A Journey of Transformational Potential and Urgency for Structural Change
On June 1st, we at betterplace lab organised the online roundtable "Towards a feminist digital development cooperation". We gathered with 15 experts and representatives of a diverse set of civil society organisations from the Majority World, and worked together on imagining desirable digital futures in light of a feminist development policy. Valuable discussions took place in relation to access, use and design & development of digital technology, exchanging critical views on the current state of the art in the field, and finally providing expert suggestions for what structural and practical changes need to happen on different levels of governance for the digital future to truly be a feminist one. This event was a part of our trend study on feminist digital development cooperation. The study is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the German Agency for International Cooperation, and aims to learn more about the needs and potentials of feminist digital development through direct cooperation with the experts from the Majority World.
In March 2023 the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) published its strategy on Feminist Development Policy which aims to eliminate discriminatory structures – for women and girls in all their diversity, and marginalised groups. Among various other commitment points, the strategy also advocates for gender-equitable digital transformation. This is where our work and expertise in digitalization and feminist practice comes into the picture. In order to explore what are the challenges, needs, potentials and successes in the digital rights and development in the Majority World context, we organised a roundtable discussion together with experts from civil society and international organisations, researchers and academics. With the aim of jointly envisioning feminist digital futures, participants engaged in several exercises as a way to exchange expert knowledge on the current state in the field of digital access, use, and design in respect to gender equality questions, and feminist approaches more broadly. Hereby, we share some of the most important reflections the participants cultivated about successes and motivations, major challenges, as well as recommendations for how feminist development policy can support the journey towards a feminist digital future.
Wind in our sails
“Feminist movements are asking the right questions, speaking truth to power”.
There is great work being done at the intersections of feminism and digital policy, and we spoke about the examples of positive change and what motivates us to keep working towards a feminist digital future. Some joint thoughts relate to the inspiring women in the field who continuously remind us that the vision is present, and having people who design projects being truly dedicated to feminist principles. The shift from individualistic approaches to more collaborative, south-south and south-north work is productive, especially in interdisciplinary projects where a diverse set of perspectives is included. Funding models are essential, as we are currently seeing the importance and benefits of funding open source initiatives working towards inclusivity such as the Common Voice project. Finally, the presence of digital activists doing cutting-edge work is motivating and needs to be supported.
Present and Future Challenges
“Feminism in this context is an antithesis to capitalism.”
When talking about the obstacles on the road to feminist digital futures, participants argued that the majority of difficulties we are facing in the sphere of digital transformation largely have to do with structural issues such as socio-cultural norms and patriarchal structures, but also political inertia towards feminist principles and perseverance of racism, neocolonialism, and queerphobia. Another obstacle discussed was the influence big tech companies working towards profit have on the digital ecosystem as a whole, and how due to such power and dominance they drive innovation in ways that do not necessarily follow feminist principles of inclusion and equity. In turn, corporate strategies directed at profit-making have large influence on the domestic laws and policies that enable surveillance, restricted access and control especially among women, queer people, people living with disabilities and other marginalised groups. Since these issues are not reserved for the digital sphere, this means that feminist digital transformation has to go hand in hand with societal transformation which includes a political and economic change towards just redistribution, inclusivity, and development and growth that respects nature and all living beings.
A desired feminist future
“A feminist digital policy means noticing the power”
Together we brainstormed desirable feminist futures in respect to digital access, use and the design and development of digital technologies. One such example is a world where women in all their diversity and marginalised people are equally represented and participate and contribute in every part of the life cycle of a digital space or product and they live and work free of discrimination and violence. The community sets demands, and the expertise comes from the grassroots - that is, the solution is created directly by community members who are leading the design and development. This design has the capacity to recognize differences such as language representation. The economic model in which this community operates is sustainable, and enables collective and economic rights which in turn enable local community control. As one of the participants emphasised, this scenario requires systemic changes because feminist digital policy means noticing the power. Meaning that true gender justice cannot happen without economic and development justice, and this continues to hold true when thinking about feminist development policy in the digital realm.
Way forward
The roundtable ended with a rich discussion on recommendations for how to go forward. In order to successfully work towards a feminist digital future we most urgently need:
Holistic approaches – all key actors need to join the conversation and make concrete efforts including the governments and policy makers, academia, big tech and private sector, civil society and importantly women in all their diversity and marginalised groups.
Funding and programming – needs to be substantial and thoughtfully targeted and shifted towards microenablers and underrepresented groups including women in all their diversity and marginalised communities. Long term funding and programming is essential.
Listening and giving power to the affected communities – treating them as knowledgeable and resourceful, carefully listening to their needs and supporting community solutions for existing problems.
We left this rich and insightful roundtable exchange aware of the importance of nourishing and strengthening a diverse set of feminist thoughts, spaces online and offline and inspired and motivated to keep doing so ourselves as part of the betterplace lab.
Foto: Christina Morillo