SV 2.0 - Definitions

Marianne Winters is a leader in the movement to end and address sexualized and domestic violence and is passionate about progressive movements that are visionary, inclusive, current, responsive and proactive. Some would say that she’s “all over the place”. She prefers to say that she thrives on variety and is energized by the multi-faceted, never ending, interconnected and always exciting work of social change. She is the Project Diva for Graphix for Change and consultant and trainer for Praxis for Change.

Let’s start with a quick definition of Web 2.0 – web development and web design that facilitates information sharing, interoperability, and user-centered design and collaboration. Google the phrase Web 2.0 and you’ll find many similar definitions. In other words, Web 2.0 is intentionally using websites and other electronic platforms for more than a static source of information. Some people disagree with the term Web 2.0.  They would argue that it’s just a broader use of the possibilities of the internet reaching more of a critical mass of people, organizations and businesses. Yes, many of the tools available now that help people network, socialize, engage, and sell their products were available all along. Now we’re taking advantage of the fact that they are now affordable and accessible to the average person. No longer do you need to have a small army of designers, database technicians, content developers and website technicians to have an interactive web presence. Now, with free and almost free tools, the average person and even the smallest grassroots organization can do what in the beginning was reserved for big corporations and institutions.

Which leads to the Question... What is SV 2.0?


Here’s our working definition – Sexual Violence 2.0 is the strategic and creative use of internet based technologies to address emerging issues in sexual violence while staying true to key values and principles essential to the movement addressing sexualized violence. In other words, SV 2.0 uses the tools in ways that promote the goals of the movement in ways that honor and promote the principles of safety, confidentiality, diversity, inclusion, accountability, justice and social change.