A Meta-Review of Perceptions of Image-Based Sexual Abuse

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) often occurs online and involves the consensual or non-consensual production of sexual images that results in the non-consensual dissemination of these images. IBSA is multifaceted, encompassing various actions including revenge pornography, sextortion, child pornography, unwanted sexting, cyberflashing, and more. This meta-review summarizes 90 articles documenting relevant social actors’ perceptions of IBSA, including the perceptions of offenders, victims, police officers, lawyers, judges, educators, activists, social media platform administrators, and the general public. A social constructivist approach is used to explore and discuss variations in these groups’ perceptions. Findings point to discourse and attitude variation based on the relationship between the offender and victim, and how the image was produced and distributed. Framed by these contexts, social actors discuss themes such as gender, cisheteronormative sexuality, responsibility attribution, offender motivations, trust, respect, morality, and social pressure and expectations to socially construct IBSA and determine what regulatory actions, if any, need to be taken. Moreover, findings suggest that some conceptualizations of IBSA foster negative attitudes towards victim-survivors and spark unfavorable perceptions of institutionalized regulatory responses aimed at addressing IBSA. Results highlight the need for research that investigates how formal regulatory responses to IBSA and attitudes towards victims can be improved.

Authors

• Emilie Gauthier, Queen's University

• Alana Saulnier, Queen's University