On 17 March 2026, WAVE Network co-hosted an interactive workshop at Central European University (CEU) in Vienna, in collaboration with VivaVulva, exploring digital behaviour, boundaries, and the often invisible dynamics of pressure and silencing in online spaces.

Held in the context of International Women’s Day, the workshop brought together students and community members to reflect on how everyday digital interactions can carry different meanings depending on context, relationships, and power.

The session, co-facilitated by Sarah Castellanos (WAVE) and Rifka Fehr (VivaVulva), combined policy-oriented discussion with creative, body-based reflection, offering participants a space to engage with both the structural and lived dimensions of technology-facilitated violence against women and girls (TFVAWG).

“Talking about TECH-based violence and silencing in the digital space, in the context of International Women’s Day, isn’t just essential but non-negotiable. Therefore, it was an honour to be asked by WAVE to collaborate on this workshop,” shared Rifka Fehr.

From Everyday Messages to Structural Patterns

The workshop opened with an interactive “Red Light / Green Light” exercise, where participants were invited to respond instinctively to familiar digital messages such as “Why didn’t you reply?” or “Send proof.”

The responses varied across the room, immediately highlighting how digital behaviours that may appear neutral or even caring in one context can feel intrusive or controlling in another.

Building on this, participants explored how meaning is shaped through context in the “Message → Meaning” exercise, before identifying broader patterns through the “Naming the Dynamics” framework, including surveillance, pressure, control, and coercion

These exercises underscored a central insight of the workshop: digital interactions are not isolated, but often reflect and reinforce wider social and relational dynamics.

Understanding Technology-Facilitated Violence

The session then introduced participants to the concept of technology-facilitated violence against women and girls, covering forms such as online harassment, cyberstalking, non-consensual image sharing, and AI-generated abuse

A key takeaway was the recognition that online and offline violence exist on a continuum. Digital harm does not remain confined to screens. It can lead to fear, withdrawal, and self-censorship, shaping how individuals participate in both digital and public life.

The workshop also briefly explored the evolving European policy landscape, including the EU Directive on violence against women and domestic violence and the Digital Services Act, situating these experiences within broader legal and political developments.

Bringing the Body into the Conversation

One of the defining features of the workshop was its integration of creative and embodied approaches. Moving beyond discussion, participants were guided through a body scan and invited to reflect on how digital experiences are felt physically and emotionally.

“Creating interactive formats with body-based and creative approaches has become more and more important to me. Being able to incorporate those elements into the workshop meant a lot. Working with Sarah was wonderful,” Rifka Fehr reflected.

The session concluded with a collective drawing exercise, where participants visualised experiences of pressure, silence, and visibility. This created a space for expression that did not rely on language alone, acknowledging that digital harm is often experienced in ways that are difficult to articulate.

Creating Space for Complexity

Feedback from participants highlighted the value of combining analytical and reflective approaches:

“I really enjoyed the spectrum of the workshop, from discussing case studies to being led through a body scan and then collectively drawing. The workshop encompassed important ethical and policy topics, whilst also taking care of oneself and holding space for your own feelings and emotions.” – Participant

This balance between structure and openness was central to the workshop’s design. Rather than offering fixed definitions or solutions, the session aimed to create space for participants to recognise patterns, question assumptions, and engage with the complexity of digital interactions.

Looking Ahead

As digital spaces continue to shape how we communicate, participate, and express ourselves, conversations around boundaries, safety, and visibility become increasingly important.

Workshops such as this one highlight the need to address technology-facilitated violence not only through policy and regulation, but also through dialogue, reflection, and community engagement.

WAVE remains committed to advancing these conversations across Europe, working alongside partners, members, and communities to ensure that digital spaces can be navigated more safely and equitably.

Rifka Fehr continues to engage with politics and feminism through her work, viewing art as a catalyst for democratic participation. Through workshops, exhibitions, fundraisers, and events, she fosters bottom-up, community-led environments for collective reflection and action. Follow @vivavulva on Instagram to learn more.