A Baseline Quantitative Analysis of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Against Women with Disabilities in South Africa

The rapid proliferation of digital technologies has transformed the landscape of gender-based violence globally. This quantitative study used an online survey to explore the experiences of women with disabilities in relation to technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) in South Africa. Findings from 204 participants highlight patterns across age, province, education, employment, income, disability type, and forms of TFGBV experienced, and how TFGBV may differ at intersections of these factors. They show that cyberbullying, hacking, and hate speech were the most prevalent forms of TFGBV, disproportionately affecting women with various disabilities. The study further reveals how socio-economic disadvantage, manifested in limited access to secure technologies, digital literacy, and support systems, intensifies exposure to harm and constrains access to justice. The study calls for inclusive, power-conscious approaches to research, policy and interventions that centre lived experiences of women with disabilities. Addressing TFGBV in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), therefore, requires not only legal reform and digital safety initiatives but also broader strategies for socio-economic empowerment and systemic transformation to end gendered–disability violence in both the material and virtual world.