Blurred Boundaries: Gendered Experiences of Sexting and NCII Among Youth

• In Event: Emerging Forms of Victimization: Digital Harassment, Institutional Harm, and Emotional Consequences

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate gender dynamics, harm, and responses to consensual sexting and dissemination of non-consensual intimate images (NCII) among Canadian adolescents. This mixed-methods research employed a quantitative survey distributed to a sample of Canadian adolescents (n=1009) aged 11-19. Analysis focused on responses from adolescents who experienced (n=74) or engaged in (n=40) NCII. Additionally, 24 semi-structured interviews were conducted on consensual sexting and NCII, with adolescents attending one Canadian university.
Over half of the participants who experienced NCII were male, white, heterosexual and in their late teens. More males reported positive feelings and were more likely to disseminate NCII. Interviews showed participants viewed girls as victims and boys as active participants; girls were blamed when their NCII was shared and faced harsher consequences. Girls, however, described a nuanced perspective on their motivations and mixed effects of consensual sexting on well-being, including self-esteem and self-worth. Also,findings highlight differences between consensual sexting and NCII and the gendered nature of NCII sharing. Although at risk, males often receive social rewards rather than facing privacy or consent concerns. Findings suggest that societal gender biases may obscure the importance of consent in digital sexual interactions among adolescents.

Authors

• Faye Mishna, University of Toronto

• Shannon Brown, University of Toronto

• Mona Khoury-Kassabri, The Hebrew University

• Lana Jeries, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

• Samar Zuberi, University of Toronto