Shaping Sexual Behaviors & Sexual Scripts

Open Access: Yes

Abstract

Introduction. The present study sought to analyze the relationships between different forms of technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) perpetration and victimization, including gender- and sexuality-based harassment, digital sexual harassment, and image-based sexual abuse (IBSA), which includes both sextortion and non-consensual pornography.

Methods. The sample was composed of 1682 adolescents (865 girls; Mage=13.90, SDage=1.26) who completed self-report measures from November 2019 to March 2020. We conducted network analyses to analyze the relationships among different forms of TFSV perpetration and victimization.

Results. Overall, girls had higher victimization scores, whereas boys had higher scores in the perpetration of several forms of TFSV. Gender- and sexuality-based victimization formed a cluster with digital sexual harassment victimization, while sextortion and nonconsensual pornography victimization formed a differentiated cluster. Forms of IBSA victimization and digital sexual harassment victimization were strongly associated with their perpetration counterparts for boys, but this was not the case for girls.

Conclusions. The results revealed that the different forms of victimization and perpetration appear to be related and suggest that TFSV is a gendered form of abuse. Policy Implications Findings from the present study suggest that preventive programs in schools and communities should be holistic and address various forms of TFSV.

Relevance

This study focused on the occurrence and interrelation of various forms (e.g., gender- and sexuality-based harassment, digital sexual harassment, sextortion, and nonconsensual pornography perpetration and victimization) of TFSV perpetration and victimization. Findings indicate support for the interrelationship between these forms of TFSV. Findings indicate that TFSV is a gendered rather than gender-neutral phenomenon, with males more likely to be perpetrators and females more likely to be victimized. In this regard, the gender role socialization that children undergo emphasizes the relevance of gender expectations and the consequences (e.g., being harassed) they may face for any incongruence between their behavior and assigned gender roles.”

“Sexual and gender education is essential to eradicate sexual violence, which in part can be explained by traditional roles and discrimination against women, which also occurs in digital environments.”

Citation

Gámez-Guadix, M., Sorrel, M. A., & Martínez-Bacaicoa, J. (2022). Technology-facilitated sexual violence perpetration and victimization among adolescents: A network analysis. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 20(3), 1000–1012. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-022-00775-y