Insights on Navigating Online Spaces: A Conversation with Women Leaders
As Africa becomes more digitally connected, online spaces have become an important tool for politicians to connect with their constituents. However, for women in leadership, navigating these online spaces can be a daunting task. In addition to the difficulties that come with using the internet, they also have to cope with more abuse, which can be harmful to their mental and physical health.
Pollicy’s study, Amplified Abuse; Report on Online Violence Against Women in the 2021 Uganda General Election found that 18 percent of social media accounts belonging to women leaders experienced sexual violence compared to 8 percent of those belonging to men during the 2021 general elections. Behind these eye-opening statistics lie a pattern of unequal access to power as well as direct and indirect obstacles to success, leaving many interesting lessons and anecdotes that come to fore anytime women leaders sit and share their journey.
On April 25, Civic Space TV Women’s Show hosted three remarkable women leaders from Pollicy’s VOTE Women programme: Honorable Annet Nakyanja Mawejje, Honorable Winnie Nandudu and Honorable Sharon Kemigisha. Moderated by Pollicy’s Advocacy Fellow Tricia Gloria Nabaye, they shared their experiences on navigating online spaces as women in political leadership. Here are some key takeaways from the conversation.
Impact of COVID-19 on use of Digital Platforms
The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed the game for women leaders in their quest to connect with their constituents and the wider public as traditional forms of in-person engagement and outreach were suddenly no longer an option due to social distancing measures. Hon. Annet Nakyanja, Hon. Winnie Nandudu and Hon. Sharon Kemigisha acknowledged the difficulty in adapting to the new normal, but stressed the importance of embracing the pivot to new technologies in order to connect with their constituents. Although the shift to digital platforms have enabled women leaders to continue to engage effectively, it has inadvertently brought about an increased risk of online violence and harassment.
“As much as we didn’t like it, we had to go for it. We learned the hard way because many of us, especially here in Uganda, were just getting acquainted with Facebook and WhatsApp, so we had to manage, and we did have the skills. However, using social media came with some changes both positive and negative”. Hon Annet Nakyanja.
Building Resilience
A key highlight from the session was the call for women to be more resilient in the face of online violence and harassment. In 2020, a study by Pollicy revealed that one in three women in Uganda had been victims of online violence, and 66 percent of women resorted to blocking perpetrators, while 14.5 percent of them deactivated their social media accounts to escape the abuse. Despite the challenges, our women leaders reiterated the need to remain resilient, while finding ways to stay safe and continue to engage with digital platforms.
“Women online harassment and cyber harassment is real on almost all the social media platforms that we use personally and professionally. In my previous campaigns, I mainly used Facebook, but you would find people attacking you personally on your physical appearance away from the campaign elements, but one learns to manage through it, and you build resilience.” Hon. Winnie Nandudu on online harassment and building resilience.
Creating a Supportive Network
Hon. Annet Nakyanja explained how unconscious bias often shapes the way female leaders are perceived by men, and other women. According to her, most people who abuse women online are given data to do that all day and do so very unprofessionally. For her, the key is for women to find ways to build allies and support one another in the pursuit of common goals. This could mean sharing resources, data and knowledge as well as seeking counsel.
“You have to seek counsel from your seniors because whatever you’re facing, they have gone through it before, so you have to have someone who is a kind of mentor to share with them whatever you’re going through. These people have been doing this for long so will give you good advice.” Hon. Annet Nakyanja stated.
On Setting Boundaries and Building a Strong, Consistent Brand
Our VOTE: Women leaders stressed the importance of building a strong personal brand that reflects your values and priorities as it helps to shape the way you are perceived by others, both men and women. By setting boundaries and being mindful of what they share online, women leaders can effectively project a consistent image of themselves, while finding a healthy balance between being accessible and protecting their privacy.
“We need to be mindful of the content that we share because every single thing that you post people are following and they would identify you from the posts that you make from the argument and discussion that you engage in. So, in case of anything different seen on your page they will react, and this is a clear case of consistency in branding.” Hon. Kemigisha.
Envisioning a Safe and Inclusive Online Future for Women
Navigating online spaces can be overwhelming, especially for women in political leadership. The conversation with these women leaders highlighted the urgent need for safe and inclusive digital spaces for women to thrive and achieve their full potential. As we work towards a more inclusive digital future, it is imperative that women are able to take advantage of the opportunities that online platforms provide without fear of harassment, discrimination, or violence. We need to create a culture that values and respects women’s voices and provides them with the tools and resources they need to navigate the digital landscape safely and confidently.
With special thanks to our VOTE: Women Programme leaders, Honorable Annet Nakyanja Mawejje, Honorable Winnie Nandudu and Honorable Sharon Kemigisha for sharing their valuable insights, and Tricia Gloria Nabaye for facilitating the much needed conversation. In case you missed out on the premiere, you can watch it below!
Written by Angela Efia Dzidzornu (Communications Fellow) for Pollicy
