Cyberstalking: Gender and computer ethics - by Alison Adam

Alison's article discusses computer ethics, and the benefits that could come from insights into feminist theories, especially feminist ethics, the basis of this being the large differences in male and female experiences online. She explains the three areas in which feminist ethics could be beneficial in the deconstruction of gender related power structures in a technology based environment. The first of these being a means of countering traditional technological determinism that is inherent in computer ethics, the second being the revelation of continuing inequalities in power, and how these are often gendered, and the third being an alternative, collective approach to the individualism of traditional ethics theories. Her article focuses on the second aspect, basing her argument around the causality of online misconduct in regards to feminist theory. She argues that there is a need to theorise the reasons for any underlying differences in men and women's behaviour.

Feminist ethics attempt to re-evaluate areas of traditional ethics which devalue the moral experience of women. It aims to create a gender-equal ethics, and in doing so it can be helpful in exposing power inequalities There is a question over whether privacy is different for women and men, and also how this difference can be captured in legislation.

Alison discusses sexual harassment in regard to power relationships between the genders, and how the power relationships tend to be transferred into online interaction. It has been said that online sexual harassment tends to mirror the levels of harassment women find in real life. However, cyber-stalking tends to be a lot more vicious. She discusses three separate instances, only one of which being the traditional 'spurned lover' scenario. The other two she discusses are sparked by a woman who attempts to resolve perceived injustices by speaking up publicly on the internet. In these cyber-stalking examples the stalker remains anonymous, hidden behind impersonated postings by the victim. They posted inviting messages on sex websites, instigating stalking behaviour in other individuals.

The feminist ethics she applies to this is that the women used self help empowerment techniques rather than relying upon the corporations to solve their problem. She argues that only through further exploration of the gendered nature of the cause of these problems can we truly start to understand how it can be combated.

It is clear in her examples that the major causal factor in the facilitation of cyberstalking was an instability in power relationships. The fact that it is online, means that perpetrators have an anonymity that in itself increases their power. By impersonating the victim online they are introducing an element of uncontrollability that reduces the perceived power of the victim. By this method they are able to gain perceived power in themselves. The gender-related causes of this power relationship are what Alison believes to be the intrinsic cause of cyberstalking.

Do you think that power relationships are intrinsically gender-related?

Does the way men and women interact differently on the internet tend to invite or advocate activities such as cyberstalking?

Does the anonymity of the internet offer a broader arena for people to engage in stalking and harassment behaviour where they are not individually spotlighted? In most of the examples given, the perpetrators themselves did not engage in real life with the victims.

Kate Lowe