Online Sexual Harassment Research Articles

Judicial Differences of Sexual Harassment Between China and South Korea

This essay explores the differences in the legal treatment of online sexual harassment (OSH) in China and South Korea. China's Civil Code addresses sexual harassment by emphasizing the violation of a woman's dignity, but the legal consequences are minimal, typically resulting in fines comparable to civil disputes. In contrast, South Korea classifies sexual harassment as a crime under the Criminal Act, with punishments including imprisonment. The analysis identifies three key disparities. Firstly, China lacks a clear specification of what constitutes sexual harassment, while South Korea provides detailed definitions. Secondly, South Korea treats OSH as a severe offense on par with rape, leading to stricter enforcement and deterrence. However, in China, OSH cases are often addressed as defamation or infringement of portrait rights rather than distinct sexual crimes. Lastly, social media censorship in China hampers tracking and locating perpetrators, granting them more leeway to evade punishment, while South Korea actively prosecutes OSH as a sexual crime. Addressing these disparities, the abstract suggests placing sexual harassment in China's criminal legislation and implementing supplemental laws to support its enforcement.

Traditional social learning predicts cyber deviance? Exploring the offending versatility thesis in social learning theory.

Social learning theory has been widely implemented to understand cyber deviance. Nevertheless, the antecedent scholarship homogenously nested in the perspective of offending specification, leaving the offending versatility thesis unattained. The lack of such studies may undermine the capability of comprehensively understanding the social learning patterns of online offending. Using a sample of 3741 Chinese college students, this study estimated an array of binary logistic regressions to compare the effects of traditional and online social learning in four types of online offending (online sexual harassment, cyberbullying, hacking, and digital piracy). The results suggest that offending versatility and offending specification co-exist in the social learning process of cyber deviance, while offending specification explains a marginally greater variance. Besides, online learning variables act as potential mediators in the relationships between traditional learning and cyber deviance. Furthermore, traditional social learning shows greater predictive power in cyber-enabled crimes than in cyber-dependent crimes. Our study provides fresh empirical evidence for the non-exclusive association between offending versatility and offending specification in the social learning process of cyber deviance.

Using Latent Class Analysis to Produce a Typology of Korean Stalking Based on Court Judgments

This study was carried out to develop guidelines for more appropriate interventions for people who stalk following the enforcement of the Stalking Crime Punishment Act. By content analysis, 407 cases of the first trial judgment data from the start of the stalking punishment law application were collected and substituted with categorical data. Three types of stalking persons—Aggressors, Indirect Contactors, and Approachers—were created by latent class analysis. Notable distinctions emerged among these types, encompassing criminal history, mental health, online sexual crimes, and the frequency of contact. For instance, Aggressors were individuals who displayed aggressive behaviors most frequently; Indirect Contactors engaged in online sexual harassment against victims; and Approachers approached victims without mutual agreement. Therefore, considering these findings would hold great significance when approaching individuals who engage in stalking with a more comprehensive understanding. This approach aims to provide insights to enhance criminal responses and practices in South Korea.

“It Started With a Nude”: Gangs & Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence

This unique qualitative study updates current literature on gangs and sexual violence by incorporating digital practices. This study applies the framework of technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) which combines cyberstalking, coerced sexting, online sexual harassment, and sextortion, to the lived experience of young people in and around gangs in London. Findings are generated from a study that took place January–July 2015, which involved 240 young people taking part in 12 focus groups. Data is triangulated with content analysis of social media sites belonging to local gangs. Exploration of patriarchal and gendered practices that normalize sexual violence in gangs on and offline will be discussed. The link between gangs, TFSV, and criminal exploitation will also be established.

여성의 온라인상 범죄 두려움에 영향을 미치는 요인에 관한 연구

Fear of online crime among women leads to limitations in their online activities,
 raising concerns about supporting women's free and safe engagement online. To
 achieve this, it’s crucial to thoroughly comprehend the factors contributing to the
 fear of online crime among women. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the
 factors influencing women’s fear of online crime.
 Aligned with this objective, drawing upon vulnerability theory, broken windows
 theory, and crime victimization models, this study seeks to explore the factors
 affecting women’s fear of online crime. First, vulnerability theory suggests that
 perceptions of personal vulnerability, such as gender and education, influence
 women’s fear of online crime. Second, the broken windows theory indicates that
 perceptions of disorderliness impact the fear of crime, especially as disorder
 perceptions extend to online spaces. Hence, this study examines whether perceptions
 of disorderliness in online spaces affect women’s fear of crime. Lastly, the crime
 victimization model suggests that both direct and routine online harassment
 experiences influence fear of crime. Thus, this research aims to explore whether
 routine online harassment, besides direct crime victimization, affects women’s fear
 of online crime.
 To fulfill these research objectives, this study analyzes the survey results from
 the ‘Survey on Online Sexual Harassment, Sexual Violence, and Misogyny’ conducted
 among 600 women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. The findings revealed that as
 women perceive online hate issues as severe and experience more instances of
 online hate expressions, their fear of online crime tends to increase.
 Consequently, to enable women to engage freely and safely online, management
 and supervision regarding expressions of online hate directed at women are deemed
 necessary. In several countries, regulations penalize authors posting hate content
 and hold platform companies responsible for monitoring hate speech posts. Such
 policies indicate the need for regulatory measures against hate expressions in South Korea as well.

