Week 10: Social Media Conflict
Definition of Online Harassment
Online harassment, defined as threats or offensive unwanted behaviors directed through new technology channels likely to cause harm (Jones, Mitchell & Finkelhor, 2013, p. 54), encompasses a range of detrimental actions, including name-calling, embarrassment, physical threats, sexual harassment, prolonged harassment, emotional harm by romantic partners, impersonation, spreading damaging rumors, encouraging others to harass, and attempting physical harm post-online harassment (Lenhart et al., 2016).
These forms of abuse are recognized as a digital extension of physical forms of gender-based abuse and violence against women in society. Perpetrators targeting individuals based on their actual or perceived identity, such as gender, sexuality, race, religion, or disability, may escalate their actions to constitute hate crimes (Crown Prosecution Service, 2017). Sexual harassment online, specifically targeting women, involves various forms, including negative comments on social media, revenge pornography, cyberstalking, non-consensual sexting, and gender-based hate speech (Citron, 2009, p. 378).
Enabled by advancements in technology, online harassment can occur against both known and unknown victims, with features like GPS tracking and Keylogger allowing for more sophisticated and invasive methods of perpetration (Vitis & Gilmour, 2017, p. 337). Despite efforts to combat it, the pervasiveness of online harassment continues to undermine attempts to address gender-based violence, perpetuating societal norms that tolerate such behavior and blaming victims rather than holding perpetrators accountable.
Negative Impacts
Online harassment can have severe negative impacts on individuals, causing emotional distress such as stress, anxiety, and fear, and in extreme cases, even leading to suicidal thoughts (Lenhart et al., 2016).
The lasting nature and wide reach of online content can worsen the effects of harassment. Victims may become hesitant to engage with digital spaces, with studies showing that young women who have experienced online harassment are more likely to censor themselves online to avoid further mistreatment (Haslop, O'Rourke & Southern , 2021, p. 1421). This form of harassment, often termed "silencing," hinders women's participation and inclusion in online communities, marginalizing them in these spaces (Banet-Weiser & Miltner, 2016, p. 172).
Digital Divisions and Inequalities
In digital spaces, there's a problem called the 'digital divide,' showing inequalities between social groups (Muschert & Gunderson, 2017). It was first thought to be a technological and economic problem, but now it is also about how much people want to use digital stuff. Cyberbullying, especially against women, makes this gap worse by making some women avoid the internet. This bullying reflects and makes worse the gender differences online (Jane, 2018, p. 186). Even when people try to speak up, they're often called names like "snowflakes" (Nicholson, 2016), which is being used to “undermine a new generation of activists who are raising valid and justifiable concerns and challenging persistent and continued social and political inequality” (Rivers, 2017, p. 48), making it harder for them to be heard.
Women, especially, face sexual harassment online, which tries to keep them quiet and less involved in online life (Megarry, 2014). This bullying isn't taken seriously enough, hiding how much it hurts women. Overall, online bullying, especially against women, makes them withdraw from online spaces, affecting their part in online life. It mirrors real-world gender differences and makes it harder for women to speak up, hurting their chances to be part of online discussions. Sexual harassment is fundamentally a men's issue, as women do not perpetrate it against themselves.
Yet, societal expectations often place the burden of preventing sexual violence on women and girls, overlooking the central role men can play in combating it (Katz, 2019). By labeling sexual harassment as solely a women's issue, society effectively renders men invisible in discussions about the problem, despite being its primary perpetrators. This perpetuates a paradox where women, the primary victims of harassment, are expected to influence privileged men, exacerbating the problem further (PettyJohn et al., 2018, p. 2). However, engaging men in addressing sexual harassment is essential for meaningful change.
Men's influence on other men's behavior can be significant, making them vital allies in prevention efforts (Fabiano et al., 2003). Moreover, involving men in discussions about sexual harassment is not about vilifying them but inviting them to contribute to cultural shifts that reject harassment (Flood, 2011). To foster this engagement, it's crucial to reframe men's involvement as helpful rather than placing blame, providing them with the vocabulary and motivation to address abuse and harassment actively.
By encouraging men to reflect on their actions and challenging societal norms that perpetuate harassment, we can pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable society.
