraud. We hope with this space we can find solidarity with each other.

This pop up will have an public exhibition where we will be sharing works from woman, trans and non binary people in online spaces. The issues they face and how they overcome them. The event has contributions from Nabiya, Bisma, Maria, Fatima, Pavel Sangolsem, Hengam, V and Madhumakhi.

The exhibition will be open from 3 pm onwards on 31st Jan 2025 and will continue on the 1st Feb 2025.

Timing of the exhibition :

31st Jan 2025 3pm to 7 pm

1st Feb 2025 10:30 am to 7 pm

Online Civic Spaces and Queer and Trans Women in Manipur: A case study of selected cases and collective action

November 13, 2024

By Pavel Sagolsem

In January 2023, under the “Without fear” fellowship of The Bachchao Project, I had the opportunity to witness, interact and inhabit the dent of social, emotional and psychological remnants of a past experience of online harassment and of standing up against it. My project is an invitation to that experience.

Ushinadabana pharabo? – “Shall I overlook?!”

“When your intentions are questioned,

you want to clear the air.

You want to defend your intention.

It all comes down to that”

Misogynist, homophobic and transphobic online harassment is an everyday spectacle, experience and occurrence in the online spaces of the social and digital media platforms catering to the people in Imphal and adjoining areas. Due awareness raising, statewide campaigns as well as public discussions has been observed but the trend remains undeterred.

At such a juncture the survivors and those who came to the front to raise voices against it are posed with a rather troubling question – shall I overlook and move on?

At a plain sight, it is a very simple question. Furthermore, answering it seems even easier. Just a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or perhaps a ‘maybe’. But is it really so?

Houjikphaoba ei gyan taaba ngamde – Still trying to make sense…

“It’s always on my mind. I think I should ignore but I can’t help it.

I’ll think of it and would often sigh, “Oh Me! Are we not allowed to live? How wrong is it to be me?””

While survivors are still grappling to understand why and how of the harrowing experiences that unfolded, those who campaigned against it are baffled with the backlash they faced. All in all, a plethora of questions opens up like a floodgate.

Days, months and years have passed. The people, life and the world had well served its purpose of embedding in under layers and layers of time and new experiences. Meanwhile the memories remain vivid and striking. As if still waiting to be unpacked and resolved. A conversation that began with a general comment on online space and experiences, now turns vivid.

Kanana kari natraga kanada karamna? – Asks – To whom and how?

“I was just living my life normally like everyone. And they came and did all these to my life. So, I am the victim and not the other way around”

The experiences seem to be an isolated phenomenon centred around a person, an individual act or a mishap that could have been easily avoided. But often it is not – the world is the witness and what of the anonymous perpetrators? While certain facts are there for full public view and open to interpretations, certain facts remain ambiguous and unclaimed. When complicity prevails how do we really make a sense of what is and what is not? And most importantly what to do? Whom to ask and how?

This project sought to create a multimedia digital archive through interviews, photographs, audio recordings, illustrations, text based excerpts; of experiences of select and chosen individuals (queer and trans* person) and their personal stories of online based harassments and related consequences in the quality of their physical, mental, emotional, economical and social health and outcomes. Further, the project sought to delve into a creative process with the participants in creating digital content in Manipuri that seek to raise awareness and alleviate reporting and collectivisation for the same.

The project consisted of three parts:

Digital Archive of Cases of Online Harassment faced by Queer and Trans* person in Manipur. Experiences and opinions of Groups and Organisations who have been actively working on the same will be documented in the same.
A short video from the above capturing the essence of cases and expert opinion on who to reach out and what could be done and any additional information for public consumption geared towards prevention and access to justice.
An online campaign + offline dissemination of the above among legal practitioners, state police force, media houses and social activists.

The above has been inferred through close consultation with activists, survivors, community and individuals I have been in touch with.

All audio or video material on the archive were in Manipuri Language with English Subtitles. The accompanying text was in two languages – Manipuri and English.

Digital Battlegrounds: What Muslim Women Want You to Know about Online Harassment and Its Real Life Implications

February 22, 2024

In the interconnected world of the internet, social media has become a powerful tool for communication, activism, and community-building. However, social media can also be used for harassing others and spreading hate- a reality that disproportionately Muslim women. In ‘Digital Battlegrounds’, we get to hear from these brave muslim women about their own experiences, and hopes for the future. This report was developed following a writing sprint conducted by The Bachchao Project in September 2023.

