TWSTE POST - news, advocacy, and actions taken for women's equality.

February 3, 2024

Child Safety Online

Response to Senate Hearing


Metaverse v Reality Debate

Real World Consequences



Technology and Gender Based Violence

The Nexus of Technology, Gender and Violence



States News

64,000 pregnancies caused by rape

Child care costs outpace wages

Wa intercepts millions in child support


Child Safety Online


Tech Policy: Safety tools Are Available Now


After the U S Senate Committee hearing on child safety featuring CEOs of Snap, Discord, X, Meta and TiK Tok, Tech Policy states there are some clear cut safety practices that most companies can and should commit to now, and that products are already 'in the field.'


Tech Policy states: 'Instead of state legislatures hyper-focusing on parental controls, those in charge of determining what reasonable safety standards should look like need to focus instead on the impact of design choices on teen safety.'



The Gaps Left Unfilled by the Senate Tech CEO Hearing on Child Safety | TechPolicy.Press

For regulation to be effective, there needs to be an agreed definition of "reasonable measures" says Alicia Blum-Ross.

Read More

Child Safety Online


The National Center on Sexual Exploitation


NCOSE states 'The reality of the January 31st Hearing: Big Tech will not prioritize the safety of children when using their platforms.'


"Watch: Big Tech BS with Lina" as she highlights some key moments and breaks down the many excuses, lies, and the #BigTechBS that CEOs delivered in this hearing."

Read and Watch Here

The Metaverse


Immersive virtual reality technologies debate


In a Fuller Project report, an avatar was mobbed by a group of males on Meta's Horizon Ventures and virtually gang-raped. The person suffered from psychological and emotional trauma the same as someone raped in the real world.


Elena Martellozzo, an associate professor of criminology and co-leader on research into children's safety in the metaverse, states we shouldn't distinguish between real world abuse and metaverse abuse. Read her answers to this on going debate about this unregulated forum.




'A wake-up call': After alleged metaverse rape, calls to protect women and girls grow

Sexual assault and harassment are largely unregulated in virtual reality, despite rising reports of psychological harm caused by rape in the metaverse.

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Global News


Technology and Gender Based Violence


The nexus of technology, gender, and violence is strong. 85% of women worldwide witnessed online violence against women. The violence takes many forms, may come from an individual or group, and is aimed at both the world-famous and the 'obscure'.

A Growing Number of Women Activists Confront Technology and Gender-Based Violence | TechPolicy.Press

Sudeshna Mukherjee and Ayça Atabeya advocate for a gender-responsive approach to designing and regulating the digital world.

Read More

State News


Lawmaker asks, for children conceived in rape, what happens to the abusers's parental rights? UtahNewsDispatch


64,000 pregnancies caused by rape have occurred in states with a total abortion ban, new study estimates SCIAM



Mapping the path forward: Legislating the next stage of reproductive rights in Pa PaCapStar


Child care costs far outpace wages, but dependent care tax credit stuck at 2001 rate StateNews


Wa intercepts millions in child support for low-income families INVW


Before and after Dobbs, questions of "when and where' affect abortion access StatesNews


Judge denies request from doctors wanting clearer abortion law NDakotaMonitor



Maternal health: Access in crisis WVaWatch


How much money can broadband bring a rural community? By some estimates, millions DailyYonder


A Raleigh-based health center works to reduce rates of Black maternal and infant deaths NCNewsline


Glitch in financial aid form is keeping students with immigrant parents from applying for college grants OpenCampus


Texas law punishes voters Brennan Center


Under Ken Paxton, Texas' elite Civil Medicaid fraud unit is falling apart Propublica


Feds approve 12 months of Medicaid coverage for low-income Texas moms TexasTribune


The most tolerated human rights abuse StarTribune

For Your Information

Bringing medication abortion access to college campuses. How Gen Z is uniquely impacted by confusing and ever-changing policies RewireNews


Medicare Advantage: A Policy Primer Commonwealth


Illuminating the shadows: a critical dialogue on combatting human trafficking in Dallas CAW


Rape, pregnant and in an abortion ban state? Researchers gauge how often it happens NPR


Immigration is Not an "Invasion" under the Constitution JustSecurity


The Pros, Cons, and Unknowns of popular weight-loss drugs JohnsHopkinsHealth


Trump Trial Clearinghouse JustSecurity

What's Happening In Our Corner


These organizations listed on our website are offering workshops, virtual classrooms, new programs, updates on their initiatives, valuable resources, and news you can use.



Decoding women's and girls relationship with pornography CultureReframed


Equipping Children's Advocacy Centers to safeguard young people from the harms of pornography CultureReframed



The February Book Browse booklist is here.

TWSTE BOOK BROWSE

TWSTE Book Browse selects books on a variety of topics for your digital book shopping convenience. Categories include fiction, nonfiction, biographies, and books that offer insight on issues affecting women. Shop with us today.

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Sponsorship

Sponsors of The Women’s Shift To Equality believe in our mission to achieve equality for women. Our information hub of over one hundred organizations will provide you with a nonpartisan platform to voice support and stay informed about the issues affecting women today. Contact us at [email protected] for more information.


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