Digital abuse of women with disabilities

Abstract

This chapter explores the findings of an interview and focus group study with 15 practitioners who had direct experiences working with women with intellectual or cognitive disability who had experienced technology-facilitated abuse as well as with six women with intellectual or cognitive disabilities who had experienced technology-facilitated abuse. The findings indicate that perpetrators of abuse misuse technology against women with intellectual or cognitive disabilities using similar tactics to that used against women without intellectual or cognitive disabilities, including stalking and image-based sexual abuse. However, there are specific ways in which women with intellectual or cognitive disabilities are subjected to technology-facilitated abuse. Victim/survivors and practitioners shared their experiences of perpetrators targeting women’s disabilities and capitalising on discriminatory stereotypes about disabilities. We found that technology is an essential aspect of the social and everyday lives of women with intellectual or cognitive disabilities. However, when technology was used in ways that made them feel afraid, the solution offered to women was that they needed to limit and even cease their use of technology. We conclude that women with cognitive or intellectual disabilities are entitled to feel safe using technology, and it is essential that their rights as ‘digital citizens’ be prioritised.