Online violence against women and girls (OVAWG) is a pervasive issue that continues to plague the digital landscape in the United Kingdom. A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from The Open University has shed light on the disturbing prevalence of OVAWG across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address this alarming problem.
The research, the largest of its kind in the UK, surveyed 7,500 individuals aged 16 or older through YouGov, revealing the unsettling extent of online violence and abuse. This form of aggression can manifest in various ways, including sexual, psychological, and emotional abuse, encompassing activities such as trolling, physical threats, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. These acts primarily unfold on social media platforms and within chatrooms, creating a hostile online environment for women and girls.
One of the key findings of the study was that women and girls in Scotland were more likely to have witnessed online violence, with 35 percent reporting such experiences, compared to 30 percent in England and 27 percent in Wales and Northern Ireland. Additionally, women in Scotland and Wales were found to be the most likely to have directly experienced online violence, with 17 percent reporting such incidents.
The research reveals that, on average, more than one in 10 women in England have personally experienced online violence, while three in 10 have witnessed it happening to others. These numbers are even higher among women aged between 16 and 24, with 25 percent having experienced online violence, and among LGB+ women, with a shocking 35 percent encountering online abuse. Even more concerning is the fact that 13 percent of women who experienced online violence reported that it escalated to real-world violence.
Andrea Simon, the director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), rightly points out that technological advancements have created new avenues for violence against women and girls. She emphasizes that this online abuse is interconnected with offline threats and violence, underscoring the necessity of addressing it comprehensively.
Professor Olga Jurasz, the project lead and a professor of law at The Open University, highlights the adverse impact of online violence on women’s well-being, including negative effects on mental and physical health, the implementation of protective measures, and changes in their willingness or ability to express themselves online. This study, the first of its kind across the four nations of the UK, provides crucial insights for policymakers to formulate strategies to reduce instances of OVAWG and improve outcomes for affected individuals.
The research also identifies the top reasons why individuals engage in online violence against women and girls, including the anonymity offered by online platforms (49 percent), the perception of getting away with it (47 percent), and misogyny (43 percent).
Notably, there are gender divides in perceptions regarding online violence and its potential eradication. Men in England were less likely than women to support criminalizing online violence against women and girls, with over 50 percent of men in support compared to more than 69 percent of women. Additionally, men were more likely to believe that legal prohibitions on online violence would limit their freedom of expression.
Furthermore, the study exposes a lack of confidence among women in reporting online abuse to authorities, with many feeling that the authorities would not effectively address the issue. Instead, women turned to friends and family for support, while only a small fraction approached the police.
The research findings emphasize the need for stronger regulation and enforcement in the online realm. Professor Lynne Gabriel, the president of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), calls attention to the inadequacy of existing laws and regulations in combating OVAWG. She urges the government to enforce its new guidance in the Online Safety Bill effectively and to work towards a robust and comprehensive approach to address online violence against women and girls.
In conclusion, the study conducted by The Open University serves as a wake-up call, revealing the distressing prevalence of online violence against women and girls in the UK. It underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts from policymakers, law enforcement, social media platforms, and society as a whole to combat this disturbing issue. Addressing online violence is not only a matter of safeguarding the digital landscape but also a crucial step toward ensuring the safety and dignity of women and girls in the online world and beyond.
