P055 - (In)visible Women: Experiences of and Responses to Gender-Based Online Harms

• In Event: Poster Session & Ice Cream Social

Abstract

Women are disproportionately targeted by gender-based online harms such as cyber-harassment and stalking, coercive control, cyberflashing, and image-based abuse. High-profile women, with a strong social media presence, are particularly at risk. Online visibility has long been posited as a double-edged sword (Thompson, 2005). Whilst visibility can be conducive to self-promotion, forging connections, and career advancement, it equally creates opportunities for abuse (Duffy & Hund, 2019). For visible women in public-facing professions such as politics, journalism, and academia, online abuse can lead to silencing and self-censorship, threatening women’s equal participation in public life. In response to these risks, the objective of this research project is to deepen our understanding of visible women’s experiences of online harms and to explore adequate responses. To this end, the research will consider: (1) the impact of online visibility on women’s experiences, (2) how victimisation is shaped by intersectionality, (3) women’s perceptions of safety both online and offline, and (4) the efficacy of existing policy and legislative responses in addressing women's needs. Employing a qualitative design and drawing from feminist approaches to victimology, this research will shed light on the currently understudied topic of visible women’s experiences of gender-based online harms and their subsequent support needs. By meeting the needs of women most exposed to risk, online and offline spaces will be made safer for all women. As such, this research will ensure highly visible victims’ voices contribute to the development of actionable recommendations for practitioners and policymakers, to foster a safer online environment for women.

Author

• Florence King, Swansea University