We can explore various themes through the report, including allyship, intersectionality, the role of technology in facilitating online gender based violence, and the role of various institutions such as the media. Rather than being a purely academic report, the authors have focused on their own experiences and stories.

1. How to be a good ally: Nabiya

This piece is a witty take on allyship, focusing particularly on the meaning of being an ally in the context of online abuse. It speaks about both allyship within the Muslim community and the feminist community, as well as outside it.

2. Reclaiming Narratives: Maria

This poignant poem captures the essence of resilience and identity in the face of adversity, specifically within the context of Muslim women. It examines the shortcomings of allyship, giving current examples of instances of hate against Muslim women and the reactions it provoked.

3. Understanding Algorithms: Maria

Algorithms, especially those employed by social media platforms and online spaces, are designed to curate and display content based on user preferences and engagement patterns. These can amplify harmful narratives and contribute to the dissemination of prejudiced and discriminatory content- in the context of Muslim women, they can promote content that reinforces stereotypes, misinformation and hate speech and lead to online echo chambers. This chapter is a deeper look into how the impact of algorithms on online gender based violence and merges technical knowledge and social impact.

4. Muslim women and the Media: Fatima

This piece examines how the media covers incidents of harassment of Muslim women. It includes a compilation of recommendations for Muslim women who have experienced online harassment when interacting with media organizations or journalists. There is guidance on precautions to consider, strategies for shaping narratives, and approaches to address issues such as media bias, misinformation, or substandard reporting. These insights stem from the experiences of Muslim women who are actively engaged in the media industry and have personally encountered harassment on social media based on their identity.

5. A Recipe: Bisma

During the writing sprint, we held a zine making session. The theme was to imagine a safe, joyful, and free online space and participants had access to craft supplies and newspapers to create their own works of art. This zine was produced during this session. It is a tongue in cheek recipe to make online spaces free of harassment for Muslim women. The original zine (written in Hindi) is kept in the report along with a translation of the text in English.

Conclusion:

It is becoming imperative to confront the harsh realities faced by marginalized communities, including Muslim women. “Digital Battlegrounds” should be seen as a call to action—an exploration of the challenges, but also a testament to the resilience of Muslim women in the face of online harassment.

The report can be accessed here Digital Battlegrounds_What Muslim Women Want You to Know about Online Harassment and Its Real Life Implications

The illustrations attached to the personas have been randomised and should not be assumed to be accurate or real. You are free to share this material in any medium or format, as long as appropriate attribution is given.

All text and images are available under the Creative Commons Attribution -NonCommercial -NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-SA-NC-ND 4.0) license unless stated otherwise. This could appear as: “Digital Battlegrounds: What Muslim Women want you to know about online harassment and its real life implications, The Bachchao Project under CC-BY-SA-NC-ND 4.0”

For requesting waiver, email us at theteam@thebachchaoproject.org

Trolls and Women from Margins

January 15, 2024

By Hengam Riba

The outputs mentioned in this blog post are part of the Without Fear fellowship program 2022 – 2023. The Bachchao Project started this fellowship program to bring together a cohort of talented individuals with experience and interest in the gender and development space, who could bring fresh perspectives and potential solutions to threats faced by structurally silenced women and gender minorities in the country. This cohort could learn from itself and others, and look at innovative tech based interventions and ideas. The fellows were based around three central verticals; the social and development space, tech, and art.

In today’s digital age, social media platforms have become powerful tools for communication and expression. However, they have also given rise to online hate and trolling, particularly targeting marginalized communities. As a 2023 Without Fear fellow with The Bachchao Project, I had the privilege of being part of a transformative multimedia project that aimed to document and raise awareness about the experiences of women facing online trolling. Through various media such as articles, interviews, photo essays, and a podcast, my project sought to amplify the voices of those who have long been silenced.

“Navigating Online Hate: Voices from the Margins and Periphery”

In this thought-provoking article, I shed light on the pressing issue of online hate and its strong correlation with the objectification of women’s bodies. Drawing from studies and investigations, I explore how women, especially those advocating for gender and sexuality issues, are disproportionately targeted. I also highlight the specific experiences of Dalit and tribal women, who face triple layers of oppression due to caste, gender, and class. The article underscores the need for awareness, stronger regulations against cybercrimes, and the creation of safer online spaces for all.

