Digital harassment and abuse: Experiences of sexuality and gender minority adults
| Published date | 01 March 2020 |
| Date | 01 March 2020 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/1477370818788006 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
https://doi.org/10.1177/1477370818788006
European Journal of Criminology
2020, Vol. 17(2) 199 –223
© The Author(s) 2018
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DOI: 10.1177/1477370818788006
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Digital harassment and
abuse: Experiences of
sexuality and gender
minority adults
Anastasia Powell
RMIT University, Australia
Adrian J Scott
Goldsmiths, University of London, UK
Edith Cowan University, Australia
Nicola Henry
RMIT University, Australia
Abstract
Digital harassment and abuse refers to a range of harmful, interpersonal behaviours experienced
via the internet, as well as via mobile phone and other electronic communication devices. Whereas
much existing research has focused on the experiences of children and young people (including
foremost ‘cyberbullying’), there have been few international studies on adult experiences of digital
harassment and abuse. As such, little is currently known about the extent, nature and impacts
of digital harassment and abuse on adult victims. In particular, there exists a significant gap in
current research into sexual, sexuality and gender based digital harassment and abuse. This article
draws on findings from a larger research project in which we surveyed 2956 Australian adults
and 2842 British adults (aged 18 to 54) about their experiences of technology-facilitated sexual
violence (TFSV). The data presented here focus on the experiences of sexuality diverse adults (n
= 282) who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or heterosexual, as well as gender diverse adults
(n = 90), including women, men and transgender individuals. Results suggest that transgender
individuals experience higher rates of digital harassment and abuse overall, and higher rates
of sexual, sexuality and gender based harassment and abuse, as compared with heterosexual
cisgender individuals. Implications of the findings are discussed with respect to policy, prevention,
and future research.
Corresponding author:
Anastasia Powell, Criminology & Justice Studies, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, Victoria
3000, Australia.
Email: anastasia.powell@rmit.edu.au
788006EUC0010.1177/1477370818788006European Journal of CriminologyPowell et al.
research-article2018
Article
200 European Journal of Criminology 17(2)
Keywords
Digital criminology, hate speech, sexual harassment, sexuality, transgender
Introduction
A key feature of contemporary digital society is the integration of communications and
other digital technologies into everyday life, such that many of us are ‘constantly con-
nected’ (Harwood et al., 2014). Yet the entangling of the social and the digital has par-
ticular implications for interpersonal relationships. Digital harassment and abuse refers
to a range of harmful interpersonal behaviours experienced via the internet, as well as via
mobile phone and other electronic communication devices. These online behaviours
include: offensive comments and name-calling, targeted harassment, verbal abuse and
threats, as well as sexual, sexuality and gender based harassment and abuse. Sexual,
sexuality and gender-based harassment and abuse refers to harmful and unwanted behav-
iours either of a sexual nature, or directed at a person on the basis of their sexuality or
gender identity.
Though a variety of concepts and definitions are used in this field, much existing
research has focused on cyberbullying and other behaviours experienced by children and
young people. Comparatively, there have been few studies internationally that examine
adult experiences of digital harassment and abuse. As such, little is currently known
about the extent and nature of digital harassment and abuse as experienced by adult vic-
tims. Moreover, whereas the emerging literature has considered the differential experi-
ences of digital harassment and abuse by gender, there exists a dearth of current research
that is inclusive of the experiences of sexuality and gender minority adults in particular.
Previous research into experiences of hate-based abuse, violence and discrimination
has identified that lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT)1 individuals are dispro-
portionately victimized.2 Studies into discriminatory and hate-based violence in both
Australia and the UK have found that sexuality and gender minority individuals experi-
ence high rates of intrusive behaviour, verbal abuse, and threats, as well as physical and
sexual assault (see Guasp et al., 2013; Hillier et al., 2005; Rothman et al., 2011; Sheridan
et al., 2016; Sterzing et al., 2017). This victimization is in turn associated with poor men-
tal health and wellbeing, particularly for youth populations who are at higher risk of
self-harm and suicide (Collier et al., 2013; Couch et al., 2007; Dragowski et al., 2011;
Johnson et al., 2007; Nuttbrock et al., 2010; Perez-Brumer et al., 2015). The high levels
of hate-based abuse, violence and discrimination experienced by LGBT individuals, and
their associated impacts, highlight the importance of including these groups in emerging
research into technology-facilitated abuse.
This article draws on findings from a larger research project in which we surveyed
Australian and British adults about their experiences of technology-facilitated sexual
violence (TFSV) (see Powell and Henry, 2017). The data presented here focus on the
experiences of a subset of LGBT participants. In the first section of the article we provide
a brief summary of key literature addressing digital harassment and abuse, including
sexual violence as well as gender and sexuality-based harassment and abuse. Second, we
report on our method, including details of our sample matching method for comparative
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