Online Anti-Rape Activism: Exploring the Politics of the Personal in the Age of Digital Media

Abstract

Emerald Studies in Criminology, Feminism and Social Change offers a platform for innovative, engaged, and forward-looking feminist-informed work to explore the interconnections between social change and the capacity of criminology to grapple with the implications of such change.Social change, whether as a result of the movement of peoples, the impact of new technologies, the potential consequences of climate change, or more commonly identified features of changing societies, such as ageing populations, inter-generational conflict, the changing nature of work, increasing awareness of the problem of gendered violence(s), and/or changing economic and political context, takes its toll across the globe in infinitely more nuanced and inter-connected ways than previously imagined. Each of these connections carry implications for what is understood as crime, the criminal, the victim of crime and the capacity of criminology as a discipline to make sense of these evolving interconnections. Feminist analysis, despite its contentious relationship with the discipline of criminology, has much to offer in strengthening the discipline to better understand the complexity of the world in the twenty-first century and to scan the horizon for emerging, possible or likely futures.This series invites feminist-informed scholars, particularly those working comparatively across disciplinary boundaries to take up the challenges posed by social change for the discipline of criminology. The series offers authors a space to adopt and develop strong, critical personal views whether in the format of research monographs, single or co-authored books or edited collections. We are keen to promote global views and debates on these issues and welcome proposals embracing such perspectives.

Online disclosure, a mechanism for seeking informal justice?

“…Considering gender-based violence, digital mobilisations, by giving a voice to survivors, allows them to cohere communities and form a shared identity, active agency, and catalysed purpose (Loney-Howes, 2020;O'Neill, 2018). Salter (2013) calls this the 'trial by Internet' where these platforms provide powerful opportunities for those who lack access to or faith in the criminal justice system.…”

“…Studies on online disclosure demonstrate that online spaces enable the building of survivor communities and, as a result, feelings of empowerment and justice (Chowdhury and Fileborn, 2020;Fileborn, 2014Fileborn, , 2017Loney-Howes, 2020;Mendes et al, 2018;O'Neill, 2018;Powell, 2015;Salter, 2013). These spaces allow for the contestation of the dominant patriarchal culture where one feels free to voice one's own experiences and even witness 'their perpetrators punished or publicly condemned' (Fileborn, 2017(Fileborn, : 1486.…”

“…In addition, studies highlight that online communities allow survivors seeking advice and information, getting recognition, being validated, and establishing networked connections with supportive others (i.e. Chowdhury and Fileborn, 2020;Loney-Howes, 2020;O'Neill, 2018). Online platforms hence act as a 'mechanism or avenue for fulfilling victim/survivors .…”

“…In addition, scholars highlight the diversity among survivors (i.e. Chowdhury and Fileborn, 2020;Loney-Howes, 2020;Salter, 2013) reminding that not all women have resources enabling them to 'negotiate and navigate online geographies of safety/unsafety' (Fileborn, 2017(Fileborn, : 1498Salter, 2013). Intersectionality comes up as another critical issue here as voices of women and individuals with marginalised identities are often underrepresented or missing in online spaces, and the credibility of their stories are questioned more often compared to cis-gendered, heterosexual, middle-class women (Loney-Howes et al, 2022;Tuzcu, 2016).…”

“…Our research, by situating six women's lived experiences of online disclosure in Turkey, draws on previous work on online justice (i.e. Fileborn 2014Fileborn , 2017Gundersen and Zaleski, 2021;Loney-Howes, 2020;O'Neill, 2018;Powell, 2015;Salter, 2013;Wood et al, 2019). We explore how digital platforms can be utilised to seek 'informal' justice by survivors of gender-based violence.…”