SMART CTZEN: A DIGITAL STORYTELLING APP TO EMPOWER YOUTH’S AWARENESS IN CYBER SAFETY AND SECURITY

The impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on Malaysian educational institutions highlights the rise in cybercrime cases among students. Studies indicate that university students are the top users of the Internet with high daily internet usage, yet, this group of users are not only the victims but also the perpetrators of cyber threats and crimes. Despite being the top Internet users, youth aged 18-25 have been found to have limited understanding of cyber threats, making them more susceptible to such threats, or to become an accidental outlaw. Therefore, this study aims to uncover the types of threats that are prevalent among university students and ways to address these threats. This study found that majority of undergraduate students experienced cyberbullying, gaming addiction, depression and anxiety due to cyber threats, online sexual harassment and online financial scams. In order to address this contemporary phenomenon, this study proposes a digital storytelling application which aims to educate youth about strategies to recognize cyber threats, respond to these threats appropriately, and make informed decisions about their cyber behaviour. It also proposes that being vigilant about these strategies are in line with Islamic teachings and principles. This will equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to protect themselves, their finances, and their safety, security and privacy in the cyber space, so that they are able to contribute to a safer digital community.

Young Adults’ Online and In-Person Sexual Harassment Experiences in Romantic Relationships: Exploring the Role of Relationship Type and Dark Triad Personality Traits

As romantic relationships in young adulthood (18–25 years) are frequently characterized by experimentation and risk-taking, this could make young adults particularly vulnerable to experience sexual harassment by a dating or committed partner. This study examines young adults’ victimization and perpetration experiences of online and in-person sexual harassment with their dating or committed partner, and explores the role of the Dark Triad personality traits. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 458 young adults, 371 of whom were in a romantic relationship ( Mage = 20.80, SDage = 1.51, 25.6% men). Our findings revealed that all measured sexual harassment experiences were significantly more prevalent among young adults in dating relationships compared to those in committed relationships. Furthermore, in both relationship types, all online and in-person experiences of sexual harassment were significantly linked, indicating that these harmful experiences occur across contexts. Additionally, all victimization and perpetration experiences were significantly linked in both relationship types, meaning that some young adults were both victims and perpetrators of these behaviors. Lastly, we found that sexual harassment was linked to narcissism in dating relationships, but to Machiavellianism in committed relationships, indicating that different strategies may explain these behaviors.

Adolescent Use of Dating Applications and the Associations with Online Victimization and Psychological Distress.

In this study, we examined the relationships between the use of online dating applications (apps), online victimization, and psychosocial distress among adolescents. This study was conducted in 2020. A sample of 2595 seventh-grade students from 30 Taiwanese middle schools was surveyed. We conducted a self-administered survey. Overall, 15% of the adolescents reported using online dating apps in the past year, while 78% reported having seen dating app advertisements on the internet in the past year. Multivariate analysis results indicated that adolescents' exposure to the marketing of dating apps and poor academic performance were both associated with the use of online dating apps. Adolescents who used dating apps were more likely to experience online privacy victimization, cyberbullying victimization, and online sexual harassment. The use of dating apps by adolescents, online privacy victimization, cyberbullying victimization, and online sexual harassment were associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. In conclusion, adolescent use of dating apps is related to online victimization and psychological distress.

