What is online gender-based violence?Online gender-based violence refers to the use of the internet, social media apps, and digital technology to perpetuate violence against women. This became an ongoing issue starting as early as the 1990s, as technology began to evolve. The effects of the new form of violence are still felt and extremely prevalent today. Online gender-based violence (OGBV) has now today become a common act of violence in society. Anonymity behind a screen enables perpetrators to act by targeting others using technology, platforms, and systems of violence with little to no consequences. Reasons for online gender-based violenceThe root causes of online violence towards women are deeply rooted in social and cultural elements. It primarily serves as a mirror of the ongoing gender inequity that pervades our culture. The idea that women are inferior to men gives rise to misogynistic attitudes, which result in a sense of entitlement and a desire to dominate and control women. Traditional gender roles and stereotypes, which define societal expectations and sometimes result in abusive behaviour when women dispute or oppose them, further perpetuate this inequity. The anonymity of the internet significantly influences the prevalence of online sexism. Behind the protection of a screen, people feel empowered to act violently without suffering any immediate consequences. Interactions on the internet become less empathic due to this lack of accountability, which fosters the growth of nasty and misogynistic viewpoints. Furthermore, fear of women's empowerment is frequently the root of online sexism. Some people feel intimidated by this change in power dynamics as women advance in various fields. As a result, they turn to online forums to vent their animosity or make an effort to discredit women's accomplishments, continuing a cycle of abuse. Types of online gender-based violence and abuse1. Cyber Bullying and HarassmentCyber harassment refers to the use of the internet, social media, and other technologies to assist in malicious messaging, stalking, and abuse. This can include the spreading of false information, misinformation, and defamation. For women in particular, online sexual harassment is much more prevalent than men, with 33% of young women under the age of 35 reporting having been sexually harassed compared to men at 11%. 2. DoxingDoxing is a non -consensual act of violence consisting of the spreading of personal information about the victim’s address, phone number, workplace, or any other details that can result in harm. Due to the severity of the violence, doxing can become extremely frightening as stalking is the common result when private data is released about the person. Doxing isn’t always perpetrated by personal acquaintances; sometimes it can only take an online squabble to result in a doxing incident. Women are typically at the receiving end of doxing, as it is used to intimidate. However, in recent news, doxing has been used as a humiliation tool against women, weaponising their data to harass and threaten them online and offline. An example of this occurred this month when two girls mocked a woman for taking pictures behind her. This video was uploaded to TikTok, which resulted in a mass doxing incident as many people rallied to support the woman taking pictures. 3. Revenge PornRevenge porn is a form of digital abuse that describes the sharing of intimate photos and videos that aim to violet, harm, and destroy the victim’s livelihood and reputation. This sort of act usually comes from someone close to the victim, an ex-partner, trying to inflict harm or vengeance, Feelings of betrayal, anger, or jealousy can be a root cause of why the release of partners threatens the victim with the release of sexual materials. By releasing personal media, the perpetrator asserts control over the victim. However, we are unaware of the snowball effect this will have on the victim’s life. Emotional distress, a tarnished reputation, and a violation of privacy are just a few hardships victims of this crime face. The current statistic of British men who have kept intimate photos of their ex-partner is currently at 46%. 3. Online impersonationOnline impersonation is the act of creating a fake profile of someone else using their identity. This is done by using someone else’s name, pictures, and personal details. Online impersonation is typically used for defamation; however, in many cases, it is also known as "catfishing," where only the victims’ pictures are used for deception. Most of the time, online impersonations lead to other online violence such as bully, trolling, harassment, and threats. Impersonation on social media is three times more likely to happen to women and girls than to men. Online impersonation can be devastating for victims, as their name and pictures will have been associated with online violence that was not committed by them but by the perpetrator. 4. Hate SpeechHate speech refers to the online discourse of a person or group based on discrimination against ethnicity, race, gender, religion, politics, etc. There are many hateful groups,subcultures andforums dedicated to a range of groups However, many online communities share a similar disdain for women. In these communities, women are called derogatory words, scrutinized, and hated. Even online political groups, whether they are conservative or liberal, have intersectionality with ideologies that promote the violence of women or harmful views that further oppress women. 5. TrollingThe rise in trolling online is imminent and very much ongoing, as more and more people gain access to social media. Often times, trolling can appear lighthearted or masked as a social media joke; however, many men will make use of this excuse in order to create smear campaigns against women under the guise of jokes. Trolling online can be in the form of a Twitter thread,memes, or TikTok's, which aim to target and humiliate. Trolling can create a mob mentality, which allows more individuals to engage in introverted behavior towards the victim, and as there is added anonymity on social media, some people may feel that there is a lack of consequence to their actions. This is a major concern as victims become extremely overwhelmed by the sheer amount of hate they are receiving. How online abuse of women has spiraled out of control,2017 | Ashley Judd Women's Online Safety: Tips for Staying Safe and Secure
After looking at the cause and effects of online gender-based violence, and exploring how the radicalization of boys and men and the rise of toxic masculine ideologies have impacted these acts of violence, it is clear that this is a serious and ongoing problem in society. Although women are not to blame for this problem, it is still helpful to educate and acknowledge how to stay safe online, protect ourselves, and provide support to other women. Ultimately, the real change will have to be the individuals who are involved—male role models, society, and governments—who will have to address the root cause of harmful messages. For now, all women can strive to do is aim for change, while navigating and supporting each other. Author: NAINA B.
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