Abstract
Social media and digital platforms are being used to disclose sexual and dating violence experiences and to unite victims/survivors in social, educational, and advocacy efforts. While digital disclosure can be empowering, there are reasons why some individuals do not disclose. This article focuses on the nuances underlying decisions to (and not to) disclose victimization experiences online, and also presents a call to action, particularly for researchers and practitioners working on sexual violence intervention and prevention. Through a comparative, international literature review, the authors highlight research on factors affecting disclosure decisions while also considering contemporary issues that may impact these decisions. They conclude that, in responding to victims’ and survivors’ “justice” needs (e.g., physical and emotional safety, conscious choice, and empowerment), an intersectional feminist lens is essential in today’s complex digital world in affording an understanding of variation in disclosure practices. When combined with trauma-informed care, such an approach holds promise for transforming existing online environments into more inclusive and compassionate socio-technological spaces.
Highlights
In 2017, hundreds of thousands of sexual violence survivors took to Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms to voice their stories of sexual harassment and assault through the #MeToo hashtag in what has been called a “watershed” moment for gender-based violence
The #MeToo movement can be considered a culmination of the rise in digital feminist activism over the last decade; for once in history, it seemed as though everyone was listening to victims/survivors, or at least being exposed to their pain
The recent outpouring of personal stories on social media platforms in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and Australia highlights the prevalence of sexual violence as a serious social problem
Summary
In 2017, hundreds of thousands of sexual violence survivors took to Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms to voice their stories of sexual harassment and assault through the #MeToo hashtag in what has been called a “watershed” moment for gender-based violence. Attention is turned to the work of international scholars whose research is leading the way for understanding and responding to the complexity of sexual violence disclosure in a highly digitized global world, so that solutions can be considered to better meet the needs of victims and survivors. Drawing on this scholarship, recommendations are crafted for researchers and practitioners in the United States that can be applied by those in other parts of the world. The authors conclude that online disclosure should be examined through an intersectional, evidence-based, trauma-informed approach that calls on both individuals and institutions to consider how they can better understand and respond to the unique obstacles that victims may face while simultaneously minimizing risks and working toward victim safety, choice, and empowerment
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