Over 1 in 10 women in England have experienced online violence while in Wales, 1 in 3 young women have been exposed to abuse online. This data comes from a ground-breaking report into online violence against women across the UK.

Online Violence Against Women: A Four Nations Study provides the first-ever comprehensive data into men and women’s experiences of online violence against women in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

White Ribbon UK launched the report with The Open University at Westminster on 19th March, where Professor Olga Jurasz presented the key findings and recommendations to policymakers, members of the press, police, academics and colleagues from the ending violence against women sector.

Professor Jurasz, who is a Professor of Law at The Open University and leads its Observatory on Online Violence Against Women, decided to undertake the study after noticing a lack of readily-available data into online violence against women despite growing pressure for policy reform.

‘It’s hard to write law without data,’ said Jurasz at the report launch. Before this report, ‘the solution has been to focus on specific issues around online violence against women and girls, such as online abuse experienced by women journalists.’

The largest-ever study focusing on online violence against women and girls across all four nations, the report explores the nature of violence experienced by women and girls online, societal perspectives on online violence against women and girls, why it occurs and its impact on women and girls. The study also surveyed men about their experiences witnessing this type of violence.

MISOGYNY PART OF WOMEN’S EXPERIENCES ONLINE

Alongside anonymity and the ease of ‘getting away with’ acting or speaking violently, pervasive misogynistic attitudes are fuelling violent acts online.

The study found that about half of experienced or witnessed instances of online violence against women and girls is sexually explicit in nature, and that young women and non-heterosexual women are bearing the brunt of this epidemic across the four nations.

Online violence has real world impact on the women and girls that are targeted. Women who had experienced online violence cited the range of impact that it has on their lives, including being silenced online and negative effects on both their mental and physical health. Worryingly, 1 in 2 women who experience online violence, and most men who witness it, do not seek any support.

This must change. Women and girls should be able to live their lives free from the fear of violence, both online and offline. We must take a ‘whole-society approach’ to tackling violence against women and girls, galvanising all members and parts of society to stop it before it starts.

Alex Davies-Jones MP, who spoke at the report launch said, ‘Women are already restricting and modifying our behaviour online due to the threat of abuse. This is not and will never be an acceptable response to this violence. Tackling online misogyny must take a holistic approach. Platforms must proactively prevent their services from being used to abuse, and harass, and stop women and girls from becoming victims in the first place.’

listening to and believing women matters

The majority of those surveyed, both men and women, expressed their support for introducing new legislation to help in effectively criminalising online violence against women and girls. Further to this, consensus was found by respondents that some form of education across the UK, would be the most helpful non-legislative measure to prevent online violence against women.

Women and men both believe that the internet is a ‘men’s domain’ where men are perceived to be the safest group online. Men that have witnessed online violence against women and girls are much more likely to cite misogyny as a reason that this violence occurs, compared to men that have not witnessed it. 

Furthermore, men who witnessed online violence against women and girls are significantly more likely to think that educating men and boys would be most helpful in preventing and combating this violence occurring in the first place, compared to those who have not witnessed it.

What can men and boys do to prevent online violence against women?

Our lives and interpersonal relationships play out online as much as they do offline and many of the harmful cultures and gender norms we see in the real world are replicated and amplified in the digital world. Violence against women and girls is mostly perpetrated by men and we see this trend continue in the digital realm. Men and boys must take a leading role in preventing online violence against women and girls by being allies every day, both offline and offline, by:

• Listening to the lived experience of women and girls.

• Reflecting on your own attitudes and behaviours online – remember that what you post and how you interact with others online has real-world consequences. This includes in your chat groups on messaging platforms.

• Calling it out and holding your mates accountable if you see that they are posting or sharing misogynistic or violent content. This can be as simple as saying ‘I’m not ok with that.’

• Reporting and flagging inappropriate content that you see on social media to the platform. If you see violent or extreme content, report it to the police.

• If you feel safe to do so, intervening when you see online abuse taking place. This can be as simple as saying ‘This is not acceptable.’

• Updating your policies, procedures and best practices to keep your staff safe from online and digital violence and to ensure that staff know where they can find help.

To take your allyship further, consider becoming a White Ribbon Ambassador and join a network of men committed to being allies to women every day, online and offline.

The full report can be accessed here: Online Violence Against Women: A Four Nations Study