Virtual Violence
Research Centre
Examining the Complex Intersections Between Technology and Abuse
Part 1
Dystopian Futures and Virtual R*pe
How New Technologies Revolutionise Violence
During Part 1 we explore a wide range of examples of the intersections of technology and violence. This includes discussion of deepfake and revenge p*rnography, stalking simulators, 'living dolls', and much much more. Dr. Jem Tosh goes into detail about each kind of virtual violence before going through their own research on the construction and implementation of consent in online spaces.
Learning Outcomes:
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Be aware of the wide range of technologies being used to further violence against marginalised groups.
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Understand the different implications and impacts of these various technologies and their uses.
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Gain confidence in discussing these forms of abuse with others and better support students, clients, and others who have experienced them.
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Identify areas where additional security and education is required in your own work to prevent and protect against virtual violence.
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Understand how harmful and problematic definitions of consent lead to increases in violence.
Psygentra Member
Great structure for an event like this. The pre-recorded lecture was compelling and well-organised. Jem is an expert in this area, and it shows. Great discussion afterwards on this timely topic, too. I hope Psygentra hosts more events like this. I would strongly recommend it.
Dr. Lucy Thompson
I have really learned so much that connects with arguments I am making in my own work. Invaluable, enriching, and I'll definitely be referencing this lecture series and your work in my upcoming book.
Psygentra Member
An empowering and responsive session - a good antidote to the grim news headlines around AI as of late. Plenty of practical and clever strategies to increase online safety, particularly around feminist and activist work.
Part 2
Cyber Feminism and Activism
Responding to Online Oppression and Virtual Violence
During Part 2 we cover the history of feminist responses to technological violence and oppression. We discuss cyber feminism and other areas where feminists have used technology to counter violence and challenge gender inequality. Dr. Jem Tosh outlines ways that we can use technology to further our academic activism, as well as how feminism can use technology to dismantle and undermine oppressive structures and build community and connection.
Learning Outcomes:
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Be aware of the history of feminism's engagement with technology and virtual spaces.
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Understand the different ways that technology can be used to counter and respond to violence.
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Understand different kinds of activism that utilise a range of technologies.
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Gain confidence in using online spaces for your feminist academic and/or activist work.
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Learn online safety tips to make online feminist and activist work safer.
Who Is This Event For?
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Academics, researchers, and students interested in feminism, technology, gender violence, s*xual abuse, and online communication.
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Therapists working with survivors of s*xual abuse and violence.
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Academics and teachers who teach about gender violence, and support students who may have experienced these kinds of abuse, or are struggling with living in an unsafe virtual (and real) world.
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Social workers who work with survivors of violence and abuse.
Dr. Jem Tosh (they/she)
Jem is a Doctor of Psychology and Author who specialises in critical and feminist psychologies, particularly around gender and violence. Jem completed their PhD on online discourse and s*xual abuse and has published extensively on the psychology of gender and violence, including several books. Jem is the Founding Director of Psygentra, a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society, a Full Member of the Canadian Psychological Association, and a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy.
also known as Dr. Jemma Tosh (deadname)
PART 4 COMING IN 2025
Part 3
Falling in Love with AI: A Critical Discursive Analysis of Advertisements for AI 'Digital Girlfriends'
Watch Dr. Jem Tosh's presentation from Psygentra's 2024 Critical and Creative Qualitative Conference. Jem describes a research project that collected online advertisements for 'Digital People' and analyses the material using discourse analysis. Jem goes through what she found, how it connects to virtual violence, and what the implications could be for this development in human-technological relations. Content warning for highly sexualised images and discussion of s*xual abuse.
Abstract: Continuing a decades-long history of the intersections of digital technology and relationships, the recent explosion of ‘Artificial Intelligence’ (AI) includes new developments of existing forms of cybersex and online dating. The introduction of ‘digital girlfriends’ that combines AI generated video and graphics based on user prompts with AI generated conversation geared around selected personality traits parallels cybersexual-robotics, that rather than technology that aims to bring (human) people together (e.g. dating apps), these AI apps pair a human with a user-constructed digital ‘being’. In this paper I discuss how this latest development fits into a complex history of gender, sexuality, and technology, as well as what possibilities it poses for relationships and a critical cyberpsychology. I analyse advertisements for ‘digital girlfriends’ using discourse analysis (Parker, 2022) and discuss the implications of encouraging sexual engagement with computer-generated ‘people’ that are predominantly based on harmful dominant discourses around gender, race, and sex, and how this relates to discourses and structures of sexual consent and violence.