It’s a joke, not a dick. So don’t take it too hard”: online sexual harassment in Indian universities

ABSTRACT Recently, while there has been some attention to the issues online harassment in higher education, the impacts of online sexual harassment have been lost within the broader focus. There is negligible research looking at these specific experiences within Indian universities. To address this gap, this paper explores three different but interconnected forms of online sexual harassment—image-based sexual abuse, online chat rooms, and trolling in the context of Indian universities. Following the works of Liz Kelly (1987) and Clare McGlynn, Erika Rackley and Ruth Houghton (2017), this paper establishes the importance of understanding online sexual harassment as a continuum of other forms of offline sexual violence having physical, mental, and financial impacts on survivors, deeply affecting their sense of safety. In doing so, this paper attempts to develop a materialist understanding of online sexual harassment in Indian universities in turn demonstrating the confluence of India’s patriarchal and casteist society and an authoritarian state who use technology as a powerful disciplining tool to push women and queer people out of digital public spaces. This research attempts to establish that this disciplining and silencing of women and queer people are essential for the spread of both techno-capitalism and Brahmanical Hindutva nationalism.

Стратегии психологического воздействия онлайн грумера на несовершеннолетнюю жертву в ситуации сексуальных домогательств

Introduction. The article is devoted to the socio-psychological phenomenon of psychological influence of online groomer on the victim in the situation of online sexual harassment. Theoretical analysis. In general, online sexual harassment refers to unwanted messages that include verbal and photo-visual information of sexual nature. It is noted that the concept of online sexual grooming is identified with this phenomenon. Empirical analysis. In the study, respondents (N=170) answered an anonymous questionnaire about online sexual grooming they had experienced when they were underage. In most cases, online groomers are adults, aware of the victim’s age, focusing mostly on the girls aged 10–12 (35.9% of cases) and 13–15 years old (44.1% of cases). Conclusion. The most significant strategies of psychological influence on the victim of online grooming include the use of flattery and compliments, as well as manipulation of such psychological features of the target of harassment as curiosity and lack of understanding of correct behavior patterns. Sexual online groomers predominantly target minors between the ages of 10 and 15. It is typical for these victims to conceal from their parents the facts of their abuse by groomers.

Online Sexual Harassment in Adolescence: A Scoping Review

Abstract Introduction Sexual harassment is a complex behavior to study since it is characterized by various dimensions and definitions. Analyzing the characteristics and manifestations of this behavior in the online context, at such a vulnerable time as adolescence, is important to fully understand its nature, characteristics, and consequences. Aims and Method This work aims to systematize the information available in the literature, identify labels used to refer to online sexual harassment in the adolescent population, describe the definition of online sexual harassment taking into consideration specific criteria that emerge from the studies, and describe the operationalization of online sexual harassment. The literature search was conducted in November 2021 through four scientific databases: Scopus, PubMed, PsycInfo, and Web of Science. The initial search led to 20958 results: after eliminating duplicates, screening, and reading of full-texts, 65 papers were included in the review. Results The type of relationship between aggressor and victim, the use of abusive connotations, and the time frame of occurring behaviors are investigated in included studies. Moreover, different typologies of abuse have been described, by differentiating between studies that focus on the victim's point of view and studies that focus on the perpetrator’s point of view. Conclusion Online sexual harassment covers a wide range of behaviors using digital content (images, videos, posts, messages). Through this scoping review, it is possible to identify some key characteristics of this phenomenon: online sexual harassment has an abusive connotation, as it is perceived as unwanted by the victim, it can occur in three main typologies (verbal, visual, cybersex) and even a single episode is enough to experience victimization. In terms of relational behaviors, online sexual harassment includes unwanted sexual solicitations and non-consensual sharing.

From entertainment to extortion: Tunisian children's online experiences

BackgroundInformation and communication technologies (ICTs) have become a fundamental part of children's lives and development. However, children need to acquire the skills and knowledge to manage the risks that technology presents. ObjectivesThis child-centric research on children's online experiences aims to understand the benefits Tunisian children derive from the internet, the risks and harms to which they are exposed, and how aware and resilient Tunisian children are to these online risks and harms. Participants and setting113 children, aged 13–17, participated in focus groups in five governorates across Tunisia. MethodsQualitative data was collected from 16 focus group discussions then data was analyzed using inductive and deductive thematic coding. ResultsThe internet offers Tunisian children educational, social, entertainment, and mental health benefits, in addition to personal development and commercial opportunities.Hacking and the use of fake Facebook profiles were highlighted as facilitators of online bullying, sexual harassment, and extortion, all of which disproportionately affected girls. Children demonstrated personal responsibility for their online activity but recognized that children and parents should have greater awareness about the risks the internet poses. ConclusionsThe young people included in the study reported that they enjoy numerous benefits from internet access and demonstrate some resilience to online risks and harms. However, there is a need for societal and institutional change, through a combination of awareness raising, targeted support for children and parents, and improving the capacity of key actors to prevent online violence while ensuring an effective response and victim support.

