Σεξουαλική κακοποίηση μέσω εικόνας ως μορφή έμφυλης βίας στο διαδίκτυο. Ανάδυση στοιχείων σεξισμού και ενοχοποίησης θύματος στον αφηγηματικό λόγο των ανήλικων δραστών

Abstract

Image-based sexual abuse emerges as a recurring form of gender-based cyber violence that has become the focus of attention of the scientific community worldwide. This phenomenon has also affected adolescents, with boys appearing more often as perpetrators and girls as victims. However, information regarding abusers’ behavior derives mainly from the victims while there is a paucity of relevant studies from the perspective of the perpetrators. The present study endeavors to address this gap regarding gender-based violence, which resulted from an overall lack of research initiatives to date on a targeted sample of adolescents. More specifically, it refers to the investigation of elements of sexist ideology as well as victim-blaming in the narratives of boys, identified as perpetrators of sexual abuse via image exploitation, aged 15-17, using an in-depth semi-structured interview schedule. Perpetrators tend to downplay their actions and not recognize the problem's seriousness. Evidence of sexism and gender stereotyping abounds. At the same time, girls who were victims of online abuse were found to be related to the offenders (i.e. girlfriends), highlighting that violence in cyberspace is related to physical violence. This paper contributes to the identification and understanding of sexual violence behaviors by adolescents in cyberspace