Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence: Victimization and Risk Factors

Rafaela Monteiro, Helena Grangeia and Anita Santos ()
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Rafaela Monteiro: Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Maia—UMAIA, S. Pedro de Avioso, 4475-690 Maia, Portugal
Helena Grangeia: Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Maia—UMAIA, S. Pedro de Avioso, 4475-690 Maia, Portugal
Anita Santos: Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Maia—UMAIA, S. Pedro de Avioso, 4475-690 Maia, Portugal

Social Sciences, 2024, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-14

Abstract: Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence (TFSV) has been a permanent concern in contemporary society. This study aims to provide a global understanding of the TFSV phenomenon in Portuguese context. Using quantitative analyses, the rate and prevalence of victimization, victim characteristics, and technology use were examined. An online questionnaire was completed by 500 people (75.8% female) aged 18–70, mostly cisgender (96.2%), and heterosexual (85.8%). The main results point to a high victimization global rate (72%) as well as in the last 12 months (70.8%). There were no significant differences between the sexes except in sexual aggression/coercion, with more females suffering the more severe type of TFSV. However, the gendering of TFSV emerges with specific behaviors. Females tend to be more sexually harassed, only females report non-consensual sexual experiences with someone they met online, and males tend to report receiving offensive content about their gender/sexuality. Younger people tend to report a higher rate of victimization. The regression model with only victim characteristics is more predictive of TFSV victimization, with younger and heterosexual victims as significant predictors. This study argues that the culture of harassment is deeply rooted and finds an easy way to be disseminated in the digital world.

Keywords: Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence; sexual violence; technology uses; victims characteristics; gender violence; victimization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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