Adaptation of Online Sexual Harassment Scale into Turkish: A Validity And Reliability Study

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Çevrimiçi Cinsel Taciz Ölçeği’nin Türkçe’ye uyarlamasını gerçekleştirmek, bu kapsamda geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışmalarını yapmaktadır. Çalışmanın bir diğer amacı ise üniversite öğrencilerinin çevrimiçi cinsel tacize maruz kalmalarının cinsiyete göre farklılık gösterip göstermediğinin incelenmesidir. Çalışmaya 340 üniversite öğrencisi (221 kadın, 119 erkek) katılmıştır. Ölçeğin yapı geçerliğini incelemek amacıyla 340 katılımcıdan elde edilen veri seti ile Doğrulayıcı Faktör Analizi (DFA) yapılmıştır. Ölçeğin orijinalinde olduğu gibi 12 maddeden oluşan 2 faktörlü (cinsel ilgi ve cinsiyet temelli taciz) yapısı doğrulanmıştır. DFA sonucunda ulaşılan uyum iyiliği değerlerinin kabul edilebilir düzeyde olduğu görülmüştür (χ2/df= 3.77; GFI= .91; SRMR= .045; CFI= .95; NFI= .93; IFI= .95; TLI= .94). Cinsel ilgi ve cinsiyet temelli taciz boyutlarına ve ölçeğin bütününe ilişkin Cronbach alfa değerleri sırasıyla .93, .83, .94 olarak bulunmuştur. Çevrimiçi Cinsel Taciz Ölçeği (ÇCTÖ)’nin Türkçe formunun çevrimiçi cinsel taciz deneyimini ölçmek amacıyla kullanılabilecek geçerli ve güvenilir bir ölçme aracı olduğu söylenebilir. Bununla birlikte araştırmada kadın katılımcıların çevrimiçi cinsel taciz puan ortalamalarının hem alt boyutlarda hem de ölçeğin bütününde erkeklere göre anlamlı şekilde yüksek olduğu, istenmeyen cinsel ilgiye ve cinsiyet temelli tacize daha yoğun şekilde maruz kaldıkları belirlenmiştir.

Netnographic Study of Online Gender-Based Violence (KBGO) on Twitter

This study aims to determine online gender-based violence in the form of online sexual harassment (Cyber Sexual Harassment) that occurs on Twitter. This research uses CMC (Computer-Mediated Communication) theory, and the type of research used is qualitative research using ethnographic methods. The results of this study show that there are six categories of cyber sexual harassment, the first is a direct threat of sexual or physical violence which is any effort, either physical or verbal that leads to a person's sexuality or sexual organs without obtaining consent and has elements or threats. Second, online harassment is an act of sexual harassment through unwanted messages, attention, and contact or intended to embarrass the victim. Third, abusive comments are negative words and without censorship can even be read or may be shared by others.

Girls becoming ‘sexy’ on digital spaces: capacities and constraints

ABSTRACT In this paper, we draw upon a qualitative study to investigate how black teenage girls interact with digital spaces to provide both capacities to express and constrain sexuality. Following a new feminist materialist approach, we demonstrate girls’ experiences of sexuality as embedded within a complex entanglement of matter (both human and more-than-human) that produce capacities, mediating what girls can do, feel or be on social media. Specifically, we conceptualize girls’ experiences within a ‘techno-sexual’ assemblage of bodies, things, ideas, social media applications, videos and pictures to illustrate how ideals of heterosexuality are connected to an affective flow of matter that creates vibrancy, permitting capacities and constraints. Firstly, we show how girls’ entanglement with celebrity and media culture, sexy selfies, and videos through digital affordances unlocked agentive capacities for the experience of heterosexual desire. Secondly, we illuminate how the assemblage generated restrictive capacities for girls who did not ascribe to heteronormative and racialized ideals of beauty through objectification and online sexual harassment. We argue that a recognition of this online micro-political space remains a vital part of gender transformative interventions.

Framing Analysis of Online Sexual Harassment News Against Online Motorcycle Bikes by Online Media Detik.com and Viva.co.id

The issue of sexual harassment through online or online networking is a topic that is being seriously highlighted by various parties and comes to the fore in the term Online Gender-Based Violence (OGBV). This research focuses on the perspective of mass media reporting in bringing up a phenomenon of online sexual harassment to the public. Specifically, the study discusses the phenomenon of online sexual harassment cases that are actually experienced by men, namely Online Motorcycle Taxi (Ojol) drivers. This fact was analyzed textually using Robert Entman's model framing analysis method of two news manuscripts from two different online media, namely Viva.co.id and Detik.com. This research with a qualitative descriptive approach aims to find out the framing efforts and construction of reality made by the two online media around online sexual harassment cases against Ojol drivers through their respective news texts. The results of the study concluded that the two news stories on the online media had tried to insist on participation to the managers of the application service to provide protection to Ojol drivers which showed the partiality of the media to the victims. Based on the theory of media setting agendas, both news stories have included the agenda of the media and the agenda of the audience, but have not given a significant portion to the authorities as a policy agenda to come up with a solution to this problem of online sexual harassment

Pathways from Polyvictimization to Offline and Online Sexual Harassment Victimization Among South Korean Adolescents.

