In this blog, we will delve into the key takeaways from the launch event that took place on January 26th, 2024 at Anglia Ruskin University. The speakers included:
- Professor Sonia Livingstone (LSE)
- Professor Jessica Ringrose (UCL)
- Professor Tanya Horeck (ARU)
- Professor Vanita Sundaram (University of York)
- Dr Emily Setty (University of Surrey)
- Associate Professor Theresa Redmond (ARU), and Abbie Lake (ARU)
Moreover, a dynamic Practitioner and Policy Roundtable added more perspectives to the discussions. Participants included:
- Dolly Padalia, CEO of the School of Sexuality Education
- Jamie O’Connell and Nicole Rodden, Co-Founders of Life Lessons Education
- Margaret Mulholland, Send & Inclusion Policy Specialist at the Association of School & College
- Lizzie Reeves, Senior Policy Manager at Internet Matters
- Georgia Street, Practitioner of the Report Harmful Content Helpline
- Georgina Phillips, Policy Officer – Gender and LGBT+ Equality at the National Education Union
- Professor Samantha Lundrigan, Director of PIER at ARU
Through this launch event, our primary goal is to foster discussions that contribute to enhancing knowledge and changing the perceptions of Tech Facilitated Gender-Based Sexual Violence, and to promote the application of new understanding in future practice. Furthermore, we seek to provide both researchers and practitioners with adequate networking opportunities, promoting collaborations that can lead to meaningful progress.
The launch event began with presenting the research findings from two Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) awards, led by Jessica Ringrose (UCL), Tanya Horeck (ARU), Kaitlynn Mendes (Western University, Canada) and Betsy Milne (UCL), following invited speakers panels and roundtable discussion.
(Explore further by following the link for each featured presentation/discussion)
- Report 1: Young People’s Experiences of Technology Facilitated Gender-Based Violence During COVID-19
- Report 2: Equipping Young People to Navigate Post-digital Sexual Violence
- Invited speaker Professor Sonia Livingstone: Digital Future for Children
- Invited speaker Dr Emily Setty: Harmful Sexual Cultures: Understanding Boys and Consent
- Discussion: Practitioner and Policy Roundtable
- Invited Speaker Professor Vanita Sundaram: Black and Racially Minoritised Girls’ Experiences of Public Sexual Harassment
- Invited Speakers Associate Professor Theresa Redmond and Abbie Lake: “As researchers, we are ‘keepers of stories’ but sometimes that role is painful.”
It is crucial to create more opportunities for open discussion and experience sharing among those dedicated to tackling sexual violence and supporting young people to navigate these issues. Establishing solidarity and building collective strength is essential. While acknowledging the challenges and resistance we face, we have also observed positive changes addressing sexual violence. Despite the obstacles, we have the potential to make a significant impact. We encourage all researchers and practitioners to stay together and keep going. “Please be ambitious with this. This is really fantastic work. So be ambitious with your next steps because teachers and young people need you all, need us all more than ever.” – Professor Catherine Lee
Blog author: Sitian Chen
Feminist Educational Engagement Lab 