Female journalists in Kenya are traversing a perilous terrain marked by gendered digital threats that pose substantial obstacles to their professional and personal lives in the rapidly expanding realm of digital media. This study aimed at dissecting and comprehending the varied nature of these threats, illuminating their impact, and proposing methods to alleviate the risks encountered by Kenyan female journalists. This chapter begins by examining how digital harassment by female journalists has been a problem globally, both in Africa and in Kenya, where there is limited research. The chapter explores a taxonomy of these risks, examining their frequency and severity via qualitative and desktop research, the aim being to highlight the unique obstacles faced by women working in Kenya's media business by examining individual case studies and conducting interviews with affected journalists. The study aims to identify patterns in the perpetration of these threats, investigating whether they are orchestrated mostly by anonymous individuals, organized groups, or even public figures. This chapter hopes to uncover the underlying processes that contribute to the prevalence of gendered digital threats in Kenya's media ecosystem. It looks beyond the immediate implications of these threats to examine how online harassment and misogyny affect the professional efficacy, mental health, and overall well-being of female journalists. The chapter recommends a safer and more inclusive media landscape in Kenya, encouraging an atmosphere in which women can thrive professionally without fear of gendered digital threats.

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Navigating the Digital Abyss: A Comprehensive Analysis of Gender-Based Threats to Female Journalists in Kenya

  • Protus Akwabi Murunga

摘要

Female journalists in Kenya are traversing a perilous terrain marked by gendered digital threats that pose substantial obstacles to their professional and personal lives in the rapidly expanding realm of digital media. This study aimed at dissecting and comprehending the varied nature of these threats, illuminating their impact, and proposing methods to alleviate the risks encountered by Kenyan female journalists. This chapter begins by examining how digital harassment by female journalists has been a problem globally, both in Africa and in Kenya, where there is limited research. The chapter explores a taxonomy of these risks, examining their frequency and severity via qualitative and desktop research, the aim being to highlight the unique obstacles faced by women working in Kenya's media business by examining individual case studies and conducting interviews with affected journalists. The study aims to identify patterns in the perpetration of these threats, investigating whether they are orchestrated mostly by anonymous individuals, organized groups, or even public figures. This chapter hopes to uncover the underlying processes that contribute to the prevalence of gendered digital threats in Kenya's media ecosystem. It looks beyond the immediate implications of these threats to examine how online harassment and misogyny affect the professional efficacy, mental health, and overall well-being of female journalists. The chapter recommends a safer and more inclusive media landscape in Kenya, encouraging an atmosphere in which women can thrive professionally without fear of gendered digital threats.