This is part one of a four-part Women’s Month series inviting readers to take the AI GBV Narrative Challenge. The ‘challenge’ was created using insights from a study that used artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse Jamaican online discussions about gender-based violence (GBV) between 2021 and 2023. It identified 11 main “narratives” around GBV. These narratives are strong beliefs that Jamaicans have about GBV, which often contribute to GBV in the country. As you read more about these 11 narratives, see if you can identify them in your own everyday speech and thought, and join us in challenging them using the strategies suggested.

Narrative 1: ‘Genderless Violence’

This is the shared belief that there is no such thing as GBV or that GBV is a non-issue. People who believe and support this narrative often claim that there is just general violence that affects men more than women, and that GBV doesn’t need special attention.

Why is this narrative dangerous?

GBV is defined as “violence directed against a person because of that person’s gender, or violence that affects people of a particular gender disproportionately” (European Commission). In Jamaica, GBV is a sad and pervasive reality. The 2016 Women’s Health Survey notes that women and girls are the main victims and survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence, and that girls are more susceptible to childhood abuse and sexual violence in general. These forms of violence require unique and specialised interventions. Saying that GBV doesn’t exist, or that it isn’t important enough to deserve special attention, undermines and hinders effective responses and perpetuates a cycle of harm.

Key AI Study Findings:

1/ Who is saying this?

• 56 per cent of the posts that supported the genderless violence narrative were from men; 44 per cent came from women.

• Middle-aged men were identified as the primary drivers of the genderless violence narrative.

• Individuals aged 25-34 years account for 30 per cent of the group pushing this narrative; people aged 55-64 made up 20 per cent.

2/ What is the sentiment around this narrative?

• 59 per cent of the conversation around this narrative was negative (for example, people were posting to say that it is unfair to pay special attention to issues affecting women, calling it hypocritical, etc).

• 10 per cent of the conversation around this narrative was neutral (for example, people were posting to speak about the need for men to be included in conversations around violence).

•31 per cent of the conversation around this narrative was positive (people were posting to celebrate efforts in Jamaica to address GBV).

3/ Is this narrative emerging, receding, dominant, or stable?

• Dominant (meaning a lot of people believe it, and that number is growing rapidly).

Take the challenge — be the change!

How can you challenge this narrative?

• Help break the culture of silence around GBV by pointing out that it exists and that it needs to be addressed, especially and specifically (the statistics shared above are a great starting point).

• Challenge others who support the genderless violence narrative by explaining that everytime they make that argument, they undermine efforts to help cure an already serious and pervasive problem in our country.

These findings are taken from the study, ‘Tapping Social Media Using Artificial Intelligence to Understand Gender-Based Violence Norms and Perceptions in Jamaica’, done under the ‘WE-Talk for the Reduction of Gender-Based Violence’ project, being implemented by WMW Jamaica and CariMAN, funded by Global Affairs Canada and Oxfam Canada. Full research findings are available at https://cutt.ly/WE-Talk-AI-Study. For more details, contact hello@wmwja.org.