This study aimed to investigate the association between polyvictimization and offline and online sexual harassment and whether the association might be mediated by internalizing problems, low school satisfaction, and dropping out of school. The analytic sample was derived from the Children and Youth Rights Survey in South Korea. It consisted of 6353 adolescents' responses to the sexual harassment question and a set of other questions in the middle and high school questionnaires. The findings showed a direct association between polyvictimization and offline and online sexual harassment. Adolescents who were polyvictimized were more likely to be victims of both forms of sexual harassment. Furthermore, polyvictimization was positively related to dropping out of school, which was positively associated with offline sexual harassment. The findings from the study have significant implications for future research and practice.

Cyber Child Grooming on Social Media: Understanding the Factors and Finding the Modus Operandi

As technology advances, it gives rise to various modes of child sexual abuse. Forms of sexual abuse of children through technology can be categorized into several categories, including obscenity, approaching for sexual purposes, sexual chat, sexual extortion, and online sexual harassment. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors causing the occurrence of cyber child grooming crimes against children as well as the modus operandi of perpetrators in cyber child grooming crimes against children. The empirical normative technique is a type of research used by the author. The primary data source in this study is interview data obtained directly at the Bantul Class IIB Detention Centre. This study employs sociological and legal approach methods such as conceptual approaches, statutory approaches, and case-based approaches. Interviews with cyber child grooming offenders and data analysis using qualitative data analysis are among the methods used to collect data. Factors causing criminals to commit cyber child grooming crimes are obtaining sexual perpetrator satisfaction, environmental influences and the perpetrator's mindset, a low level of knowledge and understanding of social media use, opportunity, and the economy. The modus operandi of cyber child grooming includes ease of accessibility, relationship building, manipulation, sexual content, and risk management. Prisoner institutions, such as detention centres or prisons, are expected to always provide personality coaching (such as daily recitations, Qur'an reading, ablution procedures, and proper prayers) and independence coaching (such as skills education programs and job guidance) to cyber child grooming offenders so that the perpetrators do not commit their crimes again in the future.

Initial Test of a Model of Men’s Sexual Harassment Perpetration: Examining Indirect Effects of Social Dominance Orientation through Social Norms and Gender Role Discrepancy Stress

ABSTRACT Prior research is limited in the study of correspondence between online and in-person forms of sexual harassment (SH) among adult men as well as correlates of these behaviors. The present study assesses whether social dominance orientation (SDO; i.e., the tendency to reject equality and support hierarchy-legitimizing myths and behaviors) might be associated with increases in SH perpetration both online and in-person, perhaps through increases in perceived social support for SH and masculine gender role discrepancy stress. Among a sample of U.S. adult men (N = 167), results indicated that there were indirect effects of SDO on both in-person and online SH through increases in perceived social norms but not through masculine gender role discrepancy stress. A competing model, in which SDO mediates these associations, was not supported. Results support the use of social norms approaches to target perceived social norms, if these results are replicated within temporal designs.

How aware are college students of sexual harassment and assault in Turkey?

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to examine college students’ views on sexual harassment and assault. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 135 students (51.1% of women and 48.9% of men) from a state university in Turkey. Participants ages ranged from 18 to 27 (M = 21.69 years, SD = 2.49). Findings obtained from the content analysis show that the participants were not able to define sexual harassment and assault accurately and that their definitions included stereotypes regarding sexual harassment and assault. Other findings of the study show that participants had low awareness of online sexual harassment and did not have enough information about appropriate reporting avenues. According to these findings, there is a need for comprehensive prevention and education initiatives to raise awareness of this issue among Turkish college students. Practice impact statement Emerging adulthood (ages 18–24) is a particularly risky time for perpetration of sexual violence. This study draws attention to need for awareness raising among Turkish college students of the nature and risks for sexual violence. It is also important for professionals working with college students and university administrators to have in-depth information on students’ experiences of sexual assault, and preferred reporting avenues, to ensure there are tailored interventions and responses to support victims.