Responses to Online Harassment
Responding to online sexual harassment means taking different actions. Some individuals choose to avoid or leave online platforms because of the harassment. Others change how they act on the internet for self-protection, like using different names online (Gumbus & Meglich, 2013, p. 48), being careful about which websites they visit, and closing down email accounts and websites they manage (Franks, 2012), although they may still be blamed for being victims. But recent studies show that more individuals are using the internet to fight back against harassment. They use social media to speak out and join together, creating spaces where they can share their stories and stand up to harassment (Salter, 2013, p. 226).
Despite the potential for increased mistreatment, individuals persist in utilizing the internet as a platform to assert themselves. This is evident in the creative resistance observed on Twitter, where users actively confront abuse by publicly naming perpetrators and engaging in collective movements like #mencallmethings (Megarry, 2014). These actions highlight how individuals, particularly women, leverage online spaces to challenge stereotypes and address instances of harassment. This is important because individuals have often not been believed or taken seriously when they talk about harassment. Fighting back against harassment, especially on social media, is important for changing how people see these issues and giving individuals a voice. Using humor as a weapon against online harassment could serve as an effective form of activism and resistance. Individuals can use wit and satire to uncover and ridicule stereotypes, challenging dominant ideologies and societal norms (Zimbardo, 2014, p. 61). Making fun of hurtful comments and behaviors demonstrates that those acts are naive and unacceptable, while also providing an essential forum for underrepresented individuals.
Through subversive humor, they can render harassing behavior absurd and provide a critical space for marginalized groups (Barreca, 1988, p. 19). For example, visual illustrations and witty dialogue can neutralize aggressive comments, removing the anonymity associated with online harassment and highlighting the juvenility of the harasser's behavior (Vitis & Gilmour, 2017, p. 345). This form of humor not only challenges sexist discourses but also undermines long-held assumptions about women's humorous ability (Franzini, 1996). It's a way for individuals to take control and make a difference in how people think about online behavior. Shaming punishment involves using public embarrassment as a way to punish people for their actions.
This punishment has been around for a long time and serves two main purposes: to entertain people and to make the person being shamed suffer (Hess & Waller , 2014). In today's world, shaming can happen in different ways, not just in the legal system. It can happen online, on social media, or even on TV shows like "To Catch A Predator". These days, anyone can shame someone else online, and it's become a common way to hold people accountable for their actions. For example, some people use Instagram to shame those who harass others, but without revealing their identities (Vitis & Gilmour, 2017, p. 348). People who see these posts often join in, making fun of the harassers and pointing out the unfairness of their actions. This collective shaming process shows how online spaces can redefine what's considered shameful, based on people's beliefs and values. While some see this as just entertainment, it also serves as a way for people to discipline others when legal action isn't possible, and it challenges harmful ideas about body image by using semi-nude images in a way that disrupts unfair gender norms (Fileborn, 2014).
Case Study: #MeToo movement
The #MeToo movement, which started gaining attention in 2017, has had a big impact on how people see sexual harassment (Mendes, Ringrose & Keller, 2018).
Some people think it's a big moment for feminism, rewriting history and fighting for gender equality. But others think it's unfair to men and hurts their reputation and rights. Different countries have different reactions to #MeToo. In places like Sweden and the USA, it led to important people losing their jobs and stricter laws being made (Askanius & Hartley, 2019).
But in other places like Denmark, people are more focused on protecting men's rights instead of dealing with harassment.
Despite its impact, sexual harassment has always been a hard topic to talk about, with many people being silenced and everyday sexism ignored (Davis, 1994). #MeToo has given victims a way to share their stories and make people more aware of how common harassment is (Reinicke, 2022, p. 5). But some people wonder if talking online is enough to make real changes in the world. The #MeToo movement was started by a Black feminist named Tarana Burke to help young women of color who survived sexual abuse. But it got really big after the Harvey Weinstein scandal and mostly focused on white, middle-class, heterosexual people (Banet-Weiser, 2018, p. 13). #MeToo brought together stories from people who had been harassed in different ways and showed how big of a problem it is.
Even though it's a serious topic, humor has been used in #MeToo to help people cope with the bad stuff. Laughing at the people who did bad things can make them feel less powerful and give victims a sense of belonging. But sometimes, humor can make things worse by making people feel ashamed or uncomfortable.
Making fun of apologies from men accused of harassment can be a way to challenge shame and make victims feel stronger (Sunden & Paasonen, 2019, p. 5). Laughter can be a way to deal with anger and shame, giving people energy to keep fighting for change.