Abstract
Technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) is defined broadly as unwanted or unwelcome sexual behavior involving the use of technology, including online sexual harassment, online gender or sexuality-based harassment, online image-based abuse (colloquially known as "revenge porn"), and online sexual aggression/coercion (colloquially known as "sextortion"). The purpose of this study was to explore the victim impact of TFSV and to critically examine the positioning of TFSV as a gender-based harm; that is, a harm directed primarily towards women. This study employed a mixed methods approach, integrating quantitative online survey data (N = 333; Mage = 33.91 years; 63% women) with qualitative interview data (N = 10; Agerange = 24–46; 50% women) to gain a more comprehensive understanding of TFSV. We found that victims of TFSV experienced anxiety, stress, depression, loss of control, mistrust, multiple victimizations, poor academic/occupation functioning, problematic alcohol consumption, embarrassment, and online behavior changes (e.g., limiting personal information online) due to TFSV victimization. Individuals who experienced online image-based abuse reported greater distress on items of depression, anxiety, and occupational/academic functioning than did victims of other types of TFSV. The current study provides partial support for the gender similarities hypothesis that TFSV is not exclusively a gender-based harm; our findings suggest that women and men’s TFSV experiences are similar for most TFSV types. Overall, the present study demonstrates the negative impact TFSV has for both women and men and highlights the need for greater awareness and increased support for all victims of this form of sexual violence.
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Notes
Statistics were based on completed demographic questionnaires. Victims provided this information voluntarily to WHOA when reporting a complaint.
The gender demographic question included the following response options: men, women, and non-binary. We had no participants who identified as non-binary in our sample.
Examples of themes include: (1) Loss of control, self-esteem or confidence; (2) Security and privacy; (3) Negative coping such as suicidal thoughts/behavior, and excessive alcohol consumption; (4) Fear of revictimization and the future; (5) Anxiety and depression (Bates, 2015).
“High” levels represent “very” to “extreme” levels of distress selected on the TFSV Experience Impact Scale item(s) reported.
“Moderate-to-extreme levels” represent “moderate,” “very,” or “extreme” levels of distress selected on the TFSV Experience Impact Scale item(s) reported.
Low-to-moderate levels refers to “slight” or “moderate” levels of distress on the TFSV Experience Impact Scale item(s) reported.
We conducted supplementary exploratory analyses which showed that for victims of online sexual harassment, victimization perpetrated by a partner was related to higher rates of psychological distress. An exploratory ANOVA and post hoc test determined whether victim impact scores varied due to who perpetrated the online sexual harassment victimization. A significant difference was found, F(2, 249) = 9.46, p = .001, η2p = .07. Online sexual harassment perpetrated by a partner was associated with significantly higher rates of distress (M = 16.61; SE = 1.77) compared to victimizations perpetrated by a stranger (M = 9.09; SE = .68) or another individual (M = 11.75; SE = .72).
This was clarified later in the interview.
Two less common themes were rumination (n = 5; 11.6%) and feelings of awkwardness (n = 3; 7%).
We thank an anonymous reviewer for raising this point.
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Champion, A.R., Oswald, F., Khera, D. et al. Examining the Gendered Impacts of Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence: A Mixed Methods Approach. Arch Sex Behav 51, 1607–1624 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02226-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02226-y