Online Gender Based Violence as Symbolic Violence: Rethinking Digital Gender Inequality in Indonesia

Abstract

The research investigates the ways in which gender-based discrimination manifests itself through rising incidents of Online Gender Based Violence (OGBV) which take place on social media networks. The research study used qualitative methods which combined Feminist Participatory Action Research to study how women experience OGBV in online spaces. The study collected data through detailed interviews with five social media users who had encountered OGBV. The study findings proved that sexual violence is not only in the form of direct attacks, but also indirect violence, also known as symbolic violence, internalized through social norms and structures that reinforce gender inequality, including in the digital spaces. OGBV is an act that has psychological, social, and economic impacts on its victims and therefore needs to be combated in various ways. It is hoped that this research can contribute to combating OGBV by providing a cyberfeminist analysis in understanding OGBV as digital violence. This understanding is expected to change the public's perspective on OGBV, so that when such incidents occur, the first action is to side with the victim and blame the perpetrator, rather than the other way around.