Aphiwe Mhlangulana

My name is Aphiwe Mhlangulana. I am applying for the above-mentioned fellowship. I am currently a PhD candidate at the University of Cape Town. My research is in the Psychology department within the Hub for Decolonial Feminist Psychologies in Africa. My PhD is titled an exploration of Black African women journalists and blogger experiences of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). 

My research examines how technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) forms part of a broader continuum of violence that women experience in society. I approach this work through an intersectional lens, recognizing that Black women often encounter TFGBV at the intersection of racism and sexism. By focusing specifically on Black African women, my research seeks to address a critical gap in existing scholarship, which has historically overlooked their experiences and the racialized dimensions of gendered violence. Through narrative-based inquiry, I aim to center the voices of Black African women journalists and bloggers, highlighting their lived experiences, the historical roots of similar violences, and their interpretations of how multiple forms of oppression intersect in digital spaces.

I believe that this fellowship will provide an invaluable platform to deepen scholarly conversations on violence in the African context. The honorarium would allow me to share my research with other scholars across the continent and raise greater awareness of Black African women’s experiences of online violence. Presenting my work in such a respected forum would contribute to broader discussions on digital safety and help position Black African women not only as victims of online harm but also as active internet users, agents of knowledge production, and contributors to digital activism. I also hope this opportunity will enable collaboration with other African scholars to initiate meaningful dialogue on safe digital spaces for knowledge creation, community building, and activism.

The fellowship aligns closely with my long-term career goals as a researcher working within the African continent and in South Africa. It represents an important step in advancing my scholarly trajectory and strengthening my contributions to research on race, gender, and digital violence. I look forward to the possibility of engaging further and to hearing from you in the near future.