Navigating Online Hate Voices from the margins and Periphery

Challenging Patriarchy: A Conversation with @WitchesofArunachal

A Podcast Interview

As part of a multimedia project, I had the opportunity to conduct a podcast interview with WitchesofArunachal. WitchesofArunachal is a feminist page run by an indigenous tribal woman from Arunachal Pradesh. Through her platform, she fearlessly questions and comments on issues faced by women in the region, particularly the patriarchal norms that hinder policy formations and deny women their fundamental rights to land and property. In our conversation, we explored her experiences of facing online trolls and her response to the challenges of the online space.

A Self-Reflective Journey

Photo Essay

In this captivating photo essay, I share my own personal experiences as a tribal woman facing online trolls. Through a series of powerful images, I respond to the trolls that have tried to censor my thoughts and expression. I explore themes such as merit and reservation, the perception of tribal communities, and the constant need to prove my nationality as a woman from the periphery. Drawing strength from my ancestors’ struggles against colonialism and oppression, I use this platform to challenge the trolls and assert my identity.

PhotoEssay

My multimedia project as part of the Without Fear 2023 cohort at The Bachchao Project has been an incredible journey of documenting, raising awareness, and empowering marginalized voices. Through articles, interviews, photo essays, and a podcast, I have sought to shed light on the experiences of women facing online trolling. I have highlighted the specific challenges faced by Dalit and tribal women, emphasized the need for safer online environments, and celebrated the resilience and activism of individuals like Shalin Maria Lawrence. By continuing to engage with these narratives and supporting those who face online hate, we can work towards a more inclusive and equitable digital world for all.

TOMORROW, IT WILL BE US: Facing and Challenging Digital Hate Speech Against Muslim Women in India

June 12, 2023

By Afrah Asif

“Violence seems random, and everywhere, there is no saying who would be targeted and who would be spared. Fatima, a young girl currently residing in Saudi Arabia, uses social media to stay in the loop of Indian politics and keenly follows and speaks up against atrocities committed against Muslims in India. While visiting India this year, she admitted that her ‘entire family was terrified’. When she did stay some time in India, she felt a sense of dissonance. Safety was surprising, not relieving.”

For most Muslim women interviewed for this report, social media was their window to the world. Its discursive potential had enticed them. For the first time in their lives, using social media, they learned to forge a political identity, be stakeholders in political conversations that have traditionally been dominated by men, advocate for what they believed in, and create an impact even if such impact meant changing a colleague’s ideas about something through extensive debating in the comments section. Targeted hate speech against these women then obviously harmed them much beyond their online presence.

The title of this report comes from what one of the interviewees said in response to the ‘liberal claim’ that while Muslim women are being targeted today, tomorrow, other marginalized women will be, and then all women will be. ‘Today is it us’, she had said, ‘tomorrow it will be us, and yesterday it was us’. In asserting so, she reemphasized Muslim women’s victimhood in light of the Hindutva project and drew a critical distinction missed by many- that hate and violence against Muslim women is not a way for misogyny to fulfill its agenda, but that misogyny against Muslim women is yet another way to fulfill the Hindutva agenda. Such a distinction is significant as we are confronted with political leaders and groups regularly insisting that the issues that Muslim women face are ‘women’s issues’ and not Muslim women’s issues.

Based on a series of interviews with activist-victims, this report seeks to complicate our understanding of the impact of targeted hate speech and push us to explore what meaningful solidarity and action centering Muslim women should look like. Allowing the interviewees a free-flowing space to mold their own narratives has helped this report move beyond cliches of oppression and marginalization to allow Muslim women the space to explore their hurt outside of narratives that they are socially forced to perform.

Through this report, the author has sought to contextualize the lives, work, and hurt of Muslim women who have been affected by digital hate speech. In order to convey the same, the report is divided into three distinct chapters: the first dealing with the hurt itself, the second dealing with the impact and aftermath of being subject to this hurt, and the final chapter dealing with the action and advocacy that is particularly being taken up by civil society initiatives at various levels in order to emphasize the bottom-up nature of digital hate speech.

tomorrow it will be us