Combating Sexual Violence with Social Innovation
This past week in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, Donna Karan told a reporter,
“I think we have to look at ourselves. Obviously, the treatment of women all over the world is something that has always had to be identified. Certainly in the country of Haiti where I work, in Africa, in the developing world, it’s been a hard time for women.
To see it here in our own country is very difficult, but I also think how do we display ourselves? How do we present ourselves as women? What are we asking? Are we asking for it by presenting all the sensuality and all the sexuality?
And what are we throwing out to our children today about how to dance and how to perform and what to wear? How much should they show?”
Making negligent comments like these and victim blaming perpetuate this disheartening rape culture that we currently live today. Clothes are not to blame for sexual assault, the rapist is to blame. Instead of telling women what and what not to wear, we should focus on developing solutions that combat the real perpetrators of sexual violence.
This past week in class, we were asked to research companies that design for social impact and conduct a competitive analysis. I decided to compare technology companies dedicated to protecting women and girls from sexual assault. (But on second thought, this could probably all be solved if we walked around in full-length ponchos according to Donna Karan’s logic…or not)
I developed a subjective rating scale to evaluate each company’s product and website. For the products, I assigned ratings based on features and tools specifically related to sexual violence, including the following:
- Ability to map locations of sexual assault and dangerous areas
- Access to a support network to provide advice or help victims of sexual assault
- Availability of information and educational resources to protect women and girls
- Ability to notify people and/or authorities when in danger
- Ability to track and send location when in distress
- Ability to collect evidence to document assaults
- Level of convenience using the product
I used the following criteria to evaluate the websites:
- Usability: Page Load, Navigation, Interaction, Broken Links, Accessibility, Desired Outcomes, etc.
- Design: Alignment with Brand, Cohesiveness, Visual Appeal, Colors, etc.
- Content: Readability, Media, Relevancy, Accuracy, Currency, etc.
Based on the aforementioned criteria, I developed a comparison chart and identified pros and cons for each product. While each company has a critical mission, I believe that Leaf Wearables has the highest potential to protect women from violence. However, bSafe is a more realistic option for in terms of global reach.
Safecity
Safecity enables women to share personal stories of sexual harassment and abuse in public spaces. Victims can identify the type of harassment, including stalking, touching/groping, and rape and sexual/assault. The data is aggregated as hot spots on a map. Individuals, communities and government administrations can use that data to identify trends and develop solutions to address factors that cause behavior leading to sexual violence.
Pros:
- Submit sexual harassment reports based on 14 pre-defined categories on the app or website
- See reports and incidents based on your current location
- Aesthetically appealing website that provides valuable resources and tools for sexual assault victims, including links to download their apps, important phone numbers, and legal resources
- Provides relevant information for volunteers and partners to support their mission
- Can post safety tips within app
Cons:
- This app is not ideal if you are in immediate danger
- Experienced difficulty and glitches trying to add contacts to be notified in case of emergency
- The company focuses most of its efforts in India
- The full capabilities and features of the product are not on the website, which prevents women from understanding the full potential of the app
- Some pages are text-heavy (http://safecity.in/about/, http://safecity.in/legal-resources/) and could use more media and compelling content
- Link to Crowdmap should be a link to a new page, branding is not consistent between the website and map
Circle of 6
Circle of 6 won the White House “Apps Against Abuse” challenge in 2011. While the app was initially designed to prevent sexual violence on campus, it has since spread to more than 30 countries around the world. The app lets you choose up to six trusted friends to add to your circle. If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, you can send your circle pre-programmed SMS alert messages with your exact location.
Pros:
- Website provides clear description and illustrations of how the app works and the app walks you through how to leverage its features after downloading
- Visually appealing website with relevant content
- Direct access to information about safety and hotlines within app
- App allows you to send a text to your Circle saying that you need help getting home with your GPS coordinates
Cons:
- Mentions that the app is in 36 countries and “Circle of 6 localized for New Delhi, India” but does not provide additional information or content substantiating its global reach
- Website usability could be improved — dropdowns are difficult to read, noticed a broken link, not effectively optimized for different screen sizes (header images tiled instead of full-width)
- Some of the header images on the website are not compelling (i.e., https://www.circleof6app.com/about/)
bSafe
With over 1 million downloads, bSafe is a reputable personal safety app that helps protect women from sexual violence. Unlike Circle of 6, you can add an unlimited number of friends, known as “Guardians” to your network. Users can easily activate and send an audible SOS alarm to their Guardians and share their location.
Pros:
- The “Follow Me” feature on the app enables Guardians to follow you to your destination with live GPS tracking
- Use the SOS button to alert your “Guardians” when you are in danger. The app starts recording video and voice, and broadcasts your location immediately. The video, voice, location and time stamps are stored on their server and can be used to share data with the authorities
- Website includes list of features and video tutorials on using the app, and the app has a tutorial on how to use it after downloading
- Consistent coloring and branding across website
Cons:
- Header images are dated and irrelevant (https://getbsafe.com/; https://getbsafe.com/partner-with-us/; https://getbsafe.com/testimonials/) leading you to assume that the app is dated as well
- Some pages are text heavy (https://getbsafe.com/testimonials/; https://getbsafe.com/our-story/) and could be more compelling, especially the “Our Story” page
Leaf Wearables
Leaf Wearables is an Indian start-up that created SAFER, smart jewelry designed to protect women and children. One of their products is in the form of necklace that can be integrated with the SAFER app. In the case of an emergency, users double press the button on the back of their necklace to send an SOS alert to their guardians with their location. People can still use the app without the smart jewelry and leverage the SafeWalk feature that shares your live location with loved ones.
The company also offers SAFER Kids, a watch that allows children to send emergency alerts to their parents along with their location. It works in collaboration with the SAFER Kids app. The SaferZone feature leverages geo fence functionality to enable parents to mark safe areas on the map. If their child leaves the area, parents will be notified.
Pros:
- Products designed specifically for women and children
- Users can still use the SAFER app without smart jewelry
- Real-time GPS tracking and geo fence functionality to protect children
- SAFER places feature helps victims navigate to the nearest hospital or police station
- Visually appealing website that highlights key functionality of both products and provides videos
Cons:
- Monetary cost
- Usability could be improved — two separate sites for the products confuses the user
- Content could be improved to communicate safety, instead of just fashion
Local Initiatives Around the World
Here are some interesting local initiatives and technologies that developing countries are leveraging to combat violent against women:
- MediCapt is a mobile application currently under development by the Program on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones at Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) that helps doctors collect, document, and preserve medical evidence of mass atrocities, including sexual assault and torture to use in courts.
- Vimba Helpline is a free cell-phone based service that leverages USSD technology to enable callers to reach the helpline even without data or airtime. The helpline provides access to services and support to victims of violence and abuse in Diepsloo in South Africa.
- Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA), in Pakistan, launched an app to provide immediate assistance to victims and raise public awareness of harassment. Features include a panic button, women friendly places on a map, a safe journey planner, and educational resources about women’s rights and anti-harassment laws.
- Himmat is a mobile application launched by Delhi Police to protect women who travel alone near and around Delhi. The SOS alert feature transmits location information and audio-video to the Delhi Police control room. Delhi Police can then immediately send the nearest Police help to the victim.
