Women

Last updated 29 Jul 2010

Sexism

Sexism is discrimination based on someone’s gender, and is usually thought of as discrimination against women.

Where might you experience sexism online?

Sexism is rife on many areas of the Internet.  From porn sites, to chat rooms via comments on newspaper websites, sexist comments, images and material is available all over the Internet.  There are several sites set up explicitly to discriminate against women, whilst on others it is less direct, such as showing objectifying images of women.

 

Risks

Grooming

Most grooming cases brought to court relate to young women, meaning it is likely women and girls are more at risk of grooming.  Grooming is where an over 18 (adult) engages in conversation/ other interactions with a person who is under 16 on the Internet with sexual intent.  This is illegal under the Sexual Offenses Act 2003.  To report any instances of grooming or presumed grooming, contact CEOP: www.ceop.gov.uk

Sexual Exploitation

As well as through grooming (above) and sexting (below) young women and girls often face other forms of sexual exploitation online.  This includes the vast amount of pornography featuring women, sometimes involving underage women or girls.  There is also an enormous amount of negative sexual stories about women put on the Internet, which, because they have a permenant digital record, can be challenging to remove. 

Online child abuse/sexual abuse/obscene images can be reported to:

 

Cyberbullying & Sexting

Reports from different anti-bullying charities and organisations highlight the prevalence of cyberbullying among girls and young women.  Cyberbullying is the use of the Internet and other mobile technologies to bully other people.  The danger of cyberbullying is as long as you are around technology, there is no escape from it.  Cyberbullying can take many forms from abusive text messages to sending naked pictures.

Sending naked or indecent pictures is referred to as ’sexting’.  Again, a practice more common among young women.  Increasingly these pictures are being used outside of the boundaries set by those who sent them, with pictures being widely distributed over the Internet.

Remember, any image you upload to the Internet has a permenant digital record which means it can be very difficult to remove it.

If you have expierienced any form of cyberbullying on the Internet or would like support on a related issue, visit: www.cybermentors.org.uk

 

Positive Aspects

Gender is less important

Although the Internet provides some specific risks for women and girls, it also has several advantages.  One of these being gender can be made less important on the Internet.  In online gaming communities, and other areas it is possible to hide your gender to avoid any discimination based on being a woman or a girl.  Although this is not possible in every situation, it can be useful in order to avoid sexism.

Feminist Internet movement

The inception of the Internet has played a pivotal role in the re-creation of a vibrant, international feminist movement.  Some key websites include:

 

Safety Tips

Sexism is never acceptable and is classed as a hate crime.  If you experience any form of sexism online, ensure you report it to: www.iwf.org.uk/

  • CEOP: www.ceop.gov.uk

    • Virtual Global Taskforce: www.virtualglobaltaskforce.com