Bridging Real and Virtual: An Ecological Approach to Prevent Cyberviolence Against Women

Abstract

Women experience gender violence more than men, in the digital world as well as offline. To understand and prevent this phenomenon, we must consider the continuum between the virtual and the real world and highlight that cyberviolence and offline violence follow the same patterns. Therefore, to comprehend cyberviolence against women, the present study aimed to examine the feelings and emotions of those who have had direct and indirect experiences with it. The research involved 43 young Italians, aged 20–35 and used a narrative approach with a stimulus composed of six questions. The textual material was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis and four main themes emerged: Emotional experiences of cyberviolence; the amplification of cyberviolence in the offline world; the role of bystanders; and actions to prevent cyberviolence. The results highlighted the importance of approaching cyberviolence against women from a holistic and multidimensional perspective through an ecological approach that integrates different levels of action: collective, organisational, interpersonal and individual. Cyberviolence against women entails interventions that are complex and multi-focused on all those who inhabit the virtual dimension, as well as the offline dimension, where the consequences of online violence become evident.