Title: Between trust and control: digital technologies and care in intimate partner relationships.
Abstract: The digital monitoring tools and apps are increasingly used in our family and care practices. In this presentation I will present the result of our team research on how care, surveillance, and autonomy interplay in usage of digital technologies in intimate partner relationships in Slovakia.
Our representative quantitative research focused on practices, which are commonly used in intimate partner relationships as expressions of care and trust, and yet can be used for monitoring, controlling, even abusing the partner. The questionnaire focused on both, practices and opinions of people living in intimate partner relationships. In particular, we asked about shared access/passwords to computers, smartphones, applications and internet banking; about an ability to track the partner’s phone; about sharing erotic images with partner; as well as about breaches of trust (e.g. looking into partner’s phone without their knowledge, showing or sharing partner’s erotic image with a third party etc.). Second part of questionnaire mapped opinions on particular practices in relation to trust, control, care, and autonomy.
In the presentation I will show how these practices and opinions relate to socio-demographic characteristics and illustrate how relatively high prevalence of sharing and trust contrasts with opinions on care, autonomy, and abuse. I will conclude relating this date to theories of ethics of care on care and violence.
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